It's DECEMBER and IF you're living in the United Kingdom the chances are ... you're most probably snowed in! So, here's an apt project to keep you busy and warm .. PROJECT: S N O W F L A K E This can be made into: * a Xmas tree decoration * window adornment * pendant * earrings * embellishment for a Xmas card * or suspended from anything you fancy!! 1. Cut 3 x 3" (7.5cms) lengths of 0.8mm (20-gauge) wire. 2. Cut a length of 0.4mm (28-gauge) fine wire and bind 2 of the lengths at the centre in a X shape. 3. Place the 3rd length at the centre and continue binding together, weaving the fine wire in and out of the star shape to secure. 4. Dig out some sparkly crystals and bugle beads from your stash and begin threading each of the projecting wires. 5. Once you've threaded one wire, create a link with your round nosed pliers at the end. Then start threading the opposite wire, creating a headpin by the last crystal bead. 6. Continue threading the other projecting wires with crystal and bugle beads, creating headpins at each end. 7. Fill the entire the frame with beads! 8. Just when you thought you'd finished ... Cut approx. 7" (17.5cms) of 0.4mm (28-gauge) wire and secure the centre of the length just under one of the top crystal beads (between the clear, round crystal and the bugle bead). 9. Thread some small crystal beads onto this fine wire and secure under the neighbouring bead. 10. Once you've completed the outer beaded frame, secure the end of the wire and cut off any excess. Using your fingers, push the beaded area in towards the centre to create a 'star' shape. 11. Cut approx. 7" (17.5cms) of 0.4m wire and thread this with small, clear seed beads, securing and threading around the top of the frame - between the top bead and the headpin. 12. Once you've filled the entire frame with small beads, cut off any excess wire and neaten the ends. 13. To create a centrepiece for your 'snowflake' - thread a round crystal (or bead of your choice) with some 0.4mm (28-gauge) wire and using the very tips of your round nosed pliers, create very small doubled-links at each end. 14. Cut approx. 5" (12.5cms) of 0.4mm (28-gauge) wire and thread through one of the links. Thread this wire with some small seed beads until you've covered one side of the bead. Then thread through the small link at the opposite end. 15. Continue threading the fine wire with more small seed beads until you've framed the entire perimeter of the bead. Thread the end of the wire back through the end link. 16. Secure the wires together by twisting. Use your cutters to snip off the any uneven ends, leaving approx. 1" (2.5cms) of twisted wire projecting. 17. Push the twisted stem through the centre of the unit and create a spiral which can be flattened at the back. To ensure that the central bead is completely secure, thread another length of 0.4mm (28-gauge) wire through the beaded sides of central bead decoration and secure once more at the back of the unit. 18. Spend a little time re-arranging the overall shape until you're ready to connect, or suspend it from whatever you wish! There are so many variations to this theme: try using different coloured and shaped beads ... ... a pearl as a centre piece and bugle beads around the frame ... Keep experimenting to come up with your own original SNOWFLAKE design! Happy WireWorking and Keep Warm!