Making Beaded Dragonflies

Several years ago my granddaughter was watching some movies on my computer and came across a beaded dragonfly tutorial I had downloaded from You-Tube. She created a couple and insisted that I do it with her. Well, ever since I have been making them into earrings, put them on bottle caps, broach/pins, barrettes and I even may make them into key chain charms. Once, you get the basics down you can experiment with different size and types of beads. I think the basic thing to remember is that the top wings are longer than the bottom wings so keep count as you go. In real life, dragonflies do not have curling antenna but it looks pretty cool when you have them.

I prefer 26-gauge wire and seed beads for those that I am making into earrings and larger beads and 24-gauge wire for things like broaches and barrettes. I also like to mix up the colors for the top and bottom wings. Sometimes the same colors for everything but the middle tips. The lighter colors on the bottom and darker colors on the top makes for a dramatic effect and using bicone crystals for the bottom of the tail and head beads are nice as well.

The only difference between making dragonflies and butterflies is that the butterflies don’t have a long tail and you shape the top wings more open than pointed. But the principle of making them are almost exactly the same.

I have quite a few of these beaded butterfly and dragonfly earrings on my online shop and you can see more by clicking on the one listed at the bottom. If you have any beaded butterfly/dragonfly videos and tutorials you would like to share I hope you will take a few minutes and get in touch using my CONTACT Us form.

FYI:

I just started a TikTok Channel for my crafting ideas and items I have for sale. I hope you will check it out. And if you are a bead and wire artist on that or any other social media LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE and I will do that same.

https://youtube.com/shorts/G89UhlhNEKk?feature=share

https://swconlinestore.com/handcrafted-bead-and-wire-butterfly-and-dragonfly-earrings/jade-and-light-green-pearl-beads-butterfly-earrings/