I remember trying to eat ribbon candy at Christmastime when I was a kid.  It was always a little too big for my mouth and didn’t really taste that great.  But I ate it anyway, because it was one of those things that was only available this time of the year, which made it special. 

As the years passed, I got over the need to actually eat the stuff, but I still think it’s pretty.  When my kids were small, we found kits to make ribbon candy ornaments from actual ribbon, thread and beads.  This is my take on those, using wire instead of thread.  I’m sure they taste just like the original.

To make these you’ll need:  Ten inches of 20 gauge craft wire, ten 8-millimeter beads (give or take a few millimeters), and two pieces of 1 1/2” wide and 17 1/2” long grosgrain ribbon.  Grosgrain is the kind that isn’t shiny and has bumped-up rows on it. 

Melt the ends of the ribbon carefully with a lighter so they won’t fray.  Using a fine-tip pen, make small dots, starting 3/4” from one end, then every 2”.

Using needle-nose pliers, make a hook using 1” from one end of the wire.  Thread on a bead.  Lay the two pieces of ribbon together, making sure the ends and edges are even, with the dots on top.  Stick the wire through both pieces at the first dot.

If you have trouble pushing the wire through, you can use a large needle to make a pilot hole.  It also helps to cut the wire at an angle so it’s pointy.

Thread on another bead.  Push the wire through the next dot.

Continue threading on beads and pushing the wire through the next dot as shown until you reach the last dot.

Add one last bead to the bottom.  Push all the beads up to the top.  Bend the wire 1” below the bottom bead.

Twist the remaining wire around a pencil to make a curl.

Push the beads back down and you’re done.

These are so easy and fun, I went a little crazy making them.  This set is in my boy’s favorite color:  camo, with a little Christmas thrown in.

These would be cute gift toppers too. 

And you still have a little time to make them!