Indian Corn Fall Decoration

Decorate your home this fall with this easy-to-make project using pony beads in autumn colors to make bunches of Indian Corn.

Our Earthtone Bead Extravaganza Bead Box 6261 has a good assortment of autumn colors and will give you enough beads to make approximately 12 ears.

The bead box can be found at Factory Direct Craft and Darice. Outside of the U.S., it is also available at B & B School Supply (Canada), Hobbycraft (U.K.) and Baert (Belgium). Or you can ask at your favorite craft/hobby store.

Materials needed for 1 bunch (3 ears) of corn:

QuantityItemColor
4419x6mm barrel pony beadsearthtone/autumn colors
38” x 1” (20cm x 25mm) foam poles
9yd (8,23m)raffiaearthtone/autumn colors
5.75yd (5,25m)2.5” (6,3cm) wide paper ribbonbrown
24” (61cm)yarnbrown
112” (30,5cm) chenille stem

Notes and Tips:

  • You will need 147 barrel beads for each ear, so have fun making mixes of 3 to 4 colors. Try reds & black, golds & browns, black & white or get creative and add some pinks & blues.

  • The foam poles, raffia and paper ribbon can be found at your favorite craft store.

  • Try using recycled brown paper bags instead of the paper ribbon. Just cut them to the required size, but be sure to check for any printing.

  • The colors of the foam poles and chenille do not matter. The pole will be covered completely and the chenille is only used to align the beads until they are glued.

Other items and tools needed:


          ruler, sissors, hot glue gun, serrated knife

Instructions:
Step 1: Use a serrated knife to trim one end of a foam pole to a tapered point as shown.


Step 2: String 28 barrel beads in assorted colors onto a chenille stem.


Step 3: Run a straight line of hot glue down the side of the pole. Glue the row of beads onto the pole. Pull the chenille out when the hot glue has set.


Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 four more times.


Step 5: Glue seven beads to cover the tapered end of the pole.


Step 6: Cut three 11” (28cm) pieces of paper ribbon. Cut one end of each ribbon to a taper as shown. Slit tapered end of each ribbon several times.


Step 7: Glue the three pieces of paper ribbon to the back and sides of the pole, hiding the pole and leaving most of the beads uncovered.


Step 8: Cut three 12” (30,5cm) pieces of paper ribbon. Glue only the tops of these ribbons to the top of the pole, one ribbon in front over the beads, and the other two ribbons spaced evenly around the sides.


Step 9: Fold the three 12” (30,5cm) pieces of ribbon back over the top of the pole. Taper and slit the ribbon ends as shown


Step 10: Repeat steps 1 through 9 to make two more ears with different color combinations.

Step 11: Cut and glue four 2” (5cm) pieces of yarn to the tapered end of each pole. Unravel the loose ends of the yarn to simulate corn silk.


Step 12: Cut six 1.5yd (135cm) lengths of raffia strips. Hold them together and tie a bow around the three ears as shown.