These Christmas tree ornaments are quick to make and require just a few materials. It is a project that could be easily done by older children as well.
You will need:
glass beads (one brand calls them “glass E beads” and another “seed beads 6/0”, I just bought the larger of the two sizes offered at Michael’s)
needle nose pliers
wire (20 gauge)
Step 1:
Cut off a length of wire that will be a bit longer than you need to make the coil of your finished Christmas tree plus a few twists at the beginning and the end.
Step 2:
Using the needle nose pliers make a little curlicue that will be both the decoration at the top of the tree and the hanger attachment.
Step 3:
Begin stringing the beads along the wire. You could do it in a repeating pattern of colors or randomly as I did.
Step 4:
You are now ready to begin coiling your tree shape when you have about 2/3 of the wire filled.
Just begin to twist it with your fingers in gradually larger circles. You don’t need to fiddle with it a lot at this point; just determine how much larger you are going to want to make your tree. You will adjust the coils to be more aesthetically pleasing at the end.
Step 5:
Once you’ve reached your ornaments desired size cut off the extra wire, leaving just a bit to bend into a curlicue to hold the beads on the wire.
Step 6:
Now begin adjusting your coils. Are you aiming for the perfect shape or a touch of whimsy?
Step 7:
Repeat the process to make as many trees in as many color combinations as you would like.
Step 8:
Add the style hanger of your choice. I chose to use candle wick yarn for a simple hanger as I felt my usual beaded hanger would detract from the tree ornament itself.
Step 9:
Hang up your ornaments! You may find that any photo sessions you may wish to have with your new ornaments are more easily had without inquisitive 2 year olds in the room.
It might get a bit misshapen but the ornament does hold up fairly well to toddler abuse.
I was featured!!
Here’s where I’m linking up:
Christmas Craft Linky Party, Tea Rose Home,
Sunday:
I {heart} Naptime, Flamingo Toes, My 1929 Charmer Blog,
jembellish clothes upcycling page, Blissful and Domestic,
Monday:
Get Outta My Head Please, Skip to My Lou, The Gunny Sack, Sew Can Do,
Singing Three Little Birds, C.R.A.F.T., diy home sweet home,
Craft-O Maniac, Sew Chatty, Sarahndipities , The Cure for the Common Monday
Tuesday:
Not Just a Housewife, Hope Studios, Funky Polkadot Giraffe,
Kammy’s Korner, Home Stories A to Z, Crafty Confessions,
Homemade Tuesday, Today’s Assignment,
Antiprocrastination Tuesday, Take-a-Look Tuesday, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday,
The Creative Itch Boutique, Schwin and Schwin, Heart and Soul Blog Hop
Wednesday:
Sew Much Ado, Frugally Sustainable, Lil’ Luna, Someday Crafts, Whimsy
Wednesday, Whatcha Work Up Wednesday
Thursday:
Mom On Timeout, Thrifty Decorating, Bear Rabbit Bear, Thriving on Thursdays
The Crafty Blogstalker, The Shabby Creek Cottage, House of Hepworths,
Sorta Crunchy, Delightful Order, Anything Goes Linky Party,
Friday:
Simply Designing, Whipperberry, Happy Hour Projects,
Joyful Stamper, Making Lemonade Blog, Thirty Handmade Days,
Naptime Crafters, Romantic Home, Finding Fabulous,
Shabby Nest, French Country Cottage, The Charm of Home, The Grant Life,
At the Picket Fence, Fingerprints on the Fridge, One Artsy Mama,
Saturday:
The Gingerbread Blog, Too Much Time On My Hands,
Six Sisters Stuff, Serenity You, Be Different Act Normal
Related articles
- Handmade Bird Ornament 2012 (folkhaven.wordpress.com)
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Heidi @ lightlycrunchy said,
November 18, 2012 at 6:14 pm
These are so cute!
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 18, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Thanks 🙂
Linne said,
November 18, 2012 at 10:00 pm
I love these. When my sons were still at home, everything on our tree was handmade except for the icicles. I’m glad to see others doing the same. If you don’t have a craft store nearby, in Canada the Dollarama (dollar store) usually has beads.
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 19, 2012 at 7:28 am
I never thought of checking for beads at the dollar stores, but even though here there are plenty of craft stores it would be a lot cheaper. I’ll look next time we go.
Linne said,
November 26, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Sometimes you can be lucky at a thrift store or garage sale, but you just have to keep your eyes open. Mum found a whole loom at a second-hand store once, a big one for $100! I have often found knitting needles, yarn and other fibreworking materials. It’s good to let friends who garage sale shop regularly know what you are looking for; I have one friend here whose daughter makes a good living buying at garage sales and auctions, then re-selling on Kijiji; she doesn’t craft herself, so anything craft-related goes to her Mum for nothing. Her mum shares with me (-; You wouldn’t believe the fabric finds!! My friend makes dolls of all sorts, so odd bits of fabric suit her perfectly.
I forgot to mention, too; I’m pretty sure that ‘E’ beads and seed beads are different sizes, but not by much, as I recall. Happy hunting, Karen!
HGK said,
November 19, 2012 at 3:09 am
Cute! I guess you could also make them together with older kids, letting them string the beads… we just might be making these soon. Thanks!
Liefs, Audrey
http://hetkabinet.blogspot.com
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 20, 2012 at 8:48 am
Enjoy it! And thank you for your visit… 🙂
Linne said,
November 26, 2012 at 6:55 pm
you could use a heavier wire and larger beads (maybe smallish wooden beads) for younger kids; then do the bending yourself.
Gretchen said,
November 19, 2012 at 6:44 am
Cute! I need projects older kids can do; I’m pinning this so I don’t forget.
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 19, 2012 at 7:29 am
Thanks for pinning!
Erin said,
November 19, 2012 at 8:47 am
These are so fun!
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 19, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Thanks!
Lisa said,
November 19, 2012 at 9:47 am
Love this idea… and we have all the stuff! Pinning it! New follower!
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 19, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Enjoy! And thanks for pinning and following!
Ali @craftyWImama said,
November 19, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Fun! I think I have to raid whatever old bead stash I still have at my parents house to make this with my three year old!
I just love homemade ornaments, as a kid our tree was full of crafty things me and my sister made, and store-bought decorations just don’t have the same memories in them 🙂
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 19, 2012 at 10:04 pm
That’s totally what inspires me to make ornaments (other than the fact that it is just a lot of fun!). Having memories tied to the experience of making them, or the materials used, or making something really unique to commemorate something from the past year… It all becomes so much more meaningful to me. 🙂
ReStitch Me said,
November 19, 2012 at 1:33 pm
These are so fun! They would make great gift tie-on’s for an extra special gift presentation. 🙂
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 19, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I like that idea of using them to tie onto the gift for a neat presentation!
Maysem said,
November 19, 2012 at 7:09 pm
I’m so loving all of your ornament ideas Karen!!
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 19, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Thank you, Maysem! I’m still hoping to get over to the Anthropolgie… 🙂
rosyragpatch said,
November 20, 2012 at 10:39 am
These are lovely – such a good idea.
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 20, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Thank you, I enjoyed seeing the jacket refashion on your blog!
rosyragpatch said,
November 21, 2012 at 11:41 am
Thanks!
Becky of Magic Belles x said,
November 21, 2012 at 7:35 am
Love this idea so much!
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 21, 2012 at 9:12 am
Thank you, Becky! Happy Thanksgiving!
free beaded christmas ornament patterns, netted cover, beaded ornament, Christmas tree, Christmas spider, Christmas sequins and pins, Swarovski Christmas ornament | Guide To Beadwork Blog said,
November 21, 2012 at 11:33 am
[…] Beaded Christmas Tree Ornaments Tutorial « Folk Haven […]
Yoni Sim said,
November 22, 2012 at 7:10 pm
another “to do” for Christmas crafts, thanks for sharing 🙂
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 22, 2012 at 7:33 pm
I’m glad you like it! Enjoy 🙂
Kelli said,
November 24, 2012 at 12:44 am
These are just beautiful! I shared them on my Some Kind of Wonderful party! Thanks for sharing with us!
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 24, 2012 at 8:17 am
Thank you! I tried to follow your link to give it a visit but it didn’t work.
thegunnysack said,
November 24, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Trish @ Mom On Timeout said,
November 27, 2012 at 3:29 pm
These are so totally awesome – love them! Pinned! Thanks so much for sharing at Mom On Timeout!
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
November 27, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Thank you, Trish!
Anne @ Domesblissity said,
November 28, 2012 at 1:28 am
Hi Karen! These are so cute. I’m thinking I might try some of these with pipe cleaners and larger beads. What a great idea! I’m featuring this at Thriving on Thursday this week. So much for linking up!
Anne xx
Tara Yelman said,
November 29, 2012 at 2:41 pm
In started out looking at you latest post about garland and wound up on this crafty idea! thanks for sharing!
Rachel @ Grasping for Objectivity said,
November 30, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Ali would LOVE to make these! We’ll have to try it.
DIY – Christmas Tree Ornaments « As Time Goes…Buy said,
December 12, 2012 at 5:05 am
[…] Beaded Christmas Tree Ornaments Tutorial (folkhaven.wordpress.com) […]
noriecreates said,
January 2, 2013 at 8:14 pm
My kids will love this next year! Great idea!
Karen @ Folk Haven said,
January 2, 2013 at 9:36 pm
Thank you! 🙂