Beaded Christmas Tree Decorations

Make a Family Heirloom

[See Part One for instructions and materials list for making the Beaded Christmas Tree.]

Making the Beaded Christmas Tree Decorations

To make the ornaments, place a larger bead or two on a head pin.

Cut the pin leaving approximately 5/8 inch for the hook.

Make a small hook with round nose pliers. Leave it open enough to place on the tree later.

Make up as many ornaments as you wish and set aside.

To make the garland, use a fine needle and thread; knot one end and string on approximately 200 seed beads.

Run a stitch up through the last bead twice and knot off.

Place a drop of Fray Check on each knot at both ends.

To make hangers for the garland, place one head pin through the bottom of the last bead on each end. Form an open loop in both.

Measure out the garland and use eye pins to form intermediate hangers.

Slightly open each eye loop and hook that end onto the string between the beads spacing them out along the garland. Close the eye loops.

Leave approximately 5/8 inch of wire for the hooks as you did for the ornaments.

Make a hook in each tail, leaving it slightly open for attaching.

Instructions for Decorating the Tree

Glue a star or angel on the top of the tree.

While the tree is still sitting in a vase start to decorate the tree.

Add the ornaments where desired and then close each hook you created with round nose pliers.

Add the garland in the same manner placing the hooks you created where needed and then going back and completely closing each one so the garland will always stay in place.

Insert the tree trunk through the hole in the skirt and then down into the lid of the box.

Run more glue around the tree trunk under the tree skirt.

Gather the thread in the center of the skirt until it just fits around the trunk. Run the needle through the fabric, knot and cut off. Push the skirt down and secure in the glue around the trunk. The skirt will now have a ruffled look to it.

Add whatever you would like under the tree.

Tiny toys, boxes and gift bags found in the doll house section of any craft store or make some items with clay and then paint them.