Beaded Christmas Tree

Make a Family Heirloom

Make this Seed Bead Tabletop Christmas Tree in Short(er) Order with a Bead Spinner

If you’re a beader and haven’t yet tried the Darice Bead Spinner, let me tell you, this is one cool tool!

If you’re not a beader yet, this seed bead spinner may just entice you into the fold.

This beaded Christmas tree is a work of art will be treasured and handed down for generations to come.

Christmas Tree Stand

1 - 4 or 6-inch diameter papier-mâché box - example has a 6-inch diameter
Delta Ceramcoat All-Purpose Sealer
Paint brush
Delta Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint in white, red & sky blue
Stylus or toothpick
E6000 Industrial Strength Craft Adhesive
1 pound EZ Shape Non-Hardening Modeling Clay (any color)
Small angel images to decoupage on box - print multiple clip art images or use angels from wrapping paper
Mod Podge decoupage medium
2 - 6-inch white felt circles
1 - 6-inch Christmas-design fabric circle
Needle and thread to match the fabric
20 inches of gold decorative trim for the tree skirt
Awl or Phillips head screwdriver
Dritz Fray Check

Supplies for the Beaded Christmas Tree

Darice Bead Spinner - optional but really speeds up the project
5 Hanks of #11 dark green seed beads
3 - 11-inch lengths of 16-gauge wire
60 yards of 24-gauge copper coated wire in green
11 small plastic baggies
Floral tape in dark green
Various colors of decorative glass beads up to 5mm size
Head pins for the ornaments
Small plastic star or angel for tree topper - example has a ¾-inch glittered star
Approximately 200 #9 or 10 seed beads in various colors
10 Eye pins and 2 head pins for the garland
Small wire cutters
Round nose pliers

Assembling the Christmas Tree Stand

Seal the outside of the box and lid with the All Purpose Sealer.

Paint two coat of white paint on the outside of the box and two coats of red on the outside of the lid.

Tear out, don’t cut, the angel images to be decoupaged to the box sides. Decoupage the images around the sides of the box.

I added some clouds in blue and white around the angels. When dry, add another layer of Mod Podge all around the box.

Using the stylus or a toothpick, make small white dots along the side edges of the lid. When this is completely dry, add two coats of Mod Podge to the lid.

Make a hole in the very center of the lid with an awl or Phillips head screwdriver. The hole should only be about 4mm in size.

Cut out a circle of white felt by tracing around the bottom of the box onto the felt. Glue the circle to the bottom of the box.

Cut out another circle of white felt in the same manner but this time cut random scallops around the outer edges.

Fold in half and then into quarters to find the center.

Cut a small hole where the trunk will be inserted. Glue scalloped felt circle onto the lid of the box, making sure to center it.

Cut the clay block to fit inside the box.

You may need to add some additional clay to the top; so use what you have cut off to glue more on top as shown with the E6000 glue.

The clay should now be slightly higher than the top of the box so the lid will not go completely down but just enough to cover the side rim.

Add some glue to the inside edges of the lid and around the hole inside the lid.

Set the lid on top and add a book on top to keep it in place while the glue dries.

Note: By keeping the lid a little higher, it will give more depth for the tree trunk making it more secure.

Set aside to dry over night.

Cut a circle out of the Christmas-design fabric in the same manner as above.

Run a small amount of Fray Check around the cut edge. Hand stitch or glue the trim around the outer edge of the skirt.

Find the middle of the circle and cut a 1-inch hole. Apply Fray Check around the cut edge of the hole.

Use double thread and a needle, to sew a running stitch around the hole about ¼-inch from the cut edge. Leave the thread and needle in place until time to place around the trunk and tie off.

Making the Beaded Christmas Tree

A branch consists of a length of wire with seed beads formed into a series of loops.

Below is the approximate length of wire needed for each branch and the inches of beads needed to complete that branch.

The tree is assembled in layers of branches. In the list below you will see the number of branches needed for each layer.

Note: I found it easier to make a tiny, tight loop at the far end of each length of wire and string the required inches of beads needed for each branch using a Darice Bead Spinner, but you can place the beads in a bowl and just scoop the beads onto the wire.

Count out to the open end of wire the required number of beads to make the first loop.

Then count out the number of beads needed between each loop and then make the next loop.

After you’ve done a couple of branches, it goes much faster.

Instructions for Beading Each Christmas Tree Branch

For each branch, a loop consists of 16 beads with 6 beads between every loop.

After you have loaded on enough beads to complete each branch, count out 16 beads leaving a 2-inch tail of wire for the stem.

Form the first loop. Count out 6 beads and then another 16 and make the next loop leaving the 6 beads between the loops.

Do this until you have made the correct number of loops and spaces needed for each branch. Leave another 2-inch tail at the end and cut the initial tight loop off the end.

Twist the two stems together to form one.

Holding the very top loop on each branch and holding the stem in the other hand, twist the branch until all the spaces are wrapped around each other forming a tight branch.

Arrange the loops to resemble a tree branch.

Wrap each stem with the floral tape starting as close to the beads as possible. Bend each stem at a right angle to each branch for attaching to the trunk of the tree later.

When the first layer of branches is done, place its branches in a baggie and mark the layer number on the bag.

Continue in this manner until all the layers of branches are done.

Wrap each 11" piece of wire with the floral tape stretching it and over lapping the tape as you go down the wire.

Then group all three wires together and tightly wrap them all together. This is now the trunk of the tree.

Starting at the top of the trunk, place the first branch for Layer 1 and wrap twice with floral tape to hold it in place. Continue adding branches around, wrapping as you go.

Leave a ¼-inch space between Layers 1, 2, 3 and 4. Leave 3/8 inch between layers 4 and 5; and ½ inch between all remaining layers.

To create fullness and a natural look at the base of the tree, the final layers alternate.

That is, attach the first 10A branch of 15 loops, then the first 10B branch of 17 loops.

Continue with the second 10A and second 10B branches; then the third and fourth. Follow the same pattern with layers 11A and 11B.