Looking for a nostalgic Christmas craft that sparkles with handmade charm? This safety pin Christmas tree is a fun and creative holiday project that’s both easy and eye-catching! Each tree shimmers like a mini work of art, and they’re perfect for displaying on a mantel, gifting to friends, or adding to your holiday decor.
This classic beaded craft is simple enough for beginners and super satisfying to make. Just thread beads onto safety pins, connect them in a cone shape, and watch your beautiful beaded Christmas tree take shape!
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How to Make a Safety Pin Christmas Tree
Materials:
- Safety pins (1 inch)
- 3mm Seed beads (green)
- 3mm Faceted beads (multi-coloured)
- Elastic beading cord
Equipment:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Add beads to safety pins
- Open a safety pin and add about 6 green seed beads to the pin, filling it until there’s just enough room to close it.
- Close the pin carefully.
- Now add green beads as well as one coloured faceted bead to another pin.
- Repeat until you have 60 pins with all green beads, and 60 with a coloured accent bead.Important: Place the accent beads at different spots on the pin (some in the middle, some at the top, etc.), so that they’ll look like scattered ornaments across the tree, rather than sitting in a line.
Step 3: Construct the top tier of the tree
- Cut a piece of clear elastic cord, about 3 inches long.
- Thread 8 all-green pins onto the elastic, placing the thread through the loop side of the pins (the clasp will be at the bottom, hanging downwards).Make sure all the pins are facing the same direction (beads out).
- Tie the elastic in a tight double knot. Cut off the excess cord close to the knot. This is the top of your tree.
Step 4: Make the second tier of the tree
- Cut another piece of elastic, about double the length of the first piece.
- String the elastic through the clasp of a pin from the first tier.
- Thread an all-green pin onto the elastic, going through the loop side. Make sure the beads face out (the same direction as the first tier).
- Then add a green bead onto the elastic (the same kind as you used on the pins).
- Now add a pin to the elastic that has a coloured bead on it (again, going through the loop side).
- Bring the elastic through the clasp of the next pin on the first tier.
- Repeat this pattern all the way around (green pin, green bead, coloured pin, clasp) until you reach the first pin you threaded.Tie the elastic tight and cut off the excess near the knot.
Step 5: Create the third tier of the tree
- Repeat the same steps from the second tier to create the third. (Elastic through clasp, green pin, bead, coloured pin.)
Step 6: Make the fourth (and final) tier
- Begin by cutting another piece of elastic. Thread it through the clasp of a pin from the third tier.Add 2 safety pins to the elastic (one green, one with colour), loop side up. Then slide the elastic through the next clasp from the previous tier.
- Repeat this pattern around (green pin, colour pin, clasp) and finish by tying a knot and cutting off the excess thread.
Step 7: Finish off the tree
- Cut another piece of elastic and thread it through the clasps of 3 pins in the 4th tier.
- Add a green bead onto the elastic and then slide the elastic through the next 3 clasps.
- Repeat this pattern (green bead, 3 clasps) around. At the end you should have 4 pins left. At this point you can create 1 section of 4 pins, or 2 sections of 2 pins.When you reach the beginning, where you first added the elastic, add one last green bead. Then tie the elastic into a tight knot, cutting off the excess near the knot as usual.
- Your safety pin Christmas tree is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Add a tree topper: Glue a sunburst bead, foam star, or even some sequins to the top of your tree for the perfect finishing touch.
- Try a different base: Instead of elastic string, you can use jewelry wire or thin craft wire to form the base of your tree. Wire gives a sturdier structure and helps the tree hold its shape better.
- Personalize the colours: Try mixing bead colours for a snowy or rainbow effect, or use metallic beads for a more elegant, modern look.
What size safety pin Christmas tree does this make?
Following the instructions above, using 1 inch safety pins, will make a tree that’s approximately 3-1/2 inches tall with a 3-inch diameter at the base. The exact size will vary a little, based on how tight you tie the elastic.
How many safety pins are needed to make a safety pin Christmas tree?
If you follow our directions exactly, you’ll need 8 pins for the first tier, 16 for the second, 32 for the third, and 64 for the fourth — for a total of 120 safety pins.
We recommend having at least 125 pins on hand, just in case some are bent or don’t close properly. Some pins also have a very small gap at the top, which can make it difficult to thread them onto the elastic cord or wire.
What type of beads can you use to make a safety pin Christmas tree?
We used 3mm seed beads for the main tree colour and 3mm faceted beads for the ornaments. You can also use all faceted or sunburst beads for extra sparkle — just note that the number of beads and pins you’ll need will vary slightly depending on the bead size and shape.
These safety pin Christmas trees are such a charming way to add handmade sparkle to your holiday decor. With just a few simple supplies and a little patience, you can create a shimmering keepsake that’s full of nostalgic, crafty fun. Whether you make one as a gift or display a whole forest on your mantel, these beaded trees are sure to bring a touch of Christmas magic year after year.
Here’s even more sparkly Christmas craft ideas:
Rhinestone Christmas Ornaments
DIY Beaded Christmas Ornaments
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Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
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