How to Make a Pony Bead Christmas Tree
These pony bead Christmas tree ornaments are so cute! Have fun making this simple Christmas craft that's perfect for kids of all ages. Just use a simple weaving pattern to make this colourful holiday ornament in 15 minutes or less.
Yield: 1 pony bead ornament
Cost: $2
Equipment
Materials
- Rattail cord
- Jump rings
- Pony beads (green, brown, and various colours)
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Set up your work space and cord
- Cut a 25 inch piece of rattail cord.
- Add a 10mm jump ring onto the cord and fold the cord in half, so the two ends are even.
- Tape the jump ring to your working surface.
- Gather pony beads of various colours to make your tree. You'll need green, brown (for the trunk), and coloured beads for the ornaments (including 1 yellow for the star).
Step 3: Form the tree shape with beads
- Begin by adding a yellow bead onto both cord ends. Push it up to the top, next to the jump ring. This is the tree's "star".
- Now we're going to be working with each cord end separately, attaching beads first to one strand and then the other.
- Add 1 coloured bead and 1 green bead to the left strand (you can also add them to the right strand -- whichever is more comfortable for you).
- Now take the end of the right cord and push it through the right side of the beads until the first row is attached to both cord ends.You can do this one bead at a time until you feel more comfortable pushing the string through multiple beads.
- Pull the cord ends so that the beads end up in the center, next to the "star".
- Add the next row of beads to the left cord (3 green) and, again, bring the right cord through this row of beads.This same idea will be repeated for each row of the Christmas tree.
- Pull the cord ends again, so this row of beads is snug against the first. You want the cords to be tight enough that they don't sag, but not too tight that the beads end up buckling.(You can go back at the end and adjust the cords by pulling on the sides of the tree, if necessary.)
- Add 4 more rows of tree, adding 1 more pony bead for each row you add (4 in the 3rd row, 5 in the 4th row, etc).Place the "ornament" beads randomly, with the rest of the beads being green.
- Finally, add a row of 3 brown beads in the same way. This is the tree's trunk.
Step 4: Finish off the ornament
- Make knots in each cord, as close to the trunk beads as possible.
- Then cut the excess cord, close to the knots.
- Cut a 5 inch piece of rattail cord.
- Attach it to the jump ring and tie the ends in a knot, creating the ornament hanger.
- Your Christmas tree pony bead ornament is complete!
Notes
Looking for more Christmas pony bead crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
Melted Bead Ornaments
Beaded Pipe Cleaner Snowflakes
Melted Bead Candy Canes