How to Make a Safety Pin Angel
Make a safety pin angel using beads, wire, and small safety pins. This elegant handmade Christmas craft is the perfect DIY for teens and adults, and makes an awesome Christmas tree ornament and gift topper.
Yield: 1 safety pin angel
Cost: $3
Equipment
Materials
- Gold safety pins
- Metallic bracelet beads (various sizes and shapes)
- 24 gauge Wrapping wire
- Wooden bead(s) (10mm)
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Make the angel's skirt
- Add gold beads to fill a gold safety pin. We were able to fit three 4mm faceted spacer beads, but this will differ based on the exact size of your beads.
- Close the safety pin and repeat, making 11 more beaded pins (for 12 total).
- Cut a 5 inch piece of 24 gauge wire.
- Add a safety pin to the wire through the hole by the clasp.
- Then add a 6mm round bead to the wire.
- Repeat this pattern (pin, bead, pin, etc.) until all the pins are added.Make sure the beads are facing the same direction as you add the pins, and end with a 6mm bead.
- Form the wire into a circle and twist it together right next to the pins, securing the shape.Make sure the pins and beads are nice and snug next to each other -- you want a tight circle.
- Now cut a 24 inch piece of wire.
- Thread this wire through the bottom of each safety pin.
- Arrange the wire so there's an even amount on each side of the pins, pushing and pulling the wire through to do this.
- Tighten the pins together into a circle and twist to secure. This is the angel's skirt.
- Cut off the excess wire at the base of the skirt (from the first piece of wire).Leave the second wire long. We'll be working with it next.
Step 3: Make the body, wings, and head
- Add a 6mm round bead onto one piece of the wire. Then push the second wire through in the opposite direction.
- Pull to tighten the wires, bringing the bead down as close to the skirt as possible.
- Add eleven 3mm round beads onto one of the wires. Form it into a loop and twist it together near the round bead.Repeat on the other wire to create the angel's wings.
- Twist the two wires together a few times above the wings and then add a 10mm wood bead onto both wires. Let it slide down next to the wings, creating the angel's head.
Step 4: Form the halo and arms
- Add eight 3mm beads to one wire. Thread the second wire through the beads in the opposite direction.Pull the wires tight, leaving a 2mm gap between the head and these beads. Twist the wires together under the beads, creating the round halo.
- Now push the ends of the wire back down through the wood bead.
- Bend the halo down so it looks like it's floating above the head.
- Now thread each wire so they go through opposite sides of the body (6mm round) bead. Pull them tight.
- Add five 3mm round beads to one wire. Place the same on the other wire, and then add a 4mm cube spacer bead as well.Thread each wire through the beads on the opposite wire. Pull the wires tight to create rounded arms.
- Secure the wires together at the back of the angel by twisting them several times. Then cut off the excess wire.
- Your safety pin angel is complete!
- Now have fun making a whole chorus of angels in different metallic colours!
Video
Notes
Looking for more bead crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
Safety Pin Christmas Tree
Crochet Bead Bracelet Pattern
How to Make a Safety Pin Bracelet