Are you ready for Christmas yet? I must admit, that most of our gifts have been purchased, but of course there will be last-minute purchases, I’m sure. As my friends and family are overseas, I have to start thinking earlier than usual so I can get them into the mail. This year a couple of special friends will get this Christmas tree decoration and card. If you haven’t started yet, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time.
We love to make gifts for others! Something that I’ve done a couple of times in the past has been to include a Christmas tree ornament with my Christmas cards. This year, I will be including a little something that I made earlier in the year (I won’t mention it here, just so I don’t spoil the surprise). This Christmas tree decoration and card is a project I started several years ago, but have finally put all together.
The first step is to get a card blank (or a piece of card stock). Draw a tree shape or triangle on the front of it and use a craft knife to cut the shape out. If you’d like to be extra-fancy, then add a little glitter-glue along the edges to make them stand out. You can work on the decoration while you wait for the glue to dry. However, you may also want to create your decoration first and then cut out the aperture at the end.
Wire Christmas Tree Decoration Supplies:
- seed beads
- 20 Gauge beading wire
- a thinner wire that your beads will fit onto
- needle nose pliers
- scissors or snips
- a tree ornament hook or some thread
How To Make The Wire Christmas Tree:
Make a small loop in the thicker wire near the end and twist it around with the pliers so it holds itself together.
Carefully bend and shape the wire into a triangle. Then use your fingers to bend into the Christmas tree shape. You can draw yourself a template first and use it as a guide for ease. Or if you’re more artistic, just shape it freehand using a pair of needle-nose pliers or your hands. Younger children may need some help with this part. You’ll end up with something that looks like this:
After you’ve shaped your tree, snip the wire and wrap the loose end around the top below your loop (like the way a wire coat hanger is formed).
Now string your beads onto the thinner wire – use as many as you think will look pretty. It’s better to put on more beads than you’ll think you’ll need. If you don’t need them all, that’s okay, but you you don’t want to run short. We used a combination of circular and rectangular shaped beads, both in transparent and opaque forms.
The children loved doing this part. They chose the beads, the pattern that they would be strung on, and then had the fun of trying to get the beads onto the wire. Occasionally they had a bead that wouldn’t fit so they’d have to find another to use. This is great for fine motor development.
Twist your coloured wire around the top of the tree form and then start to ‘dress’ your tree by stretching the beaded wire from one side of the tree form to the other side. Move some of the beads along the wire to represent the lights and ornaments as you go.
When you get to one side of the tree, wind your beaded wire around the tree form to help hold it in place. Continue to string your wire back and forth across the tree until you get to the bottom. Snip your wire and wind the end around the tree form to hold it in place.
Use a Christmas tree decoration hanger to put through the loop at the top so you can hang it on your Christmas tree. You can also use some thread looped and knotted through the wire loop to hang your wire and bead Christmas tree decoration.
Each tree you make will be unique and you can personalise them with the colour of wire and beads that you use. We just used what we already had in the craft box, but a green tree form would look fantastic (we can think that our silver wire is a coating of fresh snow).
After you’ve completed your wire tree, you can affix it to the inside of your card so that the tree hangs down into the aperture. The recipient can enjoy a beautiful card this year, and then hang their ornament on their own tree next year. These little ornaments aren’t heavy so they’ll be easy to send through the post.
Have you seen our baby wipe lid card? Or our Japanese New Year cards? Check them out!
Do you make your own Christmas cards, or do you purchase them? Both have their benefits. I’d love to hear what others are doing this year in the comments below!
Festive Family Holiday Hop
I’ve teamed up with over 20 great bloggers for this fabulous event. Please click over to see what they’re sharing for the Festive Family Blog Hop this year. We’ll be sharing holiday inspiration, craft and DIY projects, kid activities, family traditions, and gift ideas.
- Ten Tips for a Joy Filled and Stress Free Holiday with Your Family from Bare Feet on the Dashboard
- The Ultimate Guide to Having Kind Kids This Christmas from Bits of Positivity
- Christmas Sensory Play Ideas from Adventures of Adam
- Gingerbread Play Dough from The Gingerbread House
- Raising Charitable Kids from Peace But Not Quiet
- 10 Exciting Toys To Encourage Learning for 3-4 Year Old Kids from Play Dough and Popsicles
- Christmas Crafts for Toddlers from Kidz Activities
- DIY Hot Chocolate Kit from Taking Care of Monkey Business
- Gifts Kids Can Make from Simply Vicki
- Christmas Yoga from Kids Yoga Stories
- Gifts That Last All Year from Local Busy Bees
- 10 Idea for Festive Table Decoration from La Cité des Vents
- Book-Toy Gift Sets for Preschoolers from P is for Preschooler
- DIY Gift: Science Kit for Kids! from Preschool Powol Packets
- Christmas Poems to Color from Are We There Yet?
- 5 Things to Make For a Christmas Stocking from Peakle Pie
- The Frugal Family Gift that Keeps On Giving from Kimie Pruessner Photography
- Christmas Hand and Foot Print Crafts from Play & Learn Everyday
- 20 Non-Candy Stocking Stuffers for Boys and Girls from Non Toy Gifts
- 10 Silly Gifts For Your Kids this Christmas from Witty Hoots
