Welcome back! Following up on my recent project where I crafted handmade Christmas tree napkin bags, I felt they needed a little something extra—a bit of “pizzazz,” if you will. To add that perfect finishing touch, I decided to create a small beaded Christmas tree ornament to hang right on the front of each bag.

Beading is such a versatile hobby. Depending on the size of the beads you choose—whether they are tiny glass beads or larger wooden ones—you can completely change the scale and feel of your project. Today, I’m sharing how I designed my own beaded tree and how you can do the same using resources you likely already have at home.

Supplies Needed

To get started on these festive beaded accessories, you will need:

• Assorted Beads: I used a mix of red, green, and gold beads. You can find multi-color packs at your local dollar store or craft shop.
• Beading Wire: Thin silver or red wire works best.
  • Pro-tip: If you sew with wired ribbon, don’t throw away the wire inserts! You can pull the wire out and repurpose it for these small beading projects.
• Small Felt Squares: For the tree trunk base (optional).
• Ribbon: A small piece to tie a decorative bow at the top of the tree.
• A Smartphone or Computer: To capture and enlarge reference photos.
• Scissors or Wire Cutters: For trimming your wire and felt.

Finding Inspiration Without a Pattern

One of the hurdles I often face is finding a design I love on social media that doesn’t come with a written pattern. To solve this, I use a simple tech trick. When I see a beaded project on Facebook or Pinterest, I take a picture of it with my phone.

Later, I pull that photo up on my computer and enlarge it. By zooming in, I can clearly see and count exactly how many beads are in each row. For example, one pattern I found had 11 beads across the bottom, moving up to rows of nine, seven, and five. This “count-as-you-look” method makes it incredibly easy to recreate almost any beaded shape, from trees to stars to little angels.

Refining the Design

When I first tried following a pattern I found online, I wasn’t entirely happy with the result. The edges felt a bit “jagged,” and I wanted my trees to look more pristine and straight.

I decided to manipulate the count to get the look I wanted. Instead of skipping numbers to create tiers, I used a gradual decrease—starting with 15 beads, then 14, then 13, and so on. This created a much smoother, triangular edge. I also swapped out the beaded trunk for a small square of felt because I found the beads didn’t allow the tree to sit flat against my fabric bags. Never be afraid to adjust a pattern to suit your own style!

Tips for Assembly

• Wire Lengths: Always cut your wire a bit longer than you think you’ll need. It’s much easier to trim the excess at the end than to try and add more wire halfway through your project.
• Layering Colors: I used a mix of red and green rows, topped off with a single gold bead at the peak to represent a star.
• Adding the Bow: A tiny ribbon bow at the top not only hides the wire twist but also adds a soft texture that contrasts beautifully with the hard beads.
• Don’t Drop the Beads: It sounds simple, but working over a tray or a piece of felt can save you a lot of time searching for those tiny beads on the floor!

The Finished Look

These little beaded trees are the perfect size to pin or hang onto the front of my Christmas tree napkin holders. They add a wonderful texture and a bit of holiday sparkle to the table setting. It’s a simple, low-cost way to utilize your resources—like repurposed ribbon wire—and create something truly unique.

I hope this inspires you to look at beading in a new way and try “counting out” your own patterns from photos. Happy crafting!

You can see the full process and the final result in action here: https://youtu.be/5ySv-O6yP6E