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Pretty wire tree centerpieces can be produced in just a few simple steps. These unique display items are elegant and complex in appearance, belying the fact that the entire project can be completed in less than two hours.
Things You Should Know
- Cut 90 pieces of wire that are the same length.
- Secure a bead on each piece of wire.
- Braid the pieces of wire together to create the branches and trunk of the tree.
- Mount your tree on a rock or decorative plate with hot glue.
Steps
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Cut 90 pieces of wire that are 18" (43cm) long. Here the wire is wrapped around a book 90 times. Then wire cutters were used to cut all of the pieces at once.
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Remove one wire from the bundle. Bend it in half as you smooth out the kinks in the wire, using the cloth. You can smooth the wire with your bare hands but it's easier on your fingers if you use a cloth.
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Slide a bead onto the wire and center it at the bend. Cross the ends of the wire directly below the bead and twist the wires together tightly at least three times to secure the bead.
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Repeat this step with all the remaining wires. Varying the number of twists below each bead will make the tree less uniform and more interesting.
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Separate the root wire into three groups. Twist each group together to begin forming the roots. Continue separating each root into smaller roots until you run out of wire to twist.
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Use the wire cutters to trim the ends of the roots. Bend or straighten the roots as needed so that the tree sits level.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat size and type of beads would work best with this project?Community AnswerYou could use any beads, but I'd guess the ones used for this tree are small, glass beads. I've seen larger trees done with chunks of amethyst, and I've seen tiny ones made using glass seed beads. The general idea for bead shape is that you're trying to make it look like leaves or flowers. Glass or stone beads look great, but plastic or wood could still give a nice effect while being less expensive.
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QuestionWhat if I don't have hot glue?Community AnswerHot glue is necessary for this craft. You can buy a hot glue gun at your local craft store if you don't have one.
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QuestionCan I make the tree with less than 90 wires?Community AnswerYes, but it will have fewer branches, and might end up looking a bit thin. You can also shorten the wires if you want the tree to be smaller.
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Tips
- 18 inch (43cm) pieces of wire will make a 6 inch (15cm) tall tree, so if you want to make a different height of tree simply multiply the desired height by 3 and cut your wire pieces to that length.Thanks
- Always be sure to twist all of the wires in the same direction.Thanks
- You can use moss and gravel to cover the glue and secure the tree.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- 90 feet/27.5 meters of wire (24-32 gauge works best)
- Ruler
- Wire cutters
- Beads
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Cloth or leather for smoothing wire.
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 225,171 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I have always wondered how these were created. Thanks for the very clear and useful information. I especially appreciated the tips. They seem to have come from some trial and error. I will let you know how successful I was in trying to accomplish it." ..." more
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"I have always wondered how these were created. Thanks for the very clear and useful information. I especially appreciated the tips. They seem to have come from some trial and error. I will let you know how successful I was in trying to accomplish it."
..."
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"I already do a lot of bead work, so I'm familiar with a lot of prep work. What really helped was the numbers and lengths, as well as the actual construction. I'll probably use floral foam with moss as the base."
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"Best instructions ever for this project. I printed it off. I don't like chip beads some of them can be quite fragile because of their shape and are limited in colour. Fun to make. Good gift."
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"I love the pictures included with each step, as well as the written steps with a couple tips. This made it simple to follow. I can't wait to try making a tree this way."
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"The general idea was great, as I had no idea how this was done. Now I will be creating one tonight. Good instructions."
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