Introduction: Micro Ball-balls for a Tiny X-mas Tree

About: Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing.

Big Christmas Trees are so overrated; they are expensive, time consuming, drop needles everywhere, and above all take up a massive amount of space! Small trees have become quite popular recently for the reasons mentioned above, as well as the ability to look after it all year and use the same tree (just a little bigger now) next year!

This year I found the smallest tree yet! it's a tiny real pine sapling about 8 inches tall (not including pot), I got it from my local grocery store for £3 (~$4.70). I thought it looked so sweet but a little bare with all the available decorations far too large for it, so I thought I'd make my own miniature ball balls to jazz it up! :D

Materials:

  • Beads - I used 6mm Diameter metallic finish beads but you can use any kind.
  • Super Glue
  • Multi core wire - You can use expensive jewelers wire if you like but electrical wire works just as well, and multi core means lots of strands for just one length of wire!

Tools:

  • Wire Strippers
  • Wire Cutters
  • A pen - or anything of similar shape.

It took me about an hour to make enough ball balls to cover the tree :) The next step will tell you how to make the micro ball-balls

Step 1: Making the Ball-Balls

1. First you will need to strip and cut a length of wire, I stripped about 2 inches and cut the strands from the wire. Separate the lengths of wire out and set aside.

2. Next, take one length of the wire and wrap it around your pen (or pen shaped device) and give it a twist, as shown in the image. Continue to twist until the two ends meet then thread a bead onto the twisted wire.

3. Put a dab of glue on the join where the wire comes out the other side of the bead, careful not to let the glue drip onto the side of the bead. Just like soldering; run the glue nozzle up the twisted metal leg to avoid drips.

4. While the glue is drying you can start the next one using the same pen (or pen like device) and collect a few on the pen, as shown in the image.

5. Once the pen is full, carefully slide the micro-ball-balls off and let the dry a little longer to one side. After a while, you can use the wire cutters to cut off the excess to finish the micro-ball-ball :D

6. Now all that is left is to populate your tree with tiny balls of Christmas cheer!!

Hope you enjoyed this and Merry Christmas to all!