How to make a crystal tree with wire

How to Make Wire Gem Trees

Knowing how to make wire gem trees can add a beautiful form of gemstone décor to your home. Wire gem trees use small pieces of gemstone and wire woven together.

Beginner Wire Gem Tree Designs

Gem trees are all handmade, fashioned one gemstone at a time, creating the enchanting illusion of a tree with leaves and flowers, often to stimulate a zen atmosphere in the home.

Gem trees are frequently an introductory form into the lapidary arts. Simple designs can be executed in a short amount of time with striking results to satisfy a beginner and build their confidence to continue exploring the medium. All that is needed are inexpensive gem materials, pliers, wire, and of course some patience, as with all lapidary work.

Pin this post to save this information for later.

Wire Gem Tree Materials

Gem trees are generally created with small, tumble-polished gemstones or beads. Drilled gemstone chips (freeform beads) are inexpensive and commonly used, but rounded and other shapes are also utilized.

Some gem trees are built with one gem variety creating a monochromatic vision, while others incorporate multiple colors and gemstone varieties, creating fanciful objects. Quartz is mainly used, including the favorite amethyst, carnelian, citrine, rose quartz, tiger eye, agate, and jasper. Sodalite, peridot, coral, tourmaline, and amazonite are also used.

Adding Wire Gem Tree Beads and Branches

The beads are threaded onto the wire, while the undrilled stones are glued on the wire branches, usually with #527 Craft glue or epoxy. The wire branches with the gemstones are built one by one and then attached to the trunk. Wire metals include silver, gold-filled, copper, steel, or color-coated steel. Preferably 24-gauge wire or 26-gauge wire is used. Charms may also add character and symbolism.

The larger the gem tree, with more branches and colors, the bigger statement it makes. Choosing the base is also important, typically with a flat bottom. Drusy amethyst geodes, or quartz crystals, are often chosen.

Then the trunk is built up as if it is growing out of the base. The trees’ shape also varies, imitating bonsai trees, which are the Japanese version of miniature ornamental trees in the shape of real-life trees. Wisteria trees with hanging blooming branches, willow, and spruce pine are some of the preferred tree design styles.

Wire Gem Trees on the Market

Commercially, gem trees are offered in sizes from five inches tall to twenty-five inches tall. Many are made and imported from Brazil.

The number of gemstones on those trees ranges from thirty-five for the small ones up to over 700 gemstones for the large ones. Although prices for small trees may start under fifty dollars each, prices for the large ones may reach hundreds of dollars.

Online tutorials offer a place to get started. Gem tree making is a class favorite for beginners at local gem shows and local workshop club facilities.

Karen Bennett's Gem Trees

Karen Bennett ([email protected]) is a wonderful jewelry and gem tree artist located in Green Valley, Arizona. She creates beautiful gem trees, which sell out immediately. Karen and her husband had a store in the historic and artistic town of Tubac, Arizona selling rocks, minerals, and her own jewelry.

Some gem trees incorporate multiple colors and gem materials, creating fanciful objects, like this one with multicolor agates on a carnelian base, by Karen Bennett.

Karen started making gem trees while trying to find a way to use some of their large inventory of rough peridot, Oregon sunstone, and garnet. Since they were already tumbling stones for the store, it was easy for her to tumble the stones for the gem trees.

“Making the gem trees is very relaxing, and I am always excited to see the finished product," says Bennett

Karen’s early gem trees were all made with tumbled stones, but as time went by, she decided to use chip beads as well. Karen and her husband also cut and polish the slabs she uses for the bases, in addition to shimmering quartz crystals. Turquoise beads and a slab of petrified wood are another beautiful combination.

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is a popular gem tree design in everything from visual arts, graphic designs, embroidery, rugs, home décor, and of course, in jewelry. The Tree of Life is made into pendants and earrings in a variety of styles and materials. Some are cast commercially in silver and other metals, while others are one-of-a-kind designs with gemstones.

While gem trees spread out in space, the Tree of Life’s design in jewelry – root and branches - is usually constrained within a circle or other boundary. In both cases, the sprawling branches are designed based on balance and symmetry.

The symbolism of the Tree of Life is embedded in several cultures around the world, each one reflecting its own ideals, meanings, and traditions. Yet, they all have numerous commonalities, one being the sacred life and rebirth connection.

Linda Boronczyk's Tree of Life Designs

Linda Boronczyk ([email protected]) is a talented gem and jewelry artist from upstate New York. Linda creates unique jewelry pieces and participates at the Syracuse Gem & Mineral Society show and at other local craft venues. Linda grew up in the country, in New York State, and always appreciated the beauty and peacefulness of trees.

The Tree of Life’s design in jewelry – root and branches - is constrained within a boundary, as in this drop design wirewrapped with blue chalcedonies by Linda. Photo by Linda Boronczyk.

“I admire the strength of two large maple trees and two weeping willow trees in my yard that whisper in the breeze.” Linda continued, “I love the fall when the leaves turn into vibrant colors and look for the one surviving leaf on the tree branches,” said Linda.

It took Linda several days to complete her first Tree of Life. She used emerald, fluorite, and labradorite chip beads. It is designed within an antique frame that measures 7 ¾ inches tall. The piece can be hung on a window like a Native American dream catcher or on the wall.

“As I created my Tree of Life, I thought of the dark green leaves at the base of the branches as the rebirth of life. Starting the new cycle with the changing seasons, I added color to express its beauty and strength,” she said.

Among Linda’s other Tree of Life jewelry creations is a copper-wired gem tree inside a round locket, with smoky quartz and garnet beads, and a tiny Mexican drusy quartz for the root base. She also created a beautiful necklace by redesigning a vintage acrylic necklace and adding a delicate sterling silver Tree of Life around the focal pendant.

Honey Opal Gem Tree

For this beautiful gem tree, Ellie and Ed used honey opal collected at their Yellow Gem Mine, in Idaho. Photo by Yellow Gem Mine.

Yellow and fire opals are part of a wide range of lapidary materials classified as opals that do not display the optical phenomenon of play of color. They are known as exotic common opals and come from several locations around the world.

One highly translucent variety of honey opal comes from the Yellow Gem Mine, in Valley County, Idaho. The opal occurs in the host rhyolite rock, through seams and gaps left in an old volcanic neck.

It is often fractured to some degree within the boulders or weathered out. Opal shards are found all over the hill and shine in the sun. The opal breaks off, or splinters easily, thus extreme care is required to chisel out specimens large enough for faceting.

For this beautiful gem tree, they used honey opal chips, which Ellie first screened and grouped by color, and a natural rhyolite and honey opal rock specimen for the base.

The Yellow Gem Mine

Carrie Ellie, or Ellie as she is best known, and her husband Ed own the Yellow Gem Mine ([email protected]) together with their partner and mountain neighbor, Scott, a budding lapidary.

They bring out opal specimens a few at a time because the daily trek from their base camp to the mine is about a 700-foot climb. From their camp, the trail back to their vehicle is a ten-mile hike. Ellie noted that bringing out rhyolite with opal rock specimens is hard, as they add a lot of weight to their backpacks.

“Getting to the mine is miserable, often painful, but being there energizes my soul. Finding beautiful honey opal and holding it up to the sun - now that’s something special,” says Carrie.

Occasionally while digging, facet-grade pieces roll whole out of the muck. Some pieces have beautiful black manganese oxide dendrites, shaped like snowflakes or water plants. This interesting opal is found in a striking palette of yellow shades, ranging from lemon to deep yellow, golden, amber, root beer, and a rare few red or striped.

This story about how to make wire gem trees previously appeared in Rock & Gem magazine. Click here to subscribe. Story by Russ Helen Serras-Herman.

Learn How To Make A Wired Tree With Crystals

Post author:

I then picked on end of the wire and slid another stone on to it. Keep this second stone a little distance from the trunk of the tree you are making and twist the wire to hold the stone into place. Try to twist your wire in the same direction every time so you do not undo another section. The distance you place the stones from the main branch depends on the look you want. Since my tree was going to be pretty small, I kept them all pretty close.

Once you are happy with your tree it is time to attach it to your base. I was going to attempt to make twisting roots that would attach to a larger stone, but since some of my wires were too short, it did not work well. I separated out the roots into sections and twisted the sections together. However, when I twisted the sections together the shorter wires poked out and I did not like how the roots were looking.

I then decided to just put my tree into this small pot I had. It was already filled with some foam with a hole where I pulled a fake succulent out of for another project I did a while ago. I cut the root/end wires down to fit into my small pot and to make them more even. I used wire cutters to do this. I then applied a good amount of hot glue into the hole and inserted my tree into it. I held it in place until the glue dried. I recommend holding it for a little bit, so the tree does not dry crooked. I then applied hot glue all over the inside of my pot and dropped small green stones into it. Once the glue dried, I turned the pot over and shook out any extra stones that where not stuck with the hot glue. I then applied glue in empty spots and individually placed some stones in the empty spots.

House of Beads. Wire tree with beads

Miniature trees or bonsai came into our lives from the East and quickly gained popularity. This explains the high cost of miniature artificial trees in the retail chain. It is not difficult to make wood from beads. Master class will tell you how to do this. Such products are recommended to be installed where a person strives for well-being, harmony, prosperity. A small tree can stimulate mood, give optimism and confidence.

Step-by-step master class

Such products are not just a decorative item in the interior. They are able to accumulate the energy of the sun, fire, water and direct them in the right direction. The curved trunk symbolizes greeting. A guest who finds himself in a room where there is a bonsai will instantly forget about the negativity with which he could appear on the threshold of this house.

It is also a symbol of prosperity, therefore such crafts are called a money tree. To make it, you need to prepare:

It is not necessary to have beading experience. Trees bonsai are made quite simply and do not require special skills.

1. Cut the wire into pieces about 40 centimeters long.

2. Put a bead in the middle and twist it carefully. Make a few turns. If small beads are used, you can use three beads at a time, as in the example in the photo. Make the turns carefully, observing symmetry.

3. You will need 100-120 such improvised branches.

4. No pattern for the bead tree is needed. Everything is quite improvised. It is not necessary to adhere to the proposed option. Next, add a few more beads on the wire to each branch. A branch with more beads looks more realistic.

5. Now connect the three prepared branches by twisting with pliers.

6. Using the suggested step-by-step instructions, assemble three large branches. Try to keep them the same size.

7. Using pliers, connect three branches to form the trunk of the future tree.

8. Form a stem 3-4 cm long. Divide the wire into three equal pieces. Next you have to do the roots.

9. Divide each marked part into two separate groups and twist them. Three, four turns will be enough.

10. Divide each hotel group into three parts again. Make three turns and divide again. Do this until you reach the edge of the wire. Thus, it turns out to make powerful, branched roots.

11. Cut off the excess with wire cutters. The tree can now be placed in a jar and secured with gravel, sea pebbles.

But the bonsai will look more original on a large cobblestone or in a decorative planter. It is “planted” on a stone with a glue gun.

In order to fix a tree in a pot, it is necessary to insert it inside and fill it with a solution of gypsum, alabaster. Decorate the top with artificial moss or decorative pebbles. The barrel, to make it look more realistic, is wrapped with brown tape and varnished.

3 ideas for developing creativity

Using the technique proposed in the master class, you can make a variety of trees. This is a significant gift for a loved one on the occasion of a celebration or just a source of additional income. These items are in high demand and sell out quickly.

1. Classic Yin-Yang birch. For the manufacture of white and black beads were used. Instead of a bead, eight beads of a single color are strung on each wire. Make two separate trees. They are fixed on the basis, the branches in the crown area are intertwined with each other. It is fixed in a container with a solution of alabaster. The top of the "primer" is painted with acrylics after the mortar has set.

2. From black pearls. Bright pearls with iridescent overflow will make the tree not only beautiful, but also rich enough. Decor in the form of bullfinches was purchased separately. Such a bonsai will be a symbolic gift for a pearl wedding (30 years) or just an expensive gift for any occasion.

3. Pine crown is made of green beads. Eight beads are put on each wire. Everything else is done as suggested in the master class. The tree is "planted" in a planter stand. Filled with alabaster solution and decorated with artificial moss.

Having mastered the technique, even a novice needlewoman will understand how interesting and exciting it is. A hobby can quickly turn into a profitable business.

World of beads. How to make the Tree of Life talisman with your own hands: a step-by-step master class

This article is devoted to making a pendant in the form of the Tree of Life - the oldest positive symbol of the mythology of many peoples of the world. The image of a tree, due to its identical structure, is often used to display a person's place in the universe, his inextricable connection with nature, other people, representatives of his family and family. You may have a question: “Why is it worth making and wearing such a talisman?”.

Therefore, before making the Tree of Life, first we will talk a little about what this symbol carries and how this symbol works.

This sign has a powerful positive energy. The special, reverent attitude of ancient people to the plant world is explained by their pagan beliefs, according to which trees are living beings. Archaeologists often find images that combine the features and characteristics of plants and people. Such images symbolize the deep connection of people with nature. For centuries, this symbol has been used as a family amulet that guards the hearth. Often it is also called the World Tree, meaning the structure of the universe.

In mythology, the Tree of Life reflects the idea of ancient people about the structure of the world, as well as about the place of man in this structure in general and on earth in particular. It is a generalized or, rather, a collective image. As a rule, the symbol is depicted as an interweaving of branches and roots located inside a circle, which, among other things, denotes the unity and interpenetration of life and death, heavenly and earthly, past and future.

For example, the Celts highly revered trees because of their innate deep connection with them. Trees fed man with their fruits, provided material for the construction of dwellings, served as a source of heat and fire for cooking. In addition, according to Celtic beliefs, trees have magical powers and serve as guides to the subtle worlds.

The described symbolism of the Tree of Life is determined directly by the structure of the trees. So the roots denote a connection with the ancestors, the vertical trunk - the real life of the person himself, and the branches and fruits - children. The symbol unites the elements of earth and air into a single whole, implying the inseparable connection between everyday life and the subtle world. Man always gravitates towards the power of heaven, it gives him life, just like the light that allows trees to grow. The Tree of Life reflects the original unity of man with the cosmic energies flowing in the universe.

Properties of an amulet that looks like a Tree or includes its image:

protection from spoilage, divination, evil eye and other negative energy influences;

gaining confidence, calmness, a sense of security;

assistance in development and achievement of goals;

protection of family values, close relationships, love.

This symbol does not cause religious conflicts, since it is universal and is present in most beliefs. It goes well with many other symbols or just decorations. The Tree of Life is recommended to be worn as a reliable amulet for expectant mothers to protect the baby.

Handmade jewelry is unique and carries a part of the master's positive energy. And jewelry on the theme of the Tree of Life, made by yourself, will certainly bring a unique charm and powerful energy, set you in a positive mood and give you confidence.

Next, we bring to your attention an illustrated master class on how to make a tree pendant step by step from wire for jewelry and green beads. The technique of its manufacture is so simple that even beginner craftswomen can try to needlework. We hope that your work will be easy and interesting.

Materials needed for the manufacture of the author's pendant-talisman "Tree of Life":

copper jewelry wire 0.2 thick
mm and 0.8 mm

wire cutter or wire cutter

green beads

large green bead for pendant.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Making a circular loop with

wire using any cylindrical object (we used a bottle cap - see photo). Make the diameter of the turns at your discretion - this will be the diameter of your pendant directly. Cut the wire so that you have exactly two turns plus 1 cm at each end.

Step 2: Making the roots and trunk of the tree

Take 8 equal lengths of thinner copper wire (we used 0.2 mm diameter wire) about 15 cm long. Bend them in half and attach to the circular loop, twisting their ends each other, as shown in the photo. After fixing the wire segments on the ring, twist them all together into a kind of loose bundle (see photo) - we have formed the trunk of our tree.

Step 3: Adding beads

Now you need to string beads on each end of the wire and then wrap them around a circular loop, consistently and evenly distributing their attachment points - so as to form the branches of your tree, as shown in the photo.

Step 4: Wrap the frame of the pendant with thin wire

This step is completely optional, but we think the jewelry looks more interesting with this wrapping. Wrap thinner copper jewelry wire around your entire loop that forms the frame of your pendant. Lay the turns close to each other, but perfect evenness is not required here: a slight curvature adds authenticity to the product. As you can see in the photo, we didn't try very hard to be neat at this stage.

Use one of the ends of the braid wire to form a loop to hang the pendant from the base of the jewelry - in the place where the top of your tree is located on the frame of the pendant.

Step 5: add the pendant and complete the needlework

Take your big green bead and thread a piece of thick wire about 15 cm long through it. Braid it around the bead several times. Twist the ends of the wire into a bundle, from which then form a ring with a diameter of about 1 cm (or another size - at your discretion). Wrap one of the wire ends of the resulting pendant firmly around the frame of the tree in the section of the ring where the roots of your tree are located - as shown in the photo. Cut off the excess ends of the wire and make sure that there are no protruding pointed wires - they must be carefully bent inside the product.
Learn more

How to trim citrus trees in arizona

How to plant fruit trees bare root

How much money does dollar tree make

How to take off tree sap from car

How to remove a tree stump fast

How to grow a pandanus tree

How to play fake plastic trees on guitar

How to get rid of black aphids on cherry tree

How long does a real christmas tree last inside

How to make paper trees for christmas

How do you girdle a tree

How to make a crystal tree with wire

How to Make Wire Gem Trees

Beginner Wire Gem Tree Designs

Wire Gem Tree Materials

Adding Wire Gem Tree Beads and Branches

Wire Gem Trees on the Market

Karen Bennett's Gem Trees

The Tree of Life

Linda Boronczyk's Tree of Life Designs

Honey Opal Gem Tree

The Yellow Gem Mine

Learn How To Make A Wired Tree With Crystals

Learn How To Make A Wired Tree With Crystals

Supplies: