Make Holly Leaves and Berries Hair Accessories
Edited by Laurel Waddell, Eng, Lynn
The sweet aroma of pumpkin pie, spiced cider and pungent scent of pine bring me wonderful memories of holiday gatherings and traditions.
I have many happy memories of Christmas caroling, twinkling lights and beautiful decorations. One of the most impressionable decorations, for me, is shiny holly leaves with their cheerful, bright red berries. Here is a fun and festive, yet simple, way to add to the Christmas atmosphere. Make yourself some Holly Leaves and Berries Hair Accessories and wear them as you spend time with friends and family this Christmas season. This project is also quick, simple enough for an older child to help with, and inexpensive enough to make hair accessories for several others as gifts.
Tools and Materials
- 1Small scissors with a sharp narrow point (I find that small scissors are best for cutting around small patterns, and scissors with a sharp point make it easier to cut into tight angles and curves.)
- 2Tape measure
- 3Standard sharp needle
- 4Hot glue gun
- 5Patterns - sketch or trace two sizes of holly leaves into a piece of paper and cut out for patterns:
- Larger holly leaf (1 3/4 inches by 1 inch)
- Smaller holy leaf (1 1/2 inches by 3/4 inch)
- 6Shiny glass beads
- 7Light green felt
- 8Dark green felt
- 9Skein of dark green floss that matches the dark green felt
- 10Package of bobby-pins
How to put this little holiday craft all together
- 1Using your larger pattern, cut out eight dark green leaves.
- 2Using your smaller pattern, cut out eight light green leaves.
- 3Sew just inside the outside edge of all eight of the smaller, light green leaves, using a straight stitch decorative stitch.
- 4Make a bobby pin loop that you'll be able to (later) attach a bobby pin to the back of five of the larger green leaves by sewing four stitches, 1/4 inch, side by side.
- 5Avoid getting any glue on the top of the point of the leaf. (You will be sewing the beads at the top of the leaf later, and it is difficult to pass the needle through the hardened glue.)On the "knot" side of the green leaf spread a light amount of hot glue.
- 6Center the smaller light green leaf over the darker leaf and press it gently into the glue.
- 7Do this for each of the remaining leaves.
- 8Sew three red glass beads near the top point of these five leaves. (Sew at the point that you did not glue, so the needle will slip easily though the felt.)Now find three leaves that you added bobby pin loops to, and two that you did not attach loops to.
- 9Set aside three of the leaves that have both red beads and bobby pin loops.
- 10Pick up a leaf with the beads (and no bobby pin loops) and place the upper right edge over the upper left edge of a leaf that has a bobby pin loop but no beads.
- 11Hot glue these two pieces together where they overlap.
- 12Repeat this exact process.
- 13Now add the last leaf without beads and a bobby pin loop to the back of the top edge of the leaf on the left.
- 14Hot glue these two pieces together where they overlap.
- 15You should end up with three single leaves, a set of double leaves, and a set of triple leaves.
- 16Slip the bobby pins into the loops on the back of each single leaf, and sets of leaves.
- 17You are finished making your first set of Holly Leaves and Berries Hair Accessories.
- 18These hair accessories are decorative and bright, and the bobby pins will easily slip into a braid, ponytail, or bun.
- 19These little holly leaves and berries offer all these aspects in one activity.The holidays are a wonderful time to craft together with our children, a pleasant occasion to dress up, and the best time to give homemade gifts.
Try this variation for a little girl
- 1Instead of beads, use little red buttons.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
