DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Safety Pin and Seed Bead American Flag

Thanks to a viewer (Sherry) for sending this one in!

Materials:

• 10 small silver or gold colored safety pins (size #0)
• 1 larger silver or gold colored safety pins (size #2)
• red, white and blue seed beads
• metal nail file or flat screwdriver
• Optional:  needle nosed pliers

Instructions:

• take one of the small safety pins and thread on the beads from column one of the pattern below (5 blue, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red).
• repeat with the second, third, fourth and fifth safety pins.
• with the sixth thru tenth safety pins, start with red and alternate 9 beads red/white.

• Optional:  Pinch the opening of the safety pins with the needle nose pliers so they won't pop open.
• Use a nail file or flat screwdriver to stretch open the loop of the large safety pin
  • This is the toughest part of the craft -- once you've done these crafts a couple of times, it gets easier.
  • Step back and think about this for a second -- this step makes a lot  more sense if you keep in mind that you need the pin part of the large safety pin free to pin onto your hat or shirt -- you have to get the small safety pins onto the other side of the large safety pin.
  • Slide the ends (little circles) of the small safety pins onto the large safety pin -- keep sliding all the way around the loop so it's on the other side (non pin side) of the large safety pin.
  • Squeeze the loop back closed with pliers.
• Here are some additional suggestions from viewers:
   
  "I just took the circle end of the pin with the beads on it and twisted around circle end of the main pin.  After the first 1 or 2 it is easier then messing with pliers and you don't have to worry about them staying closed.  Also, using different styles and sizes of beads gives the flag a 3D effect.  Using the same large pins for everything is a different yet nice project."
  Thanks Fawn.
   
  "I bought the size 3 saftey pins and used E beads. 3 blue, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red worked well, 5 rows of that, then 5 rows of alternating red white (starting with red).  I also found that a staple opener opened the spring part of the pin very well."
  Thanks Tina