12 Projects: Tree Topper

When I was in first grade, we made angel tree toppers in girl scouts.  We put glue on some white fabric, wrapped it around a cone, and added a styrofoam head and ridiculous curly doll hair. Until recent years, when she's opted for a smaller tree, my mother has used my first grade angel to top the tree every year.

Since I purchased my slim tree, I've used a number of different things for tree toppers.  I've used a dollar store twig star, a wire reindeer, and various other home made solutions.  In short, i've been too cheap to purchase a store bought topper.  As I mentioned in the post about glittery candles, I'm really into the glitter trend that has been adding to Christmas sparkle, and I wanted to bring that to my tree topper.

My homemade, stash supply using, sparkly star tree topper!

Supplies used:

Cereal Box

Tacky Glue

Modge Podge

craft glitter (large and fine)

Felt

Scissors, paint brush and a Sharpie.  I realize I leave these basic tools off the supply lists a lot.  I imagine you lot are bright enough to cut things with scissors, but perhaps I should be more thorough?  Thoughts?

I followed this tutorial from The Glue Gun Girl to make cardboard stars out of a cereal box.  I had a really hard time drawing an even star, but I kind of like that my stars turned out imperfect.  If you need a perfect star, she links to some free star templates.  You don't actually need two for this project, I figured I could use the second one elsewhere.

Instead of painting a solid color, I mixed Modge Podge with glitter.  I started out with the same big gold glitter I used on my pinecone mini tree, but the spaces between the glitter flecks were too big, so I added a bunch of the Martha Stewart glitter in yellow gold and bronze.  

I painted it on my stars!  I was a little worried that the modge podge would get rid of some of the sparkle, or wouldn't cover the purple sharpie lines, so I laid it on pretty thickly.  I left my stars to dry overnight.

For the tree topper base, I made a cardboard cone using my mini tree tutorial.  I covered it in green felt, so it would blend in to the green tree.  

My star after drying.  Still sparkly, and not shedding glitter.  Success!  I did have to refold all the creases, as the weight of the modge podge flattened the shape a bit and made the cardboard a bit rubbery.  

I put glue on the tip of the cone and stuck it to the back of the star.  I also cut a little rectangle of felt, smeared it with glue, and wrapped it around the top of the cone and flat against the inside of the star. 

I let this dry for a few hours, glittery side down.

The star in it's new home on my tree.  I find it's imperfections charming, and a lot more me than something perfect.  

What do you guys top your tree with?  Where do you stand on the Angel/Star debate, or do you go with something entirely different?  

Missed something?  Check out The 12 Projects of Christmas.

12 Projects: Tree Skirt

I bought my fake tree five years ago, for my first Christmas in New Jersey and the first I spent away from my family. The two cats I had at the time loved sleeping under it, so I didn't spend much money on a tree skirt.  In fact, I bought the cheapest one possible: a little red felt number from a big box store.  

Charlotte and Bailey under the tree, Christmas 2008

For my first Christmas in North Carolina and in my exciting new apartment, I wanted something new.  I wanted something cute and colorful with a vintage vibe, but nothing too precious as Bailey still loves to sleep under the tree.

I wanted to use up some of my scrap material, but I ended up supplementing with a few quarters of a yard from a JoAnn's sale.  I sketched up a simple scalloped pattern, and cut out a bunch of red and green wedges.  They are pretty imperfect, but i like it that way!

I was able to use the sleeves from two of the sweaters from the pillow project, and fabric scraps from a few past Halloween costumes.  I stitched the wedges together, alternating red and green.

Once it looked big enough, I layed it out on two yards of this green and red star fabric.  I sewed around and turned it inside out, making a quick and dirty lining for the underside.  I may add batting and quilt it in the future. 

It is a great size for my slim tree, but should fit around future trees.  Check out those peppermints!

What do you think of my tree skirt? 

Sorry for all the delays in posting, I've been caught up in other projects.  Most recently, I made one of two planned winter holiday dresses, and I even wore one to visit Santa.  

What have you been doing to get into the winter holiday spirit?

Missed something?  Check out The 12 Projects of Christmas.