DIY Tree Toppers

No Christmas tree is complete without a Christmas tree topper. Some families have special tree toppers that have been in the family for generations, while others simply pick one up along with the tree decorations each year. You can save money and put your creative skills to good use by creating your own tree topper. You can create the two most common tree toppers, an angel and a star, using items you likely have around your house.

Things You'll Need

• Angel:
• 3 white coffee filters
• Foam ball, 1 to 2 inches
• Foam cone, 3 inches
• Toothpick
• Gold or silver balloon string
• Craft glue
• Gold or silver glitter
• Silver or gold foil
• Hot glue gun
• Plastic gold or silver ring
• Star:
• Pen
• Cardboard square
• Heavy-duty scissors
• Silver or gold heavy-duty foil
• Craft glue

Instructions

Angel

1. Cover the cone-shaped foam with a coffee filter to create the angel's body, and stick a toothpick at the top center of the cone.

2. Attach the round foam ball to the part of the toothpick that is sticking out and cover it with another coffee filter. This is the head of the angel.

3. Secure the coffee filter over the head with gold or silver balloon string at the neck, between the round and cone-shaped foam.

4. Fold the last coffee filter in half and line the edges with glue.

5. Cover the glue with gold or silver glitter. Shake the excess off and allow the glue to dry.

6. Fold the coffee filter like an accordion to create pleats, then tie a ribbon in the center, so that the coffee filter now resembles a bow-tie.

7. Attach the coffee filter to the back of the cone-shaped foam using a hot glue gun. Carefully spread the coffee filter ends to make it look more like wings.

8. Glue a tiny halo on top of the head made from tin foil twisted into a circle shape, or use a small plastic ring.

Star

1. Draw a star shape on a piece of cardboard with a pen, and cut it out using heavy duty scissors.

2. Place the cardboard star on a large sheet of heavy-duty foil and trace the star, but add an inch of space around the star. Move the star to an another area of the foil and trace the cardboard star in the same manner.

3. Cut out both foil star shapes and brush craft glue onto the cardboard star.

4. Carefully line up the points of the foil star shapes and glue them to both sides of the cardboard star.

5. Fold over the excess foil and use scissors to cut out the foil between the points where necessary to maintain the star shape.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the tree branches and ribbon to secure both the angel and the star to the top of the tree.

Resources

• Better Homes and Gardens: Treetoppers for Christmas