How to Make a Toothpick Star Ornament

Here is a really simple ornament that you don't even need glue to make. Toothpick star ornaments are so pretty when they hang on a Christmas tree. In fact, you can use these ornaments to fill up a tree. Add some mirrors and lights and your living room will be elegant and unique. The only thing that a child should not do alone is the spray painting at the end.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1 box round toothpicks
• 1 Styrofoam ball - 1 inch in diameter
• silver or gold spray paint
• 1 tapestry needle
• 12 inch length of fishing line
• 1 large cardboard box- open on top
• length of wire or cord as long as the cardboard box is wide.

1. Double the fishing line and tie a knot on one end. Thread the looped end of the fishing line into the tapestry needle. Insert the needle through the Styrofoam ball and pull it through so that three inches of the fishing line sticks out. When you pull off the needle, there will be a loop of fishing line that you can use to hang the finished ornament on the Christmas tree.

2. Poke one round toothpick into the ball so that it sticks out at an angle. Continue to poke toothpicks into the ball until the ball looks like a wooden starburst. Some of the toothpicks can stick out farther than others. Just make sure that they are all in deep enough so that they won't fall out or wobble.

3. Poke a hole into two opposite sides of an open cardboard box near the top. Hang the toothpick star ornament from a piece of wire or a strong cord. Tie this wire or cord to the cardboard box so that the ornament hangs over the middle. This give you a spill-safe place to spray paint the ornament. Make sure that you do the spray painting in a ventilated area and that you protect yourself from the fumes carefully. Leave the painted ornaments suspended over the open box until the paint is thoroughly dry.

4. Remove the ornament from the painting box. Hang it by the fishing line on your Christmas tree. The ornament makes a lovely extra gift when you tie it to the ribbon of your wrapped present.