Homemade Christmas Tree Topper Star

Make your own star to top a tree.

While an elegant Christmas tree decked out with expensive, store-bought ornaments is a lovely sight, it does not have the same charm as a tree decorated with homemade ornaments. You don't have to decorate the entire tree with homemade ornaments. Yet having several special decorations handmade by a family member and passed through the generations brings a sense of tradition to a tree, year after year. Instead of purchasing a store-bought Christmas tree topper star, make one yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Empty cardboard paper towel roll
• Spray paint, such as gold, silver or red
• 2 sheets of 9-inch-by-9-inch cardboard
• Box cutter
• Straight edge
• Hot glue gun
• White glue
• Glitter or embellishments

Instructions

1. Spray paint the paper towel roll and allow it to dry thoroughly.

2. Draw a star on one piece of cardboard, making the star as large as possible, taking up most of the cardboard. If you need help drawing the star, use a template or go online and print a free stencil.

3. Cut the star from the cardboard using a sharp, box-cutter knife and straight edge to make the lines straight, sharp and clean.

4. Trace an identical star on the second piece of cardboard, using the cutout star as the guide.

5. Cut out the second star, using the box cutter and straight edge.

6. Hold the paper towel roll vertically and run a bead of hot glue from the top edge of the roll down 3 inches in a straight vertical line.

7. Affix one of the stars to the end of the roll, attaching to the hot glue, positioning the star so the star's top point is above the top end of the paper roll. Hold in place. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.

8. Affix the other star in the same manner to the opposite side of the paper towel roll. Allow to dry.

9. Fit the star with the Christmas tree to determine how much of the cardboard roll to cut off from the bottom of the star topper. When finished, the top of the tree will fit into the bottom of the paper towel roll, holding the star in place. Remove the star from the tree.

10. Spray paint the entire ornament and allow it to dry.

11. Decorate the exterior of the star by gluing on glitter, beads or other embellishments.

References

• Free Printable Stencils: Star Stencil