|
Crafting your own Christmas tree top ornament can bring added joy, memories, and meaning to the holiday season. Your own tree topper can be made as elaborate, country-like cute, or simple as you desire! The following guidelines can serve as examples for designing your own Christmas holiday tree topper. As with all handmade gifts, use your own ideas and creativity to bring style to your home.
THE CLASSIC CHRISTMAS TREE ANGEL
This easy to design angel is crafted from ready-to-make supplies found at most discount super stores or craft supply shops. This tree topper is more elaborate than most, and should take 6-8 hours to complete.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Tree topper cone (8-9 inches) or 8-inch craft foam cylinder
Craft doll head or Paper-mache egg (3 inches)
Dowel ( 1/4x4 inches)
Gold wire or gold pipe cleaner
Fabric (9x24 inches) and (8x11)
Fabric glue
Acrylic paint
Craft knife
Craft doll hands (optional)
Wings (optional)
Lace (optional)
1. Take your fabric and wrap it tight around your plastic tree topper or craft foam cylinder. Glue fabric into place and allow to dry.
2. Using acrylic paints, paint skin tone to your dowel. If you'll be using plastic doll hands, you should attempt to match the color as closely as possible. Allow to dry.
3. Construct a halo using a 9-inch strand of craft wire or pipe cleaner. Once your circle has been formed, cut a second piece of gold wire or pipe cleaner to measure 1/3 inch. Attach the second piece of wire to the halo by twisting it, and use the shorter length of wire to fasten the halo to your doll head's hair or neck area. The halo can be glued into place, if so desired, or wrapped into the doll's hair.
4. Using a sharp craft knife, poke a small hole into the side (near the top) of your plastic tree topper. Insert the dowel so that equal lengths appear on both sides. (The dowel will serve as the arms of your angel.)
5. Fold your smaller piece of fabric (8x11) in half widthwise. In the center of the fold, cut a small circle, large enough for the doll's neck. Add fabric to the top of your plastic tree topper, draping it over the dowel to make certain it hangs freely.
5. Apply a small amount of craft or fabric glue to the top of the dowel and using firm pressure, attach the fabric to the dowel.
6. Add your angel's head to the top of the plastic tree topper. When you're satisfied with it's location and positioning, glue in place with fabric or craft glue.
7. If you'll be using craft hands, attach them now, using a small amount of glue.
8. If you'll be adding wings to your angel, attach them now with craft glue to the back of your angel.
8. At this time, if you'd like, you can glue lace to the fabric's edges or add sequins, buttons, or beads for added decoration.
9. Position to top of tree and enjoy!
TIPS AND TRICKS
ADDING gold sequins or glitter to your angel's body fabric make it shimmer and shine when exposed to Christmas tree lighting.
PACK this angel away for safe keeping by wrapping it in cloth and placing it in a non-humid storage area until next season.
PAINTED ANGEL FACE TREE TOPPER
This simple tree topper is made from only a small number of supplies. The real beauty in this type of angel is that you'll be painting all of the angel's facial features.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
9-inch craft cone or 8-inch tree topper cone
12-inches fabric
Pins or fabric glue
Paper-mache egg
Acrylic paints
Gold pipe cleaner
1. Wrap your craft or tree topper cone with fabric and pin together or attach with fabric glue.
2. Using acrylic paints, select the appropriate facial tone for your angel and apply paint to your egg. Allow to dry.
3. Add facial features to your angel using acrylic paints or craft supplies.
4. Cut small strands of yarn, which will serve as hair. You can select your desired length and color. Attach the yarn to the egg with craft glue and allow to dry for 4-6 hours.
5. Attach the head of your angel to your cone with craft glue. Allow to dry.
6. Bend a pipe cleaner into a circle and attach to the doll's hair with glue.
TIPS AND TRICKS
YOU can add the simple illusion of arms to your doll by bending a 5-inch piece of wire in half, and inserting it into the side of the angel, under the fabric. Repeat on the opposite side.
ANGEL WINGS can be constructed out of wire and cotton balls, if so desired, and attached to the back of your tree topper cone with household glue.
CHILDREN'S PAPER ANGEL
This is a fun angel that can be updated easily each Christmas. Made from basic supplies, this angel can be crafted by young and old alike.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Construction paper
Child-safe scissors
Glue
3-inch foam ball
Buttons
Yarn
Popsicle stick
1. With crayons, paints, or colored pencils, allow children (or adults) to color on a single sheet of white or off-white construction paper.
2. Glue two buttons on to your cone, so that they form eyes. Allow to dry.
3. Cut a small amount of red or pink yarn and glue it on to the foam ball so that it forms a mouth.
4. Cut small strands of colored yarn and glue it to the top of the ball so that your head now has the appearance of hair. Allow to dry.
5. Roll your construction paper so that it forms a cone shape. Be sure to leave a small opening at the top of the cone. Apply a small amount of glue to the cone and allow to dry. (Cone can also be stapled together as a less time consuming alternative.)
6. Push a popsicle stick through the bottom of your angel's head and slide it into the opening of your cone.
7. Roll a gold colored pipe cleaner into a halo shape and glue it to your angel's head.
8. Using a child proof pair of scissors, cut angel wings from a colored piece of construction paper and fasten to the body of the angel using staples or craft glue.
9. Place on top of tree and enjoy!
TIPS AND TRICKS
YOU can dip foam balls in facial colored paint to give them a more realistic appearance. Allow to dry thoroughly before painting or adding facial features.
USE a variety of colors to make your angel the center of attraction!
SMALL children can give mini angels as gifts to grandparents.
ANGELS can also be hung on the tree!
| 
