Do you want to try your hand at making the Most Beautiful, Wonderfully Sparkly Christmas Tree Topper ever? I got tired of the bow that I always have on the top of my tree and this idea has been bouncing around in my noggin for a couple of months.
I was inspired by something I saw online but my feeble brain can’t remember where. I thought I bookmarked it but I can’t find anything! If you know where I saw this, please tell me. It’s making me crazy!
Added: Thank you Beth and Wendy! It WAS the Mystic Nest Tree Topper from Anthropologie that inspired mine! But theirs is $389! SHUT UP! Now, I have a deep and abiding love for Anthropologie, but that’s CRAZY. I think I like mine better anyway.
What you’re seeing is the image that’s been in my head. Are you a little skeeeered?
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own.
- 12″ grapevine wreath (or a foam wreath)
- Plain old silver garland (or whatever color you like). I used (2) 18 foot lengths of garland for this.
- Silver spray paint (I used Krylon Satin Nickel)
- Glitter (I used Martha Stewart’s Antique Silver Glitter)
- Sticks from your yard
- Various floral filler (I used things that are sparkly and glittery)
- Hot glue (of course)
Cover your wreath form with the garland by hot gluing one end of the garland in place and wrapping it around the wreath until it’s completely covered. Then secure the end with more hot glue.
Take some of the sticks that you cut from your backyard (or the neighbors yard) and spray paint them silver. Don’t worry about covering the sticks completely, just spray some paint on there. We’re going to be doing quite a few of these, so make it quick.
While the paint is still wet, sprinkle the stick with your glitter. I recommend using a plastic container for this part so you can put the excess glitter back in the bottle when you’re done. That stuff’s expensive.
Add a little dab of hot glue on the bottom of each stick and start inserting them into your wreath. There’s no science to this part, just keep adding them until you think it’s enough. I probably used about 40 twigs for my wreath.
One you have enough sticks, start to fill in the wreath with other stuff. Since the sticks are so, well, sticky, I used these leafy, glittery things that I’ve had in my stash for ages. They kind of soften up the sticky sticks.
From there, just add in some more filler. I used these faux ice covered branches because I like them. And I already had them.
And some silver berries.
And a birdie. There are also some silver stars, canned ravioli and kitchen utensils in there.
My tree looks so glorious with this crown sitting on top. And my kitchen looks like a flock of prancing elves spread their glittery magic all over. And I have glitter permanently embedded in my face. Such are the sacrifices of Christmas crafting.
Do you like projects like this? Then you’ll love my new eBook! It’s 5 new Christmas projects on 75 pages. If you want to see more, click here for details on what’s inside. There’s still lots of time for Christmas projects!
Many, many thanks to those of you who have already purchased a copy! You rock my socks!
Now excuse me while I go vacuum my kitchen for the 15th time.
{ 55 comments }
Kimba, that’s simply fabulous. It reminds me of the Anthro tree toppers I have seen. Perhaps that is where you found your inspiration. Maybe not. I guess it doesn’t really matter because yours is simply amazing. Makes me wish I weren’t moving right now because I’d be all over this project in a heart beat. Next year. Next year.
It’s gorgeous and I JUST saw a similarly inspired one here: http://decortoadore.blogspot.com/2009/12/anthropologie-inspired-tree-toppercraft.html
Oh, I want to try this! Thanks for sharing this “bling”!
It looks like a fabulous crown!!!
I love this! And you can go wrong with glitter, glitter and more glitter. I’m pretty sure I spend most of December with little bits of glitter all over me! I’m inspired to try one!
That is beautiful!!! What a great centerpiece too.
SOOOO PRETTY! Sure beats my starfish!
And… your book is AWESOME! Well worth every penny! If you’re debating – just buy it!
Love it, Love it, Love it!!!!!!
How awesome!
Anything with glitter and birds is right up my alley.
Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!!! I will definitely be storing away this idea for next Christmas. This year’s tree is fairly simple, but this makes me want to plan a glamorous, sparkling tree for next year. Your creativity is inspiring!
This is gorgeous! I love it and well worth the weeks of glitter found in only places you can imagine!
How elegant…and such a different type of tree topper!!!
This is so much fun! I love that you threw in a few kitchen utensils for good measure. Love it!
Ok, I didn’t think I was going to like it when I first saw the picture (it’s because I am so hung up on there being either an angel or a Bethlehem star on top) but after I saw it on the tree, and how it looked like a crown — okay, yeah, I guess that will be okay, too.
It IS rather pretty and of course, the cheap and easy part is a real bonus. =)
Love Love Love this idea….Anthropologies is my fave too….you can get so inspired just going there. Haven’t seen their tree topper, but yours is fabulous!!!
Thank you for sharing it.
I love this–I’ve adored the Anthro one for a while now, but can’t imagine paying anywhere near the price they are asking! Check out my post for another variation of this…
http://burlapandblue.blogspot.com/2009/12/anthropologie-inspired-tree-topper.html
Me Likey!!!
Your creative genious knows no bounds!
oh wow this is great! I have a tree topper that I love but this would make a really nice table centerpiece!
Thank you for the ideas now!
I am So doing this next year. I am swooning and bookmarking right now:)
Wow… that is fantastic!! Beautifully sparkly and glittery. Love your added touch of canned ravioli… can’t go wrong there!
Beautiful! But not for me … this year.
I just bought (and am in love with) a star topper. And I don’t have all those things in my stash – except my yard does have plenty of sticks! Hmm, maybe it’d work as a table centerpiece! And I can’t believe the price tag on that! Even if you went and bought all the components new at full price and spent 5 hours doing it – which you didn’t – you wouldn’t even get close to that number of dollars!
Canned ravioli. Girl, you crack me up!
Seriously, that is beautiful! I will have to try that next year for a center piece for my table at our Women’s Christmas party.
What a beautiful tree topper!! Yours is far prettier than the 389 dollar one.
Love that, Kimba!! So pretty. I’ve got a big WOW tree topper tutorial coming up later too. I forgot to take individual pics of it all, but hopefully it will still come out. Love yours!
Oo la la!! That’s much better than the one in the new Fancy Nancy book (anyone with girls under the age of 6 will know what I’m talking about)
Lovely, Kimba!!! 
Kimba, this is wonderful! It does crown your tree! With glory! (No, I guess only the Lord is crowned with glory. But it crowns your tree beautifully.
I just love it when you get inspired by something impossibly expensive and develop a way for all of us to make it for practically nothing. Kind of like your wondrous wreath. Thank you for sharing with us!
I am a glitter FREAK so I think this is absolutely perfect. And your version is far better than the ridiculously priced one at Anthropologie.
Holy cow, Kimba that’s gorgeous. Our tree topper disappeared from the box sometime since last Christmas, so I’ve been searching for a replacement. I think I’ve found it!
I saw another version of this over on…decor to adore? I loved it when I saw it over there and I love it here! I NEED to do this, but simply don’t have the time. Remind me of this next year, will you?
Oh I agree. Your’s is much prettier – cuter – more refined than the one for almost $400.00. And it looks great on your tree. As for us, we have a star that is shiny and bright and changes colors. But hubby is happy (he loves that star!) so the rest of us go along with him.
I love all things sparkly. I’m saving this in my files to make. It’s gorgeous!
That is awesome! I think you really pulled off a winner!
I like the alternative price too! Sweet!
Freaking awesome! Another thing I need add to the to do list!
Wowza!!!!! My brain will be clicking on this for a while…I love the star on the top of my tree…I”ve had it since the first Christmas I’ve been married….but I may just have to switch it up next year! And SHUT UP anthropologie!!!!!!! $ 389??!!! No WAY!!
Uh. Mah. Gaw. That is so unbelieveably fabulous, I’m just picking my jaw up off the floor. LOVE this. Now, my simple traditional little white angel that I thought was so sentimental and sweet looks so sad as I eyeball her from my left eye trying desperately to think of something uber fabulous and secretly accepting I will fail in comparison. You are so amazing.
PS Where’s that ravioli ? I need it with that bottle of wine I’m downing in depression looking at my sad little tree topper.
Kimba, that is so lovely! Thanks for the fabulous tutorial!
That’s gorgeous! I haven’t been in Anthropologie since the summer but it’s always a favorite place for inspiration!
Manuela
i’m not even a “bird lover” or a “nesty” kinda girl, but that is AWESOME!! it is way better than the anthropologie one! i am impressed! very cool.
WOW! I think this is the best Christmas craftyness I have seen yet this season. I’ll be dreaming about it until next year when I try it. THANKS!
Wow, I love it. Definitely going to save this one for next year!! Thanks for sharing!
Gorgeous! I’m cracking up at the paint and glitter sticks. I have been doing the same but with red. They are $3+ a piece at the craft stores and I can make tons for the price of one or two myself!
Very pretty, indeed! thanks for guiding us through!
cielo
Love the concept! I have such a difficult time getting a tree topper to not pull to one side. Artificial trees are not strong enough to hold tree toppers but this would work! Thanks for sharing!
That is absolutely stunning!
Kasandria
Loving it! What a great idea!
OMG, this is gorgeous!! thx for sharing how you did it – sooo cool!
That is amazing… love how the width of it compliments the tree. Great stuff! I never leave disappointed. Thanks for that!
BeautifuL!! I LOVE it!! Simply gorgeous, thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas~!
What a fabulous tree topper! Thanks so much for the tutorial! I am in need of a new tree topper, so I may have to try making my own creation like yours! As always, thanks for the fabulous inspiration!
This is the most impressive tree topper I’ve seen this year!
Ooh, sparkly!
Oh my, that is pure awesomeness! I LOVE it!!!
Wow, this is gorgeous! Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.
What a fantastic idea! I am definitely going to try this!
$400 is a little steep… lol Thanks for a cheaper, but still gorgeous, way!
I wonder if you also came over to my blog on December 4th?
http://decortoadore.blogspot.com/2009/12/anthropologie-inspired-tree-toppercraft.html
It’s wonderful how a great design idea can be recreated so many ways.