How to: Christmas Star

This weekend, Wes and I got our first Christmas tree! It's so perfect. :) We didn't have a tree topper, so I made this super easy star.

Here's the nitty gritty on how I made it....

You will need:

• 10 jumbo Popsicle sticks (plus one to spread glue)
• Modge Podge
• Glue gun
• plenty of jute twine (I used about half of a large roll)
• wax paper
• gold glitter
• 2 clothes pins

1. Create a star point by gluing popsicle sticks together at an acute angle. Make 5 of these, making sure all the points are identical angles if you stacked them on top of each other. I used modge podge, but if I were to have a do over, I would have used my glue gun for this part.

2. Layer and glue your 5 points to form a star. It will look just like the way we draw a star.

3. Once the star is dry, hot glue the end of your jute twine to the top of one point.

4. You will then begin wrapping the twine closely and tightly down the point. You may need to add some glue every once and a while to keep the twine tight.

5. I wrapped one point from top to bottom, then went over to the next point and wrapped from bottom to top. When I reached the top I added glue with each wrap.

6. Wrap the twin  into a point and cut the twine. Glue the tip down. For the points I started from the top, I went back and added twine to cover the tip at the end.

7. To wrap the center of the star, glue the end of your twine in between 2 points.

8. Wrap the twine in the same direction around 2 points 5-6 times, then switch to the perpendicular direction around another 2 points. Again, your twine in the center of the star will once again resemble a star you draw.

9. Repeat this until the entire center of the star is covered with twine. Cut the twine, and glue the end down.

10. Place your star on a sheet of wax paper. Spread modge podge around the edges of the star.

11. Pour gold glitter generously over all the glue.

12. Shake your star off to remove excess glitter. Allow a few minutes for glue to dry.

13. Turn your star over and hot glue 2 clothes pins parallel to each other about an inch and a half apart. This will work to clip the star to your tree if you have a thin branch on top of your tree. I had a fat stub, so I ended up using wire to fasten to the star on.

There you have it! I just love the rustic twine with a fancy touch of glitter. :)

What's on top of your tree? Are you a star or angel person?

I hope to share more pictures of our little tree soon!