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Top your Christmas tree with sophisticated, space-age style this holiday season with a starburst-inspired tree topper made from inexpensive craft supplies.
Materials Needed:
- 6″ foam floral sphere
- 9 wooden dowels sized 3/8″
- 8 wooden dowels sized 1/4″
- 12 wooden dowels sized 3/16″
- small handsaw with miter box
- hot glue gun and glue sticks
- pen or marker
- roll of kraft paper
- tape measure
- spray paint
- glitter spray paint
Measure and Mark 3/8-Inch Dowels
Use a tape measure and pen or marker to mark each 3/8″ thickness dowel at 12 inches in length (Image 1). Next, measure and mark each 1/4″ wooden dowel at six inches in length (Image 2). Then, measure and mark each 3/16″ dowel at four inches in length.
Cut Dowels
Cut all dowels to size with a small handsaw inside of miter box.
Spray Paint Dowels
Add a base coat to each dowel with spray paint. To prevent drips, hold can six inches away from the surface and move it back and forth while spraying in a steady, controlled manner.
Insert Top and Side 3/8-Inch Dowels
Thinking of the foam sphere as a clock with 12 hours, insert first dowel at 12:00, the very top center of the sphere (Image 1). Using placement of the first 3/8″ dowel as a guide, insert dowels into foam sphere at 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30 (Image 2). Note: The bottom 6:00 position is left open for placement atop the tree.
Insert Front and Back 3/8-Inch Dowels
Insert a 3/8″ dowel in the center of the front of the foam floral sphere and another 3/8″ dowel in the center of the back of the sphere.
Secure Dowels With Glue
Remove each 3/8″ dowel from foam sphere, then add a dollop of hot glue to its tip (Image 1). Re-insert each 3/8″ dowel into its previous position, ensuring a tight, secure fit. Once in place, add hot glue around the space between the foam sphere and the replaced dowel (Image 2).Note: This extra layer of glue will add more stability to each dowel.
Mark Placement Then Insert 1/4-Inch Dowels
Using marker or pen, sketch a triangle directly onto the foam sphere between three of the inserted 3/8″ dowels (Image 1). This triangular shape will be used as a guide for the placement of each 1/4″ dowel. Next, Insert a 1/4″ dowel directly into the marked triangle’s center (Image 2). Once a hole has been created, remove dowel, and add glue to its tip then reinsert it. Repeat this step until all 1/4″ dowels are in place. Note: Don’t forget to leave a dowel-free area on the bottom of the sphere so the topper will better sit atop the tree.
Insert 3/16-Inch Dowels
Once all 1/4″ dowels are in place, fill in empty spaces between each 1/4″ dowel with 3/16″ dowels following the same steps you used for the medium and large dowels.
Spray-Paint Dowels and Foam Sphere
Once all dowels are securely in place, add two solid coats of spray paint to the foam sphere and dowels. Once base color has dried, add a final coat of glitter spray paint for extra holiday sparkle. Use your thumbs to create an indentation along the dowel-free bottom of the foam sphere, then place on top of tree.
[Source:- holly jolly]