With a feature in the Birmingham News on Thanksgiving weekend for putting together a WOW tree topper, I’m scanning the pic (excuse the poor scan), but not the complete article and the pic wasn’t in color anyway. But, you will all get a first hand look at how to put a big tree topper together….all in living color. It’s really easy, I promise!
Here’s another shot at the tree up close.
And a good look at the entire large and sparkly tree topper. I’ve always admired these and just started doing this last year and it’s all in combining textures, sparkle and shapes to get a flowing topper that stands up and shouts, HELLO.
I had these bows made already (maybe I’ll do a bow tutorial too, if ya’ll would like to see that). I could have used another bow, but I don’t worry too much about the backside of the tree that is not seen. Here’s the breakdown:
- 3 Lime green leafy fronds with a little sparkle (from Hobby Lobby)
- Bows already made (2 or 3)
- 3 picks of faux greenery that has some different texture (already had)
- 3 pretty green feathers (found at Hobby Lobby)
- 3 bronze sparkly tapered fronds that curve out from the tree top (already had those)
- 3 gold berry pics (from Michaels)
- Around 8 sparkly gold pics with little ornaments attached, that’s the row you see around the bottom. (from Hobby Lobby)
I’m adding in a lot of close-ups so you can see all the elements in detail.
Note the green leafy fronds in the middle with a little sparkle.
Here you can see everything that I listed, in particular the pretty green feathers and the bronze glittery skinny fronds. These are great for adding some volume.
These gold glittery picks I found at Hobby Lobby and they have pretty balls attached too which add a lot of sparkle. This is the row that I added in below the bows, but really there is no right or wrong with this. You just have to play around with it all.
Here you can see the lime leafy fronds and the gold berry picks and the lime green feathers. Love those and I found them at Hobby Lobby.
Closeup of the bronze skinny fronds and the gold berries.
Those green picks are just plastic greenery (3 of them) that add some additional texture to all of this.
I attached the bows first right below the very top of the tree, then all I did was start adding height and texture with all the other pieces. You can stick these picks in and since they have long stems, they will pretty much stay where you place them.
Add in some wispy green picks, along with the feathers, gold berries, and those bronze long and skinny fronds really made the difference, I think. If you look at all the shots of the closeups, I think you can see how I arranged everything from the description of it all. There’s no right or wrong way to do this, just have fun with all the colors and textures until you get it looking the way you want it.
That’s it! Pretty easy, so I hope you’ll give it a try! Feel free to ask any questions on any of this if it’s clear as mud. 🙂
I’m adding this to Kimba’s DIY Day.
Carol says
Rhoda,
It’s gorgeous and I never thought to put something like that at the top of my tree. I will next year, thought! Thanks for showing us how. 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Daisy Cottage says
Good Morning Rhodie!
I am sipping my first cup of what I’m sure will be several cups of coffee this morning and catching up with all things YOU and enjoying my visit here as always! Everything looks gorgeous – your Christmas decorating is radiant and I so enjoyed reading about your party and I love love Eleanor! She is a doll and I know a treasure too.
Merry Christmas to you dear friend!!!!
Love,
Kim
Janey says
Rhoda I knew you were amazing but I didn’t know you werwe a mind reader!!! I have searched and searched for how to do those tree toppers! Thank you!!!! It looks amazing & congratulations on the article!
Sissie says
Good morning Rhoda,
I admired your tree topper on a previous blog. I’m glad you are showing us how you did it. It’s very lovely. I’ve done this before with the glass finial bulbs but yours is much prettier. I think I’ll give it a try next year. Love it.
Ro says
The topper and the tree are stunning. Wonderful job on both. I love the feathers and other elements that you used.
Belated Happy Birthday to Grandma!
Kendra says
Rhoda!
That’s such a great picture of you and what an honor! Oh and of course your tree topper is beautiful! I’m sure that all who read the article just flipped over your creation.
http://domesticprincessintraining.blogspot.com
Lou says
Hey Rhoda,
That really is gorgeous….Makes my mind start spinning with things to put on mine next year…. I can see a more frivolous one with a feather boa, candy canes, and lots of lime green and red….great idea!
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
Wowza! You need to send that in to Southern Living or BH&G. 🙂
I’d love to see a bow tutorial (here I am just planning your posts for you!). I know how to make a small one, but I haven’t mastered the art of the larger ones, esp. those that have the loops all around like a globe. 🙂
sara says
love it! can’t wait to work on one next year. am going to buy all the stuff this year to save! thank you so much for the info!
Beverly says
Rhoda, it is magnificent. Congratulations on the article.
sondra says
You have such talent! That is just so beautiful! Thank you for showing how it was done!
Marci says
Beautiful! I love this tree topper. Thank you for hosting the home tour. It is great fun!
Stacey @ The Blessed Nest says
What a pretty tree topper! Thanks for the “how-to”!!
Blessings,
Stacey
Sheila says
Hi Rhoda,
That is one grand tree topper and quite easy to put together now that you shared your “how to”. Bows are really not my forte so it would be great if you shared your technique. TFS! Sheila
Saundra says
Hi Rhoda,
I would also love a bow tutorial. I love this tree topper. Just to make sure I’m getting this, you don’t stick all the picks into anything other than the tree? I guess I assumed you used some sort of foam to stick everything in. Thanks for showing us a close-up, it is truly beautiful.
Kathryn@BonafideSouthern says
Rhoda, I just adore your pretty tree topper! I wish so badly that I could do something like that with my tree, but unfortunately, our ceilings are so low that my tree touches the ceiling and there’s no room left. We live in a restored 110 year old farm house, and the ceilings are only 7 feet tall (the exact same height of my Christmas tree) I only have a bow on the top, but one day, I plan to have a glorious topper similar to yours in a house with tall ceilings! I really like all of the different textures you’ve used. That makes it extra pleasing to the eye.
By the way, I gave those candy Christmas trees a try like you showed us from Holiday House. I think they turned out pretty well. I did a post about them today and linked it back to your tutorial. I hope you don’t mind. Thanks for the inspiration!
Eddie says
Congratulations! Looks fantastic!
Eddie
Kimba says
It’s beautiful! I love the feathers! Just gorgeous.
melissa @ the inspired room says
Congrats on the feature! And it is a fabulous topper!
Laryssa @ Heaven In The Home says
Gorgeous! Great job!