TP Roll Tree Topper Tutorial

I noticed people have been searching the site for Christmas in July ideas and toilet paper roll projects. Well, my aim is to please, as my grandmother always liked to say.

Being a bit ahead of the game come December is a very good feeling...

snowflake tree topper on lighted Christmas tree

...unlike me last year when I decided our tree needed a new star on the evening of the 23rd. Last minute Christmas crafting? Bring it on!

(hmm, I suppose it's more of a snowflake than a star, but either leads to the thought of making a batch to hang as window decorations... must keep saving those tp or paper towel rolls.)

What you'll need:

4 tp rolls or enough to provide a total of 30 half inch segments. For example, the ones I used measured 4 inches long so each roll provided eight segments.
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
Glue - basic craft glue or a hot glue gun
Straight pins
Non-stick work surface (I used a Styrofoam tray)
Gold metallic acrylic paint or spray paint
Paint brush

Additional quilling and paper craft supplies I recommend can be found in my Amazon shop

Instructions:

Step 1: Flatten each tp roll and mark off 1/2 inch segments along both sides of its length. Cut across the roll using the marks as guidelines to make 30 pointed oval (marquise) segments.

snowflake-cutting


Step 2: Cut 6 of the segments into two unequal pieces so that the smaller section measures about 3/4 inch in length and the larger one about 1 1/2 inches. Each segment will have one folded end and one cut (open) end.

This is getting a little confusing... let's recap!
You now have three segment sizes:

6 of the 3/4" cut segments (small)
6 of the 1 1/2" cut segments (medium)
24 pointed oval segments (large)

Here's a photo so you can see the different segment sizes:

TP Roll Snowflake Tree Topper Tutorial lying flat on table with Christmas cloth

Step 3: Brush or spray one or two coats of gold paint on all of the surfaces, inside and outside.

Step 4: To assemble the innermost section of the tree topper that looks like a flower with six small petals inside six larger petals, glue the open end of a medium loop inside one end of a large loop. It's easiest to do this on a non-stick surface. Hold the loops in place with straight pins while the glue dries.

snowflake-center

When dry, assemble the "flower" and set it aside.

Step 5: Glue the open ends of the smallest segments and place them under a mug to weigh them down while the glue dries. Trust me, there are six. The last one is hiding on the other side of the mug.

snowflake-gluing

Step 6: While these small segments are drying, arrange and glue six 3 petal arrangements that will form the outermost ring. Again, work with pins on a non-stick surface and allow the glue to dry. All this glue-waiting is important so the snowflake/star winds up with symmetrical diagonals. Make Mother Nature proud.

Step 7: Glue a three section segment to each of the central petal tips and then glue one of the smallest sections to each of the outermost ring sections.

Step 8: Touch up any missed spots with paint.

Large TP Roll Snowflake Tree Topper on table

It's so enjoyable to make something out of practically nothing.
And now I challenge you to say TP Tree Topper three times fast.

(It's the silly little things that keep me posting, ha!)



Ann Martin
Ann Martin

This is a short biography of the post author and you can replace it with your own biography.

Comments

  1. Looks so good!! With the gold painting it looks so very brilliant. I am sure it is sturdy because of the thickness of the roll.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for sharing this project, it is really appreciated. Kindest regards

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great idea!! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful idea for recycling. No one will have any idea of the source.
    Thanks for taking the time to share.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It looks great and it's never to early to get a start on that Christmas crafting.
    I've seen so many great projects made from the toilet paper rolls.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ha, if you didn't mention it, i hardly think it's made of TP rolls!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks, Ann, excellently written and illustrated!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely!!! Touch of gold adds much more nicer look!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for the nice comments everyone; I'm glad you liked it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What an awesome idea! I may be making a few of these. Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh that's great... I hope you will make some!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love these! Just finshed making 2 and they look exactly like your pictures. Thanks so much for including the measurements, they were so easy to make with your detailed instructions!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I know this post is over a year old but I just made this and it looks awesome!!! Thank you so much for sharing! I painted shimmery silver to fit our tree but other than that, followed everything :) I recommend the hot glue. I tried regular glue and krazy glue too but the hot glue just worked a lot better for me.

    thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for your comment, Kathy - I'm glad you made the snowflake! I can see where hot glue would get the job done more quickly.

    ReplyDelete
  15. ann...a very informative tutorial....the star/snowflake looks very classy on top of your tree.
    licia

    ReplyDelete
  16. You can also use a wrapping paper roll :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm not much for DIY projects, but this is something I think I can do! So inexpensive, so easy, yet so tastefully decorative. I like the center by itself (sans the extra points that make the outermost ring)and it can serve as an ornament.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Good idea! Have fun making ornaments.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Neat. Looks great with little clear sparkles glued to the paint. Can put them in window with battery operated candle behind them to light up window-helps bring glitter out. Thanks for the pattern. Please keep the ideas coming

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is one project with toilet paper that I LOVE! I am going to make this very soon!

    ReplyDelete
  21. OK, Now for a Easter Tree topper you could paint them pastel colors, even several pastel colors .. like yellow , pink, lavender, lt. blue or turquoise ?????????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good idea! Maybe just the center section as it looks like a flower.

      Delete
  22. This is going to be a fun project. I'm going to spray mine white and put glitter on the to hang in my windows as snow flakes. Thanks for the great idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome! Glittered snowflakes will be pretty.

      Delete
  23. Toilet paper tree topper
    Toilet poiper tee topper
    Tolet pooper pee teepper

    I can't do it, lol. I just may make the actual ornament, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You get extra credit just for trying to say it... no one else has admitted to it. :)

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I try to respond to questions within 24 hours, so please check back.