Organic Christmas Tree Topper

Twigs from beech, hazel, willow, dogwood and birch trees are best for this project. It's worth collecting the twigs just before you want to use them so that they are as supple as possible. Select slender, flexible twigs, and leave on any buds, catkins or seed heads to add interest.

To dry the leaves flat, arrange them in a single layer between sheets of newspaper and leave them for a week or so under a mat or place a couple of heavy books on top. Arrange the flower heads on newspaper and leave them in a warm, dry place for a week as well.

Materials Needed:

• 5 twigs
• star template, roughly drawn on recycled cardboard
• thin wire
• 3 richly colored, five-pointed dried leaves in different sizes

• eco-friendly adhesive glue
• 5 dried flower heads
• Download: Pattern 2

Step 1

Trim each of the twigs so that they are about 12 inches in length. Remove the dried leaves and flower heads from the newspaper.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Step 2

Lay the card template on a flat surface. Arrange the twigs over the star drawn on the template so that they echo its shape.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Step 3

Wind a piece of wire around the joint where two twigs meet in a point and secure the ends together. Repeat at the other four corners.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited