This tutorial for how to make a DIY Christmas tree topper uses bows made out of deco mesh ribbon and a simple plastic cup as a base for an easy homemade Christmas decoration!
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It's that time of year again - time to start thinking about those Christmas tree decorations! And who would have thought that a college relic would make such a perfect Christmas tree accessory?
For our homemade Christmas tree topper, I knew what I wanted. And if I can make it with things around my house (without it looking like a 6 year old made it in art class), I'm going to do it. (If you're like me and love simple Christmas crafts, you've got to see my DIY Mesh Wreath too!)
Want to know what I used?
Oh yes, friends - that's a red Solo cup you're seeing. It ended up being the perfect size for what I needed, a sturdy hot glue base, and since red is such a classic Christmas color, it blends right in with the red and green deco mesh and ornaments.
It's such a simple idea and ended up being such a perfect topper for the tree!
Find more ways to get into the holiday spirit on the blog! Try my Easy Eggnog Cake, or learn how to make my simple tulle gift bows.
Supplies Neeeded for the DIY Tree Toppper
- 1 red plastic Solo cup - other colors work if you're going for a different color scheme. You can even use a clear cup to really camouflage your base.
- hot glue gun
- 2 rolls 6" deco mesh ribbon (different colors if desired) - I think getting the kind with a glitter strand running through the middle makes the tree topper really pop!
- craft wire - You can also use pipe cleaners, but craft wire is thinner and easier to use.
- 8-10 matching pieces of floral stems
- 6-8 matching Christmas ornaments (varying sizes)
Step 1: Make 6 x's with deco mesh ribbon.
From each roll of deco mesh, cut 6 2-foot pieces of ribbon with a sharp pair of scissors (so the ends of the deco mesh don't unravel). No need to use a ruler - just eyeball it.
Take the first piece of ribbon and loop it into a simple 2-loop bow. Do the same with an alternating color of ribbon and cross the bows (making an x).
Thread a 3-4" piece of craft wire or pipe cleaner through the middle of the x and tightly wind it around the 2 crossed bows to secure them together.
Repeat this five times for a total of 6 deco mesh x's.
Pro Tip
This project can also be done with any wired ribbon! Deco mesh is great for volume, but wired ribbon gives a totally different look. Try a wide burlap ribbon for a rustic farmhouse vibe, metallic ribbon for a glam tree, or plaid ribbon for something cozy and traditional.
Wired ribbon also tends to hold its shape better than mesh, which makes the topper look crisp and full with less fluffing. Just know that you might have to make a few more x's to cover the whole cup.
Step 2: Hot glue x's to the cup.
Take one of the completed x's and glue it on top of the cup with your hot glue gun. You'll need to hold this down until the hot glue dries to ensure that it is secured (careful not to burn your fingers!).
Glue the remaining deco mesh ribbon x's all around the cup.
You should be starting to see the round tree topper form, but you should also still see parts of the Solo Cup at this point.
Step 3: Make deco mesh loops.
Next, take your rolls of deco mesh and cut out 5 to 10 1-foot pieces. Wind them up pretty tightly in a roll and glue one end of the loop to the cup so the other end of the loop will stick out from the topper.
This will cover up some of the remaining plastic cup that you can see and give the topper some dimension.
Step 4: Add ornaments and floral stems to the tree topper.
I also used floral picks and ornaments to cover up the remaining visible cup. I probably used 6-8 ornaments and 5-10 picks (I had an old floral piece and I just removed the ends for the picks).
Final Result
Not too bad, right?
I'm guessing you probably have most of the supplies for this craft project on hand right now, and from starting the project to the top of your tree, making this easy DIY tree topper took maybe 30 minutes.
Storage & Durability Tips
One of the best things about this project is that you can pull it back out year after year if you store it carefully. A few things that have worked for me over the years...
- Keep it lightweight. Stick with foam ornaments and smaller, lightweight floral picks. Heavy glass ornaments can pop off when you're moving the topper around or after it's been in storage for a while.
- Reinforce as you go. Add an extra dab of hot glue or twist of floral wire if something feels loose while you're building. It's easier to fix up front than when you're decorating next year.
- Box it up. Store your topper in a sturdy box that's just a little bigger than the topper itself. I like to stuff tissue paper or bubble wrap around the edges so the bows keep their shape.
- Control the climate. Keep it in a cool, dry place. Attics and damp basements can warp ribbon or weaken glue over time.
- Refresh next season. When you pull it out, give the ribbon loops a quick fluff and add a fresh ornament or two if needed. It takes less than five minutes to perk it up!
FAQs
Hope you guys have a wonderful holiday season! You can check out a few more of my Christmas posts by clicking the links below.
DIY Christmas Tree Topper Tutorial (Deco Mesh)
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Ingredients
- 1 red plastic Solo cup
- hot glue gun
- 2 rolls 6" deco mesh ribbon (different colors if desired)
- craft wire
- 8-10 pieces floral stems
- 6-8 matching Christmas ornaments (varying sizes)
Instructions
- From each roll of deco mesh, cut six 2-foot pieces of ribbon. Use sharp scissors to keep the ends from unraveling. No need to measure precisely-just eyeball it.
- Take one piece of ribbon and make a simple 2-loop bow. Do the same with a different color ribbon, then cross the bows to form an "X." Secure the two bows together by threading a 3-4" piece of craft wire or pipe cleaner through the center and twisting tightly.
- Repeat this step five more times to create a total of six deco mesh "X" shapes.
- Using a hot glue gun, attach one "X" to the top of the cup, holding it down until the glue dries to ensure it's secure. (Watch your fingers!) Continue gluing the remaining "X" shapes around the cup.
- Next, cut 5-10 pieces of deco mesh, each about 1 foot long. Roll each piece tightly and glue one end to the cup, letting the other end stick out.
- Finish by adding floral picks and ornaments to cover any exposed parts of the cup. You'll need around 6-8 ornaments and 5-10 picks. (I used ends from an old floral piece for the picks.)
Leslie Lambert is a lifestyle writer and content creator specializing in home organization, family recipes, and intentional living. With 17 years of experience in blogging and digital storytelling, she helps busy women create calm, purposeful homes they love.
Love the tree topper! Not understanding the direction where you say " Now take your roll of deco mesh and cut out 5-10 1' pieces . Wind them up pretty tightly......". You don't have a picture of this step and I can't picture what is done.
Can you clarify this for me?
Sure! You're really just making small pieces of mesh and rolling them up, making a cylinder out of them. Kind of smash the end together and glue that end to the cup.
Still not understanding. Sorry to be so dense!
Where on the cup do I glue this and what purpose does it serve?
You're really just filling in any gaps with those...no specific place for them. They are for covering any cup that is still showing.
Thanks. Leslie! Happy Thanksgiving.
Lesley, this is beautiful! You do lovely work. Bookmarking this to try later. Blessings.
Visiting today from FF#12&13
Never would I ever have guessed and this is just brilliant! Featuring when my party opens.
Oh thank you so much Carol!
What a fun DIY for Christmas Leslie!
Thank you for sharing this project at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I'm delighted to be featuring your DIY tree topper at tonight's party and pinning too.
Happy fall,
Kerryanne
That's wonderful, thanks so much Kerryanne!