Christmas Blessings Star Primitive Tree Topper

My Christmas tree needed a new topper and I found one the other day at Goodwill for $1.99.

It had a spring bottom that I really liked and thought it would look good on my top of my tree. My only problem was it wouldn’t stay on the tree. The spring bottom was kind of worthless because even if I slid it down over the top of the tree branch (I have an artificial tree), it was too heavy. I tried wiring it on, but that didn’t look right either. I propped it in front of the top of the tree and that looked ridiculous. I was really disappointed, so I decided I would make one of my own.

I had a piece of heavy muslin-like, linen-like material and cut out a star shape. This was a table cloth, it had a bigger weave than regular muslin but since it was the right color and fabric weight I needed, I used it.

I traced the words, Christmas Blessing, on with a disappearing ink pen. I placed the star in an embroidery hoop and using 3 strands of green embroidery floss, I did a back stitch around each letter. I wasn’t too worried about being “perfect” because I was going for that prim look anyway. You can use any color of floss you want!

Once I did all the embroidery, I put right sides together and sewed all the way around the star. I didn’t leave an opening to turn because I am going to cut a slit in the back so I can stuff it that way. I’ve seen a lot of prim ornies done this way and it makes for a neater star by sewing all the way around it and you don’t see any stitching on the front or the seams.

Turning it over, I cut a 2-3 inch slit in the back.

I then turned the star right side out, making sure to push the points out.

To help in pushing the points completely out, use a small pen or blunt object to help you get into that area.

Stuff the star with batting making sure there was lots of stuffing in the points– again using a pen or something similar to push the stuffing into the corners.

I want to sew a clip clothes pin on the back, so first I stitched up the seam. (my material was kind of raveling because it’s more of an open weave than regular material, but that’s okay, I just made bigger stitches to sew it together! The clothes pin will hide this anyway.

I then laid the clothes pin on top. I just used regular thread, but made a double strand for strength.

Using the needle and thread, come up along side the clothes pin, open it and go over it and down through on the other side, whip stitching it in place.

Now I want to grunge it a little, so I use this distressing ink and a makeup sponge and just go over the entire star. This makes it look old and prim.

Can you see the difference, the left side is distressed and the right side isn't.

Now to attach some rusty bells that I made this summer. I put the bells bleach for 24 hours or a couple days, then drain off the bleach. Now add apple cider vinegar and salt and let soak for another day or two. Then I set them out in the sun to dry. (remember I did them this summer).
There are lots of instructions on Pinterest on how to do this!