Decorative Art Deco Ornaments for a Retro Christmas Celebration
For those seeking a touch of vintage glamour for their holiday tree, here's a step-by-step guide to creating three chic Art Deco-inspired tree toppers using basic materials. With a little creativity and some simple techniques, you'll achieve elegant designs that add a glamorous vintage touch to your holiday decor.
Materials needed (common to all designs)
- Thin craft wire (gold or silver for elegance)
- Rhinestones or gems (various sizes)
- Card stock (metallic gold, silver, or black for contrast)
- Wire cutters and jewelry pliers
- Hot glue gun or strong craft glue
- Ruler and pencil
1. Starburst Tree Topper
The starburst tree topper features a radiant burst of radiating spikes, a classic Art Deco motif.
Steps: 1. Cut a circle (approximately 4-5 inches in diameter) from card stock as the base. 2. Cut multiple equal-length wire pieces (6-10 inches) for burst rays. 3. Using glue, attach one end of each wire evenly spaced around the perimeter of the base circle, bending the wires slightly outward for dimension. 4. Thread rhinestones onto the wires, spacing them irregularly for sparkle, and secure with tiny glue spots or small loops with pliers at each end to keep stones stable. 5. Position long wires crossing the circle for a layered effect. 6. Make a loop at the bottom wire tips to attach securely to the tree top.
2. Star Crown Tree Topper
The star crown tree topper is a circular crown of pointed shapes, reminiscent of architectural patterns from the Art Deco era.
Steps: 1. Cut a strip of card stock (approximately 2 inches wide and long enough to fit around your tree top) 2. Draw and cut out Art Deco-style pointed arches or diamond shapes along the strip. 3. Fold the strip into a circle and glue or tape ends together to make a crown. 4. Attach small wire loops or spirals at the top of each pointed arch. 5. Glue rhinestones onto each point and wire loops for added glamour. 6. Reinforce the crown with a wire circle inside the card for stability. 7. Attach a small wire coil at the base to secure the crown atop the tree.
3. Pointed Star Tree Topper
The pointed star tree topper is a rigid, multi-pointed star evocative of 1920s geometry.
Steps: 1. Cut two identical star shapes from card stock, each with 8–12 points. 2. Glue a wire frame along each star’s edges for structure; intersect wires at star points. 3. Attach the two stars together at a slight angle to create a 3D dimensional form. 4. Decorate with rhinestones at each star point and along wire lines for sparkle. 5. Create a sturdy wire stem at the bottom for inserting into the tree. 6. Optionally, cover the card stock with metallic paint or foil for extra shine.
Tips:
- Keep the color palette metallic (gold, silver, black) for that authentic Art Deco glam.
- Use pliers for neat wire bends and loops.
- Work on a flat surface with good lighting.
- Allow glue to dry fully between steps for lasting durability.
By combining card stock shapes for structure, wire for form and dimension, and rhinestones for sparkle, you’ll achieve elegant Art Deco-inspired toppers with simple materials and stylish results. These handmade toppers will add a glamorous vintage touch to your holiday tree.
For the star crown tree topper, you'll need 2 gold pipe cleaners, 5 mm flat gold wire, gold chipboard or paper stars, adhesive rhinestones, pliers, hot glue, and a foam cone.
For the pointed star tree topper, a star-shaped paper puncher can be used to cut out shapes from card stock instead of a printable star template.
For the starburst tree topper, you may opt to use a small round mirror, hot glue, a foam cone, and gold card stock (optional). Alternative options for the small mirror include a mercury glass mirror, a round capiz shell pendant, or a decorative brass circle.
The starburst tree topper is made by wrapping 12 gauge wire around the top of a foam cone, cutting wire into 3-in. pieces, gluing wire in sections to create a symmetrical starburst, and covering the back of the mirror (if desired) with hot glue or gold card stock.
Print a star template at a desired scale for the pointed star tree topper. Glue the two stars together, back sides facing each other, for a glittery back of the star. Repeat the process to have two stars for the pointed star tree topper.
Hot glue a large rhinestone to the center of one star and accent with smaller rhinestones if desired. The pointed star tree topper can be repurposed as a centerpiece, for example, in a bowl with seasonal fruit or a New Year's Eve spin with candy, shredded metallic paper, or sparkly vase filler.
Cut out the star from the printed template and trace it on the back side of the glitter card stock. Hot glue the spiral base to the bottom point of the star on the back layer for the pointed star tree topper.
If you delight in infusing vintage elegance into your fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden settings, consider crafting Art Deco-inspired tree toppers for your food-and-drink table centerpiece, too. Adapt the materials for creating the starburst, star crown, and pointed star tree toppers, substituting metallic paper or fabric for the card stock and threading edible rhinestones for a festive twist. Adding these glamorous vintage touches to your holiday lifestyle will surely impress your guests and elevate your holiday festivities.
