RTW: Anthro Inspired Tree Topper TUTORIAL

I have Linda here {not me!!} with her Anthro inspired Tree Topper.

Hello there! We probably haven't met yet, as I am fairly new in the craft blogging world, but my name is Linda, my blog is burlap + blue , I have an etsy shop by the same name, and I am so excited that Linda has allowed me to share this tutorial with you today. One of my main goals for my blog is to share vintage-inspired goodies and tutorials that allow my readers to create a home that they love-all without breaking the bank. Enjoy and Happy Crafting!
Last night, after I cleaned my house until it was spotless and all laundry was folded and put away, when I had plenty else to do, but no motivation to do it, I was browsing Anthropologie's site and found this tree-topping beauty.

Gorgeous, isn't it? I adore the woodland feel of it combined with mass amounts of glitter, because, obviously, copious amounts of glitter are found in any self-respecting forest. Right? Right.
Then, I took a look at the price tag. $389.00 . Yep, Three Hundred, Eighty-Nine Dollars. American Dollars.
Then, I looked at the materials used: cardboard, glitter, plastic, metal, paper and cotton. I quickly realized that I could make this for so much less, and even though I couldn't call it an Anthropologie-original, I could call it a burlap + blue original, which sounded just as good to me. Give it a try...your tree (and your wallet) will thank you!

Materials Needed:

• Greenery, twigs, garland, beads, pinecones, nests, leaves...basically, whatever you want your fillers to be
• Small Grapevine Wreath-Michael's called mine a "tabletop wreath"
• glue gun
• wire cutters
• green floral wire (you may not need this)

Step 1: Gather materials.
The amount of "stuff" to choose from for your fillers can be overwhelming, my only advice is to choose a color scheme of some sort...greens and golds (like I did), neutral colors, bright colors, traditional colors, etc. Also, be sure to choose objects with a variety of textures for an extra shot of visual interest! I chose mainly golds and greens for mine, but I think silvers and blues would be lovely, as would a topper made with lots of bright, shiny colors and fillers.

Step 2: I took a candle ring covered in greenery, pinecones and glittered berries and wired it to my wreath. Alternatively, you can take a thin garland (I've seen plenty of beaded/glittered garlands this season that would work well) and wrap it around the wreath.

Step Three:  Use the wire cutters to trim your greenery and glittery finds into manageable pieces. Most of my pieces are between 2-6 inches high...but you could easily go higher! Next, and this is technical stuff here, so listen carefully and take notes...
Start shoving stuff in until you like the way it looks.
That's basically it! I used a bit of hot glue on the ends of each piece, but, if you are short on time, or don't want to commit to the placement of your pieces, you may be able to skip this. Other than that, the only other pieces of advice I can give you are 1) it's very near impossible to make it too full--the more stuff the better, and 2) every once in a while, hold it up above your head so you can get an idea of how it will look from the ground.
This is my tree topper half done...

And here is the finished product!

                                         

                                           

                                           

I hope you have as much fun with this as I did.  Please send a picture my way if you end up making one...I'd love to share!

Thanks Linda! Be sure to enter today's Close To My Heart giveaway!