Snowflake Stick Ornament

Woodland styling or the look of cinnamon sticks?

Three levels of elements make this

oversize ornament unique,

including a "sticks" layer that

is composed of card stock tubes

wrapped around 5/16" dowels cut to size,

held in place with upper and lower brackets

(and adhesive, of course).

Add "found object" bell at center.

Large dimensional snowflake 

(measures approx. 8.75" tall) 

can be featured as a peg hanger, 

or connect several onto a ribbon swag 

for stunning winter or cabin decor. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main snowflake base decorative front layer
B main snowflake build up layers (3)
C accent front base snowflake
D curly snowflake decorative front shape
E curly snowflake build up layers (3)
F central "stick" shape
G short "stick" arms (4)
H bottom stick joint bracket
I top stick joint bracket
Not shown: 
J hexagon build up spacer
(see step 5)
K scallop twine anchor "button"
for backside (see step18)

2. Prepare the main snowflake base by

positioning and attaching the decorative

C shape on top of the A decorative front base.

3. Build up the thickness of the base snowflake

by attaching the front to the extra build up B layers,

one by one, taking care to align all cut edges

and punch hang hole as precisely as possible.

NOTE: it will be helpful to use flat weights to

help apply pressure during the gluing process

to minimize curling and warping.

(Use weights throughout the project

when built-up layers are being created.)

4. Prepare the curly snowflake by layering

the decorative front shape on top of the

build up layers, aligning precisely all edges.

5. Join all spacer hexagons into a stack.

6. Prepare ALL stick shapes by bending back on

all long perforation lines, and bend end caps

and tabs back.

7. Form each stick shape into a tube to bring

the straight end edge to overlap the opposite

long tab to perforation line, and glue in place.

NOTE: it will prove helpful to wrap the stick shape

around a 5/16" diam. dowel during the seam process.

8. Insert (if not already done) dowel that will

stay inside the stick tube, push in until one

end is flush with the end of tube, then mark

a cut-off length with fine tip pencil.

For the center stick, also mark the center hole.

CHOOSE  AN APPROACH FOR

CENTER HOLE THREADING:

A. remove dowel, cut to length, then also cut

in half, insert two halves so that 

center joint will allow twine to be inserted

through stick.

B. remove dowel, cut to length, then drill

a small hole that matches punch hole of shape

that will allow twine to be inserted through.

9. For all sticks: insert cut to size dowels

(sand ends if needed), insert and glue inside

stick covers.

Bend end caps down, tuck tabs inside tubes

and glue in place.

10. Prepare the bottom bracket by bending

back all triangle tabs.

11. Prepare top bracket by bending four

tabs back.

12. Position and glue in place the bottom bracket

onto the center stick's bottom surface,

matching up the center holes of each.

Bend the triangle tabs around the center stick

and glue in place.

13. Apply adhesive to the "arms" surfaces

of the bottom bracket, then . . .

. . . along the length of both ends of stick bottom.

Position and secure the center stick/bracket onto

the base snowflake at its center, below hang hole,

matching center holes (here and throughout).

14. Apply adhesive to the remaining 

triangle tabs, then . . .

. . . apply glue to bottom face of each short stick,

one by one, and fit end into bracket while

also aligning up the center of side arms.

Apply pressure to secure each in place

before proceeding to next stick

until all sticks are in place.

Also bend each triangle tab around the

lower sides of the sticks being added.

It may be helpful to use a flat tool such as

this spatula to apply pressure to ensure

that the tabs attach.

15. Apply adhesive to the backside of the

upper bracket - arms and tabs,

then position over the intersections of the

sticks, line up center hole, and attach to

all sticks where it touches, also bending

side tabs down to attach to center stick.

16. Position and attach the spacer hexagon

on top of sticks/bracket.

17. Apply adhesive to the hexagon, then . . .

. . . position the curly snowflake on top,

holes aligned. NOTE that the arms of

the curly snowflake are positioned between

 the sticks, aligning instead with the

shorter alternate arms of the base snowflake.

18. To attach bell (or other embellishment),

thread a length of twine or jute, centered,

through the "button" holes of 

the scallop stop shape.

Thread twine ends through the center hole

of the snowflake assembly (this may involve

using a darning needle or 

other threading tool) . . .

. . . then tie on embellishment and

complete with a bow (and a dab

of adhesive discreetly, if desired).

Finally, add a ribbon loop to the top.

Here is the completed snowflake ornament.