Thanksgiving Ornament Tree

Traditional Thanksgiving motifs convert 

the "Stars Tree Display Stand" into a 

"Thanksgiving Tree Display". 

Purchase Stars Tree Display Stand file separately.

 Create a dozen Thanksgiving ornaments in 

mix or match fashion 
(including some from Fall season set). 

Then attach twine bows with a "loop" 

behind top of ornament, and hang from "tabs" 

on tree arms for colorful autumn decor. 

ASSEMBLY: 
NOTE: The assembly steps for the ornament tree
are described in a separate tutorial
(Egg Tree Display Stand Assembly)
which can be found here.
Follow Step 1 below, then jump to the other
tutorial for steps 2-25, then return to follow
the turkey finial preparation below beginning in step 2.

1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A tail feathers back layer
B tail feathers mid layer
C tail features front layer
(individual feather shapes also provided)
D body front   E wattle/head layer
F head  G eye show-thru and whites
H beak show-thru and beak
I body spacer shape
J tree shapes: "new" top arm back layer
with punch hole for turkey alignment,
back bracket, pole top hexagon

2. Begin the turkey finial decoration by layering
the wattle/head layer over the head portion
of the main body, layering eyes and beak
fronts over their respective "show-thru" layers,
and attaching the body space shape at the bottom
edge with punch holes and edges aligned.
Also layer the tail feathers front, mid and back
with punch holes and lower edges aligned,
and glue together.

3. Position and attach the head front, eyes,

and beak to the tail feathers assembly.

4. Position the turkey unit behind the top arm

shape in the finial file (includes the alignment punch)

and attach at the face of the space shape only.

5. Position and attach the turkey/arm unit to

the tree's top arm assembly.

6. Position and attach the top arm assembly

to the center post, using the dash alignment

mark near top of pole as reference

(see Step 30 in the Egg Tree tutorial).

December Box With Two-Part Lid

Sturdy tray-style box has dimensional walls 

for strength, divided lid with narrow upper panel, 

perforation "hinge" line, lower flap. 

Slightly offset accent shapes are included 

to decorate outer walls and lid panels. 

(Model shown with specialty printed papers

as embellishments; prints are NOT cut file shapes.) 

Hidden metal paper clips provide attraction for magnets 

 glued in place inside and under front wall rim. 

Embellish with findings such as fancy legs, flap pull knob, 

print panels and tags, etc. 

Lid panels sized to coordinate with Graphic 45 paper prints,

(as shown here using December Cut Apart 4501051).

A "December" Word Art tracing guide for fussy-cutting

with slight offset shape for layering is available

as a freebie download through SnapDragonSnippets.com

following this link.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A box base with slots for side wall tabs
B bottom (base) cover
C side walls (2 interchangeable) 
D back and front (marked with 'F') walls
E lid shape with panel dividing perforation line
F lid top panel build up rectangles (4)
G lid bottom panel build up shapes:
(1) with small stem hole only
(1) with sm stem hole & recesses
(2) with lrg stem hole & recesses for paperclips
H platform "box" insert (supports lid upper panel)
I lid and outer side wall accent shapes
J knob punch hole scallop and plaid ring accents
NOT SHOWN: platform support strips
(see step 22)

Further explanation of lid layering and quantities:

(also see illustration with Step 11)

Optional lid embellishments:

top: traced and fussy-cut "December" word art

from Graphic45 print

middle: offset front accent

bottom: build up layers matching offset (3-4)

2. Prepare the side walls by bending back on

all wall and flange tag perforations except

bend forward at small side and bottom tab

perforations as shown.

3. Prepare back and front wall shapes in similar

manner, noting . . . 

. . . that the front wall includes the tiny 'F' cut
in the flange tab to identify it as "Front"
for magnet placement for closure.

4. Attach the wall "face" embellishment rectangles

to sides, front and back wall panels.

5. Arrange the wall sections in eventual positions,

with 'F' Front wall at front - shown here center bottom.

6. Prepare to join the walls at corner seams by

inserting the inner side tabs of B and F into

corresponding slots on side wall ends.

On the backside of side walls, bend the tabs
toward wall center and glue in place.

7. Continue to join remaining three corners

in the same manner.

8. With walls frame inverted right-side-up, bend

outer walls back into position, and

wrap the front and back walls over so that rim

miter cut edges overlap at rims. Apply a dab

of glue under the miter edge during 

the gluing process, then . . . 

. . . arrange plain cut outer corner edge to

overlap adjacent corner tab perf edge, and

glue side seam. Repeat for all corners.

Here is a view of the rim miter overlap.

NOTE: it may be helpful to insert a rod-like tool

such as this new pencil in between walls at corner

to provide a press-against surface to help

join corner seams.

9. Prepare lid shape by bending forward

on the perforation line which defines upper panel

and lower panel.

10. Prepare the upper panel build up by layering

the build up shapes, one by one, and gluing together,

taking care that all edges are aligned as precisely

as possible as each is added to the stack.

NOTE: during the gluing-up process of the build up
shape, her and throughout, it will be helpful
to use a flat weight to press the stack and help
avoid or minimize curling or warping, especially
when using liquid adhesive.
The flat weight shown here is a fabric-wrapped
cast-off free weight.

11. Layer the interior lower all build up shapes

(which include the cutout recesses for paper clips

that are part of magnet closure system)

and glue, press flat.

Here is an illustration of the layering of shapes

for the lid:

12. Position and glue one paper clip into each

cutout recess, then . . . 

. . . place the top layer of the Lid build up in place
with side and lower edges aligned, and glue in place,
concealing the paper clips.

13. Bend outer wall flange tabs outward all around.

14. Preview the location of the magnets inside

the 'F' Front wall in relationship to the paperclips

as shown here: magnet bars are "stuck" in place

to concealed paperclips on underside of lid assembly.

Here is the magnet bars used in

this sample box, which provide

a low to medium level attraction.

These small disc magnets
would provide an even stronger
magnetic attraction.

Move magnets to corresponding places

shown in first image in this step 13,

inside Front wall, and glue in place to 

underside of rim.

15. Position wall frame to match base rectangle,

then insert tabs into base slots.

(NOTE: this will take some time work each

tab into position, inserting one end tab

partially, then moving along to successive

tabs and slots.

16. Bend tabs toward center of tray, apply

glue and . . .

. . . apply pressure to attach tabs in place.

Turn tray over and apply finger pressure from

inside tray at tab positions.

17. Bend wall flange tabs toward center,

with base edge snugly at perforation angle,

and glue in place.

18. Position and attach bottom cover

to conceal construction tabs and flanges.

(NOTE: cover is slightly offset within tray edges.)

19. Prepare the platform sections by bending

back on all perforations for walls and tabs,

and then re-bend the lower tab flanges

of smaller shape forward.

20. Join the two sections at one side seam . . .

. . . then form into a tube to join the second 
side seam . . . 

. . . pressing flat on work surface to apply
finger pressure along seam(s).

21. Bend top flange tabs inward,

bend top into position, square up walls,

and attach to flanges.

22. Prepare platform supports by sliding together
at center slots as shown.

23. Insert the support into support tray with tabs

at the bottom, spread the 'X' as wide as possible,

then glue tabs to underside of roof.

24. Bend the rounded split tabs as shown ('back'
set under platform, 'front' outward, then . . . 

. . . apply adhesive to sides, flange undersides,

and back . . .

. . . then position snugly against back
inside of tray and apply pressure to attach
flanges and walls.

25. Complete lid decoration by attaching accent 
panels to lower and upper sections.

Here is the December completed lid.

26. Position the lid over the box tray and

attach upper portion to corresponding rim edges.

27. To prepare the optional December word art

embellishment, cut the main tracing shape from scrap

paper to make a window to position over the printed card stock

with even offset margins around, then trace . . . 

. . . and scissor-cut on traced line.

28. Layer and glue together the base build-up

offset shape layers, add the accent top layer,

then position and attach December shape on top.

29. Position and attach the December unit
over the lid, taking care that top edges
and NOT too high to interfere with lid opening.

Here are images of completed box
with additional tag, ribbon and knob-key
embellishments.

Finished!

.