How to make your own Christmas tree angel
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My dislike for crafts happened in a single moment in fifth grade.
We were divided into groups as we made butterflies out of tissue paper, construction paper and glue. One of my more social classmates walked from a nearby table to ours. She complimented everyone one by one on their beautiful creations. She got to me last.
After a moment, she said, “Oh. Hi, Robert.”
That’s when I knew — or convinced myself — I wasn’t the crafting type. And I never crafted another butterfly again.
I had a slight change of heart as a teenager when, on a boring rainy day, I flipped through a tattered book on crafts and discovered the concept of an aluminum foil person. No glue required (beware of any project involving Elmer’s!). Scissors? You could tear if you wanted (though I eventually did use scissors for the sake of precision). And the folding wasn’t that complicated (Origami is another one of my creative failures).
I found myself not only making the little statues out of aluminum foil, but candy wrapper foil as well (you can get all sorts of great colors at Easter time!). And when my family didn’t have a star for the top of the tree, I came up with the idea of an aluminum foil angel. You can see how to make one in the video above.
Should everyone make one? Of course not! You might find it tacky and un-Christmaslike. But if you can’t afford a “real” topper, if your family is up for trying new things, or if you simply misplaced your star or angel and need a temporary solution, try this aluminum foil creation.
I still don’t think of myself as a crafts guy, but making an angel with my kids is a little way I can contribute to the happiness of the season without simply throwing money at it. And more than that, this tradition reminds me that although I’m not naturally gifted at certain things, I can still rise above my own misgivings and make things I think are beautiful – as long as they aren’t butterflies.
At any rate, simple aluminum foil at the top of the tree is a good reminder that despite the ornate displays this time of year, for many of us, Christmas is about a humble event.