TP Roll Tree Topper Tutorial

I noticed people have been searching the site for Christmas in July ideas and toilet paper roll projects. My aim is to please, as my grandmother always liked to say.
Being a bit ahead of the game come December is a very good feeling...

unlike me last year when I decided our tree needed a new star on the evening of December 23rd. Last minute Christmas crafting? Oh yes.
(hmm, I suppose it's more of a snowflake than a star, but either leads to the thought of making a batch to hang as window decorations... keep saving those tp or paper towel rolls.)
What you'll need:
4 tp rolls or enough to provide a total of 30 half inch segments. For example, the ones I used measured 4 inches long so each roll provided eight segments.
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
Glue - basic craft glue or a hot glue gun
Straight pins
Non-stick work surface (I used a Styrofoam tray)
Gold metallic acrylic paint or spray paint
Paint brush
Instructions:
Step 1: Flatten each tp roll and mark off 1/2 inch segments along both sides of its length. Cut across the roll using the marks as guidelines to make 30 pointed oval (marquise) segments.

Step 2: Cut 6 of the segments into two unequal pieces so that the smaller section measures about 3/4 inch in length and the larger one about 1 1/2 inches. Each segment will have one folded end and one cut (open) end.
This is getting a little confusing... let's recap!
You now have three segment sizes:
6 of the 3/4" cut segments (small)
6 of the 1 1/2" cut segments (medium)
24 pointed oval segments (large)

Step 3: Brush or spray one or two coats of gold paint on all of the surfaces, inside and outside.
Step 4: To assemble the innermost section of the tree topper that looks like a flower with six small petals inside six larger petals, glue the open end of a medium loop inside one end of a large loop. It's easiest to do this on a non-stick surface. Hold the loops in place with straight pins while the glue dries.

When dry, assemble the "flower" and set it aside.
Step 5: Glue the open ends of the smallest segments and place them under a mug to weigh them down while the glue dries. Trust me, there are six. The last one is hiding on the other side of the mug.

Step 6: While these small segments are drying, arrange and glue six 3 petal arrangements that will form the outermost ring. Again, work with pins on a non-stick surface and allow the glue to dry. All this glue-waiting is important so the snowflake/star winds up with symmetrical diagonals. Make Mother Nature proud.
Step 7: Glue a three section segment to each of the central petal tips and then glue one of the smallest sections to each of the outermost ring sections.
Step 8: Touch up any missed spots with paint.

It's so enjoyable to make something out of practically nothing.
And now I challenge you to say TP Tree Topper three times fast.
(It's the silly little things that keep me posting, ha!)