I have an addiction.
I can’t help it. I hang anything I can think of from the ceiling. In January it’s snowflakes. In February it’s hearts…by the time Christmas gets here I know I’ve got to hang something from the ceiling. Then they stay up through the New Year. They are the perfect party time transition.
Five years ago I made these stars and now every year when they come out of hiding with the rest of the Christmas decorations I look forward to hanging them from the ceiling…and making a few more! These are an opportunity for even your little kids to sit next to you and chat while wrapping wire around stars. That’s the fun part. The chatting.
Supplies:
Star cookie cutters (we use three different sizes)
18 gauge wire (thick wire for the star)
26 gauge wire (thin wire that will wrap easily around the star)
wire cutters
needle nose pliers (not shown)
*optional: beads and buttons
Choose one of the star cookie cutters as your pattern for the main part of the star.
On one side of the star cookie cutter bend the 18 gauge wire around one point. Follow around the rest of the star with the 18 gauge wire.
The ends of the wire will come back around and meet. Let them overlap for a full side of one of the points of the star (I always give it another 1/4 inch). Slide the wire off of the cookie cutter (and put the cookie cutter back on the table until you start the next star).
Snip the end of the wire a tiny bit longer than the overlapping ends, just a little past the the point.
On the overlapping sections bend the ends of the wire and then twist them around one another. I use needle nose pliers to squish them tightly together once I’ve twisted the wires around each other.
The star is ready to wrap with wire.
Using the 26 gauge wire twist the end of the wire around one of the star’s 18 gauge sides until it feels secure. Now wrap the wire all of the way around the star. Go across the star and then diagonally. Keep wrapping in every direction you can think of. Wrap and wrap until the star is completely covered in wire…or you can do only a light wrap.
(We have stars that are covered in wire and ones that are barely covered. My family likes to wrap like crazy and I like a little less wrapping. Seeing them all hanging together makes me smile at the crazy little family I have.)
When you’re done wrapping your star, twist the wire around one of the 18 gauge sides of the wire to secure the end, the same way you started the 26 gauge wire.
Tie a piece of white or clear thread from one point of the star and hang from the ceiling (we just use tape).
Another use for your stars is on your gift wrapping.
Attach a star to your ribbon for a bit more festivity and two gifts in one. (The person receiving your gift now also has a star to hang from their ceiling or a happy ornament.)
To make a star ornament you can add beads and/or buttons to your stars.
Pre-cut your 26 gauge wire to the length that you think you may use for wrapping your star. String beads or buttons onto the wire before wrapping your star. As you wrap you can adjust the buttons so that they are placed on the star to your liking.
If you run out of the beaded wire before your star looks the way you would like it to just start another wire and add it to the star.
These stars are excellent to use for a New Year’s Eve Celebration and even the 4th of July!
Happy New Year!
xoxo,
Davina
PS-Have you gotten my FREE e-book, “The Art of Familyness Photography?” Ten tips to take better photos of your own awesome holiday celebrations! Click here to get yours.
Davina loves the way picking out a Christmas tree never takes 5 minutes and must accompany getting hot chocolate at the Tree Farm (even if it’s 75 degrees outside) and the fun of meaning filled gifts.
The holidays are coming up. Make sure to get your free copy of The Art of Familyness Photography.
6 Comments
I love this! So easy and so cute. My girls are such crafters. This is the perfect activity for tonight while we attempt to stay up until midnight!! And we can save them to decorate next year.
Corrine, so glad you love it! Have a wonderful evening with your girls and watching the clock tick away the last few minutes of 2011!
Cute idea!!! As usual!!! thanks for sharing.
Looking forward to seeing the Hearts in February.
Betsy/Mom
What an amazing idea. This would make an awesome addition to our NYE kids celebration!
Oh! I would love to hear about your NYE celebration, Lori! 🙂
ohhhh wow! – i LOVE these!!!!