Christmas Crafting

"These paper stars are reminiscent of the wooden good-luck symbols found in folk art. Using large sheets of card and offcuts of wallpaper means you can make the stars as big as you like." – Christine Leech, Simple Makes: Scissors, Paper, Craft

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Folk Art Wall Stars

Supplies

Pencil

Metal ruler

3mm thick grey card

Craft knife and cutting mat

Offcuts of wallpaper or other medium-weight paper

Spray adhesive Double-sided tape Hole punch or bradawl

Length of string or ribbon for hanging

Scissors

Makes 1

 

1. Trace a star outline onto the grey card. Using a pencil and ruler, draw the lines between the points of the star where indicated on the template.

2. Using a metal ruler and craft knife, cut out the star from the grey card. Turn the card over and draw pencil lines between the points of the star as before.

 

 

3. On one side of the star, score the five short lines marked in red on the template. 

 

 

 

4. Turn the star over and score the five long lines marked in blue on the template. 

 

 

 

5. With this side facing upwards, gently pinch and manipulate each star point until they become three-dimensional.

 

 

 

To cover the star

 6. Lay a piece of wallpaper right side down on a clean, flat surface. Spray the front of the star with spray adhesive,then place it on the wallpaper. Press the star flat. Cut around it, leaving a 2cm margin of wallpaper all the way round.

7. At each inner point of the star, trim away some of the wallpaper as shown. Place a strip of double-sided tape along each side of each star point. Remove its protective backing.

 

 

8. Fold the edges of the wallpaper back onto the double-sided tape, trimming away any excess at the tip of the star points.

 

 

 

8. Fold the edges of the wallpaper back onto the double-sided tape,

trimming away any excess at the tip of the star points.

 

 

 

9. Turn the star over and gently reshape it. Using a hole punch or bradawl, make a

hole in the top of one of the star points and thread a length of string or ribbon through to make a hanging loop.

 

Top Tip

As some wallpapers are quite fibrous, they can stretch and bend more than thinner papers.

This makes wallpaper better suited to the three-dimensionality of this project.

Other types of paper may tear when you bend the star.

Photography by Keiko Oikawa

 Simple Makes: Scissors, Paper, Craft by Christine Leech is available now in stores and online from Amazon and Waterstones