Did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving feast? Sugarwings and her sweet little Pixie Pie cousin sure did. But in hindsight, this idea of using the baby's craft table for their dining wasn't the best. It was a food free-for-all, with two little toddlers up and down and knocking each other over and dumping plates. I can already see that at Christmas dinner we'll be using a duo of high chairs instead.
At my house, we craft before and after holiday dinners. I prepped the meal way ahead of time, making mashed potatoes in the crock pot, and had noodles slowly simmering on the stove all day, while the green bean casserole (from scratch, no canned soup) and turkey were ready to pop in the oven when the time came.
Guests brought side dishes made at home, so we had time to play instead of slaving away in the kitchen! The guys were watching the game and playing pool, so we went to the studio and started cutting and gluing.
We were making the Christmas stars in two sizes, large for tree toppers and smaller ones for ornaments. Or wouldn't they be cute clipped to a ribbon and made into a garland?
We decided to use family photos on the ornaments, so we dressed the cousins up in their Christmas gowns and snapped a few quick pics of them to print out onto silver, holographic paper.
I wish the photos showed how pretty this shiny paper is.
A lot of you asked for how-tos for this Christmas star, so I thought this would be a good day for it. If you have a houseful of family together for the holiday weekend, this is a fun project you can all do together. Take photos of each other for the centers of the stars and you can make a "family tree" for Christmas.
Card stock works best. I wanted a vintage image, so copied this sheet music onto parchment colored card stock. You can use scrapbook paper, or heck, even plain card stock, what ever colors you like for a background.
Cut a piece of paper in half lengthwise and then fold both pieces in accordion pleats.
Then do a second piece to match.
Staple all four pleated sections together.
I suppose that for a tidier look, you could use glue, if you had an issue with not wanting staples to show. But if you do, you'll be wishing you were an octopus. I quickly switched to staples, after starting out using glue.
This is what it should look like.
You will need to cut 2 pieces of card stock to fit the back and the front of the star to hold it in place. Any shape, any paper that pleases you for your design.
For this tree topper, I used plain white on the back.
For the front, I used flocked wallpaper glued onto the card stock, then cut into an oval. After gluing, weight the paper down for minute or two till it sticks good.
That is a good time to take a break for a quick cuddle with someone furry and cute.
After the glue dries, you can trim the edges to get a star shape. Then with a paint brush (or fingers, like I use) add glue to the clipped edges and sprinkle with glitter.
At this point, it is ready to decorate however you'd like. Streaming ribbons, photos, flowers, sparkly things, whatever suits you.
If you think you'd rather make the smaller size, instead of the tree toppers, use one piece cut into 4 equal strips lengthwise instead of 2 pages cut in two strips.
And if you'd like extra sparkly edges, use Stickles as the glue that you add glitter to. (by the way, Stickles is now available at Hobby Lobby!!!)
There are actually some new things listed on my Etsy site. Some hand dyed bottle brush trees (more to come) and I am about to list some glittering vintaeg doves that I do-dadded up.
There are also some of my flower packs listed. If you need a specific color that isn't listed yet, just ask. I might have it!
You also have a couple more days to enter the giveaway for November. Good luck!
What a beautiful post Karla! Your Thanksgiving looks and sounds beautiful!
Hugs,
Amy
I love the stars karla , I will be trying those for sure. I am glad your Thanksgiving was a nice day for you and your family. Donna
Oh My Karla, the cousins are so, so sweet. Love them in their red dresses. Thank you the start tutorial, I will have to make some.
Karen
Thanks for the tutorial. I will try it. I left and came back to comment and there was more posted! How fun to see more!
LOVE the “quick cuddle something furry and cute”. Adorable Karla!
Hugs,
Pam
Very pretty! I’ll definately have to go make some of theses. Thanks! Your dodadded birds are so pretty!
Sounds like you had a great Thanksgiving day! The stars are gorgeous and thanks for sharing how to make them…The little ones look so sweet!
Hugs
Brenda
Glad you had a great turkey day! Crafting sounds fun that is what we did too 🙂 Poor Corey is dealing with the dining room table being covered in craft stuff. He’s a good sport. Thanks for the tutorial!
Thanks for the tutorial! I have always wondered how those were made, I will be crafting some for my own tree now:>) Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving1
Love how you get the family crafting before and after family dinners. Gorgeous! Rachaelxo
Fun! Can’t wait to make some!
KAlra
I love how you craft before and after dinner–how special is that!
Looks like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Crafting with people you love is so much fun.
Lorrie
Your stars are so pretty! I can’t wait to try one.
The fairy/pixie cousins look adorable! Looks like a fun day! Love the Christmas stars–thanks for showing us how to make them. I’m definitely going to give them a try!
Hi Karla
Thanks for the tree topper tutorial. Me and the girls had a lot of fun doing these with family pictures of Christmas Pasts. Glod to hear that your Thanksgiving was a joyous and happy one
hugz and smilez
Brenda
Your Thanksgiving celebration sounded perfect Karla.
Oh I loved getting a behind the scenes tutorial Karla! I am going to have to try and make one now 🙂 Hope your Thanksgiving was relaxing.
Hugs,
Dena
Sounds like you had a lot of fun! I wish my family liked to do crafts. Your Christmas stars are beautiful and the babies look adorable!
Thanks for sharing the fantastic tutorial! It looks like you had a wonderful holiday. Have a restful weekend!
I would love your recipe for your green bean cass…my daughter makes one (also from scratch)…but the green beans were a bit to crunchy for me. Laurie
Karla, Thanks so much for the Christmas star tutorial! I’m really going to love making those!
Would you consider sharing your green bean casserole recipe? One of my daughters can’t eat canned soup because of the msg.
Cute photos of the beautiful little girls – don’t you just love matching dresses? I used to make them for Easter & Christmas until they begged me to stop (in jr. high)! Then they later both asked me to make their wedding gowns – not matching.
Thanks also for sharing your Silver Bella adventures. Fun to enjoy it vicariously.
Faithful reader, Jane – Jacksonville
I’d be happy to tell you how to make the casserole. I don’t use regular recipes, kind of make things up as I go along, but I’ll tell you how I made it.
I sauteed onions and garlic in olive oil, till golden, then added corn starch disolved in cold water and stirred till blended, and slowly added added about a cup of fat free half and half and a cup of skimmed milk. It was seasoned with just salt and pepper and cooked till the consistancy of canned soup.
I mix in 3 large cans of Italian cut green beans, and pour i all into a greased casserole dish.
Then, I toss cracker crumbs with olive oil, garlic salt and almonds, then sprinkle over the top and bake it at about 350 for a while since the turkey is still in the oven, then when I take the turkey out, I turn up the heat to about 400.
Sorry, about no exact measurements or times!
Love the Stars and all the cute fairies and pixies on them. TFS the tute.
We’re having our Family Thanksgiving tomorrow. Crafting there would go over like a lead balloon. lol Glad ya’ll had fun.
I think this ‘family crafting’ is such a good idea. I love the picture of the two girls in their Christmas gowns and that photo of Sugarwings hugging one of the dorkies is great too! The stars are beautiful, I’m going to try this too, thanks for the tutorial and have a great weekend!
Thank you for the star tute karla, I will give this a go over the next couple of weeks. Love the dyed bottle brush trees and the cutsie birds too xxx
What fun!! I’m gonna have to make a star with my new grandson’s pic!! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing about the starbursts Karla!You read my mind! I can’t wait to try making some as they are so sweet! Did you ever go see Twilight? Friend of mine wants to go see it for a second time so we might go to a matinee tomorrow. I am curious what you thought of it. Movies are so expensive anymore I don’t go to very many-mostly do Netflix these days. Have a great weekend.
I was curious being canadian and all , you serve noodles with your Thanksgiving dinner.I have noticed on other blogs that they are served too. If you have time could you or one of your readers tell me how they are made and served. You say they were simmering on the stove all day. They sound so interesting , as well as the green bean casserole. I love green beans.Thanks Donna
What a fun day! I can’t imagine my brother’s (4)faces if I told them we were going to make ornaments after dinner. What no football?? Maybe I’ll try it next year. The photos might be priceless!
I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday weekend!
Thanks for the tutorial 🙂 Brilliant!!
Looks like you all enjoyed Thanksgiving. You are so smart to prepare everything & have craft time. Such a great idea for family time.
Nerissa
Even more good ideas! Have I mentioned that I loved your SilverBella goodies?
VictorianGypsy
hey!!! Its been forever since Ive been by! I miss reading your blog! love the idea! super cute! hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! big hugs
toodles-
sarah
Oh cool! I have been making the according folded circles forever, but never thought to attach them like you did!! They do look good on a banner, go check my blog!! http://theredbulletinboard.blogspot.com/2008/11/crafts-galore.html
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It looks like those two were a handful but fun nonetheless. Thanks for the tutorial…I love making them so much and it seems that there are so many different ways to make them. Take care.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your sweet family Karla! Sugarwings looks so cute there with her cute little cousin! I can just picture her going back and forth with the food! hehehe!
Missing you oxox
PS. my box came super quick, in less than a week from when you shipped it!
What a great way to spend Thanksgiving… crafting and eating. Gotta try that next year! I love your tutorial… will have to try one – so very cute!
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
WOW – talk about a wise woman – how inspiring to craft with your family. I love a lady with her priorities straight! Thanks for the tutorial – I am going to make one today (or two or three!)
I love the idea of crafting before dinner. (Which I sometimes do, but without the fun of it being a group project!)
Thanks for the tutorial — I need to try these. I love the family tree idea. Lovely!
Thank you so much for the tutorial, I can’t wait to make some stars with my girls!!
Isabel
Your tree topper and ornaments look too cute!
my beau is a jazz musician, so I like making musical presents for him. Looks like a good project for all the leftover sheet music he has from sundry gigs!
Beautiful tutorial! Always there are something novel in your blog.
How sweet is that? You had all the stuff ready to go so everyone could get their glitter on! You definitely have your priorities straight Karla! Love the tutorial too……
Wow, Karla, you do manage to keep everyone hopping! I can’t imagine being part of your family and trying to keep up with you!
Our family keeps things a bit more low key when we gather. The focus of our Thanksgiving gathering is on the bounty of the meal as a symbol of all we have and all for which we are thankful. Most of us enjoy cooking and being close while we prepare our Thanksgiving meal, and most everyone helps with the cleanup before and after, as well.
Donna from Canada, I think everyone has special family traditional dishes they prepare on Thanksgiving. We’ve never eaten noodles on Thanksgiving, but we do enjoy preparing homemade egg noodles with chicken for other family meals during the holiday. We like our green beans fresh and steamed with a little garlic so they are crisp and colorful. Yum! Happy holidays to all!
I am going to try and make the tree toppper. You gave really good step by step instructios. Thak – you so much….m..
Karla, what a fun Thanksgiving you had!!! i think it is just wonderful that you all did a little bit of crafting before and after you ate the bird…those stars you made are too cute with the pics of the wee cuties in the middle…LOVE the doves, they look SO pretty!!!
hi karla –
love your tradition! chrismas starts right after thanksgiving dinner is over for us ~ the christmas music goes on and crafting begins! love making those stars too!
take care and best wishes this wonderful holiday season ~
xo heidi
WOW! You even craft ON the holidays! Gotta love that! We used to put a plastic tablecloth under the children’s table at the holidays… as there was ALWAYS mush on the floor! heehee
Can’t wait to make some…thanks for the tutorial! How neat that y’all craft on Thanksgiving day! The boys have their football & y’all have your glitter…I love it!
Love this tutorial. Thank you so very much for posting it.
Glad you had a great day with your family!
How fun! Guess what I’m going to be making today! Yup, your lovely stars! Thanks for the lesson!
Oh btw I hope I win your giveaway.
Hugs,
Joanne
I got it all at HomeGoods! (homegoods.com) I’m itchin’ to go back for more! =)
I love it all, can I come over and craft!
hi Karla, Welcome to December. I’m going to have to get some paper out and follow this tutorial. Happy happies.
Thanksgiving at your house looks like such fun. And, your models are beautiful. 😉
I want to come to your house for thanksgiving…I don’t think I could get my men to craft. But, I could get my sis and mom. What a good idea! Love the how-to!
Karla-I love the stars! Thanks so much for the instructions, I will definitely be adding some of these to my little bedroom tree.
Stacy
Hi Karla,
Looking forward to meeting you this weekend at Miss Frenchie’s! I need to bookmark your blog so that I can spend some time later – I need every second to get ready for the show!
Have a good week!
Julie
Your tutorial is awesome and I look forward to trying to replicate the stars for my trees. :o)
Well, this is always the place to come for wonderful Christmas inspiration. I love your star, Karla. Thank you for taking the time to share how you made it.
Those two little girls look so sweet dressed up in that “Santa” photo. I think it’s so nice that they can be together. I loved having cousins nearby when I was a girl.
Can’t tell you how much I love your craft before dinner idea — and how flat that would fall with my family! What a great way to build fun and keep the kids occupied too. Well, maybe someday…
Looks fabulous and I like the stars!