Tutorial | Use Your Stash to Make New Year's Décor

Banners and pennants are such an easy way to add a little extra something to your decorations for any season...or just to add a little color and fun any time of year! I know we're all smack dab in the middle of Christmas prep and celebration, but today I'm sharing some fun décor I whipped up for New Year's Eve.

If red and green are the colors we think of first when we think of Christmas, then black and white (and gold!) are my go-to colors for the New Year. December's Park Ave. kits contained their share of this fantastic pairing, so I grabbed all the paper I had left from the kits and got to creating some darling 3D stars.

Here's all you need to put these little beauties together:

Using your circle-cutter or punch, cut out a circle. Or you can trace around a round-rimmed glass or create a circle using a compass. Note: the rest of the steps will be easier if you use a circle with a diameter that is divisible by 2. Here I've used a circle with a 5” diameter.

Divide the diameter of your circle by 2.

Use the measurement you've just calculated, (mine is 2.5”), and, with your ruler and a pencil, measure this distance and draw a line from edge to edge on your circle on the WRONG side of your paper (the side that will not show when your star is finished). When you've finished your first line, start at one end of the line you've just drawn and measure the distance again...until you've gone completely around your circle. You will draw 6 equidistant lines. It's important that you do this as precisely as possible so your star will fold and sit correctly. When you are finished, you will have created a hexagon within your circle.

Starting at one point on your hexagon, move around the shape, skipping the adjacent point and connecting your starting point and the next point (after the one you skipped) with a line. Now move over to the point you just skipped and do the same thing. Follow this pattern around your entire hexagon until you create a 6-pointed star (highlighted in black).

Cut out the star you just created.

Now your star can be stamped or decorated if you'd like. I like to wait until after I've cut the star out to decorate it...this way I can tell exactly how my pattern will look on my final project.

Lay your star RIGHT side up.
Fold your star, in half, point to point, around your entire shape. Your folds will be placed at the bottom intersection (or inside angles) of two adjacent points. You will make a total of 3 folds. Use your bone folder to get a sharp crease.

Now lay your star WRONG side up.

This time you will fold your star, in half, 2 points meeting. Your folds will be placed down the center of each point. Again you will make a total of 3 folds. Use your bone folder to get a sharp crease.

Turn your star RIGHT side up and spread out slightly. You should now have a beautiful 3D star! I find that I sometimes have to go through and play with the paper a bit to get it to look exactly how I want it. I refold or straighten creases, and I often have to “push down” on my stars until they are the height I want them to be.

Once you have a number of stars made you may choose to turn them into a banner. To do this, simply thread a needle with fishing wire and thread your stars through the top of a point. I recommend using a fairly small, sharp needle. It will be easier to get through 2 layers of paper and your finished stars won't move as much on the line.

Hang your banner across a wall, window, your Christmas tree, a railing, cabinets, chair backs, a picture frame - anywhere!

These stars do take a bit of time, but you will find that the more you do, the faster they go. They are a great project to do with the kids in front of a movie, although you will probably have to measure your lines and cut your stars out for younger children.

Use finished stars as gift tags, wall décor or table décor! And how darling would little tiny stars look strung on a necklace? The best part is, you can use up some of that stash and you can customize your stars in any way you choose for any occasion.

Supplies: Patterned paper - Park Ave. Main Scrapbook kit; stamp - Park Ave. Project Life kit; stamp ink - Studio Calico Color Theory Ink Pad, Inky Black; scissors - Non-stick snips; circle cutter (or punch, compass or glass with a round rim); ruler; pencil; bone folder (optional), fishing line or jewelry string, sewing needle (if you're making a banner)