One of the best new products in the Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book is the My Creations Star (pg. 132). This 12" star is sturdy and can stand up to inking, distressing and liquid glue. It makes a great Christmas decoration and is easy to customize and adorn. Each of the stars I created took less than 45 minutes to make from start to finish! CTMH makes it easy to trim papers for the star by providing a cutting template; just click on Ideas and Inspiration on my website.
I inked the edges of the papers and the star with Cashmere ink.
To create this star, I printed off the star template, cut out the template for the star sides, traced it onto the patterned paper, then cut out each piece and adhered with Bonding Memories Glue (pg. 135). I strongly suggest a good liquid glue, such as Bonding Memories, to keep the paper flat on the star and the points down.
I used two different papers on each point of the star, creating a nice contrast. I inked the edges of the papers as well as the star with Cashmere ink prior to adhering the papers. When the papers were dry, I inked again, filling in any white spots where the background star showed through.
Next, I die cut a flower and adhered it to the top portion of the star with a Pearl Badge Button for the centre.
To create the bow, I tied the bow from Burlap Ribbon, then lightly painted it with Create-a-Shade paint. This left a pale, shimmery glaze on the ribbon. (It looks quite white in the photo, but in real life, it's more sparkle than white.). When it was dry, I adhered it to the bottom side of the star and added two pearl stick pins to the centre. The bling button was added after threading with some red embroidery floss.
The sentiment, which reads "Christmas is love with all the trimmings", was stamped onto some scrap Cashmere cardstock with Cranberry ink. I trimmed it, inked the edges with Cashmere ink and adhered it to a piece of Olive cardstock. I trimmed and inked that piece as well and adhered it under the bow.
To finish off the star, I randomly added Sparkles on each star point.
The end result is a lovely decoration I will cherish for years to come.
I created a second star for a friend who requested a more religious theme. With the same papers and the Everlasting Life stamp set (pg. 82), I created this star.
I began by printing off an image of the Nativity from the Internet. I trimmed it down to size and die cut a French scroll frame. I inked the edges of the frame with Cashmere ink and stamped the phrase "Gloria" in Cashmere ink around the edges of the frame. While the ink was still wet, I applied Golden embossing power and embossed the sentiments. I inked the edges of the image and adhered to the frame.
I used the whole point image from the star template, cut it out and traced it on the patterned paper, then cut out and folded the patterned paper. I used the lightest of the Pear & Partridge papers and covered the whole star in the same paper, in keeping with my friend's taste.
I thought adhering the large panel to the front of the star would be tricky, but it turns out it wasn't! I just applied liquid glue along the top edges of the start, with an extra dollop in the middle, and applied the panel. I then set it aside, face down to dry. This meant the panel was facing downwards, but it's an excellent effect as the star will we hanging on a door, slightly above eye level and passers by will have an excellent view of the picture.
To embellish the star, I used the same die cut flower as in my first star and the same ribbon and tag idea. This time, I used a simple white grosgrain ribbon and one pearl stick pin, adhering it to the bottom area of the panel. I created the tag, trimming and inking the edges, and stamped the same "Gloria" sentiment in Cashmere ink that I had used for the background frame. I adhered the tag under the ribbon and added a button from the Bling assortment, threaded with red embroidery floss.
To finish off the star, I used red and white Sparkles.
I'm very happy to say my friend loved the star and gushed at length about how talented I am...if she only knew! I just followed the template and cut the papers. It took less than 45 minutes to create this star!
If you'd like your own My Creations Star, place an order through me or through my website. Or why not host your own Close To My Heart Gathering and earn your star as part of your Hostess Rewards? With sales of $250 at your Gathering, you can select Hostess Collections for 50% off! Collection Two (pg. 3) features the My Creations Star, Dakota paper pack, Dakota Compliments Foil Images, Wrangler Assortment, Burlap Ribbon, Irresistibles Houndstooth Alphabet, Paisley Flair stamp set, Rugged Dude stamp set, Casual Expressions stamp set, Barn Red Exclusive Inks pad and a 3" x 3" acrylic block. Over $99 in product for 50% off!
Contact me to book your own Gathering today!
