Tuesday 31 December 2013

Window Stars

A few people have kindly asked to know more about making window stars. There are plenty of tutorials on line which can be found by searching for window stars, Waldorf stars, tissue stars, rainbow stars, etc. In this post I've included links to all the star patterns I've used.

Here I've made four different types of stars. The two smallest ones are just smaller versions of two of the larger stars.


This time I used kite paper to make the stars. This is waxed tissue paper and is stronger than plain tissue paper and, I hope, more lightfast (the stars haven't been up long enough yet to know). I ordered my kite paper from Myriad Natural Toys and Crafts. They have two packs available, this one with 100 sheets and this one with 500 sheets. I've used both (I needed lots of sheets for when I was getting my class to make stars) and don't think there's too much difference in quality. There are more colours in the first pack, but if you want to make a rainbow star there are enough colours to do this in the second pack - use the two shades of green to get the eight colours required.

The two checked stars here are made using this pattern from Arwen Arts. An alternative tutorial is available here at GardenMama. The big checked star is made using a whole sheet of kite paper for each point, the smaller version is made using a quarter sheet for each point. The other star in this picture is from this book though I didn't bother cutting the paper to the right size which is why it looks a bit different to how it should. Now that I've seen the book, I personally wouldn't recommend it as most of my favourite patterns are available on line and there are only a couple extra in the book that I'd like to make.

These two stars are variations on a theme. The eight pointed star is made using this pattern, again from Arwen Arts (there are more tutorials for other star patterns on her site too). Here's an alternative instruction sheet in a nice graphic form from Wide Eyed Tree. The 16 pointed star requires twice the number of kite paper pieces and uses the same folding method but with one extra step. A tutorial is available here at An Abundance Of Rainbows.

Be warned, they are addictive to make! 

While I had the camera out I took some more pictures of the living room looking tidy. It was the calm before the storm as we later had people round for a little party.

Included were a fairly large number of children, some of whom found a box with polystyrene packing in it and thought it would be a good idea to make snow all the way down the stairs!

We also now have a mountain of cheese and houmous, we hadn't realised people had brought so much.

Anyway, I hope you have all the information you need to start your own window star journey. Have fun!

See you all next year...

16 comments:

Attic24 said...

Anne THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
I have been mesmerised by your beautiful window stars and yesterday went searching all over the www for instructions. Then tried to locate kite paper on the www and failed. Went searching in my cupboard for tissue paper to try instead, but only found some screwed up bits so felt a bit deflated.
Thanks so much for the links, going to go look properly at them now and am going to get me some kits paper too. I'm looking forward to making these with the little people, they will brighten up our dull grey january windows once the christmas things pack away.
Gosh I love Blogland so much :o)
Much love and thanks for the inspiration
Lucexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Peeriemoot said...

The stars are lovely - I'll have to have a go at that next year. I've decided to try more papery things in 2014!
Your house looks so cosy and calm :-). Mine's a midden!

Amy at love made my home said...

Your stars are so pretty and will look lovely when the sun comes back out and shines through them - not that they don't look lovely now!

I hope that your New Years party goes well and that you have lots of fun.

Happy New Year. xx

topchelseagirl said...

They're lovely and the whole place looks warm and welcoming.

Vicky aka Stichr said...

Double sweet! Thank you for letting me/us all know the details! I have never heard of kite paper, so I will be surfing along side Lucy, which is really a feat as we are on different continents!
Happy New Year to you all!

* said...

The stars are just gorgeous, I bet they are addictive....I like Lucy's idea of making them for January windows too....

Your lounge pictures always look so lovely cosy, it is a beautiful room (although I mean it in a non-stalkery way!) That has great light. Our house is better in the summer with the light flooding in, with the low sun, all I can see is dust here!

Thanks for all the links....its on the list!

* said...

The stars are just gorgeous, I bet they are addictive....I like Lucy's idea of making them for January windows too....

Your lounge pictures always look so lovely cosy, it is a beautiful room (although I mean it in a non-stalkery way!) That has great light. Our house is better in the summer with the light flooding in, with the low sun, all I can see is dust here!

Thanks for all the links....its on the list!

Mereknits said...

Your party sounds like loads of fun, hope the clean up wasn't too bad. Hugs to you and Happy New Year,
Meredith

Louise said...

Happy New Year :)

Star speckles said...

Your lounge is lovely, hope you had a fun party (indoor snow and all...)! Those stars are such fun, I bet you can't wait for the sunshine.

Mrs. Micawber said...

I can see that they'd be addictive ... those stars are simply gorgeous.

Had to laugh at your "tidy" photos - I took one too on Christmas Day to mark the unusual cleanliness and order! I like your cushions very much. And I love that line of trees visible from your living room window.

P.S. We watched "The World's End" tonight and I was struck by the British pronunciation of hummus (which is how we spell it here - and you can guess by the spelling how we pronounce it). Now that I see your spelling of it, the pronunciation makes perfect sense. :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the link the stars look great!

driftwood said...

happy new year, hope it's a great one. love the stars, I think I need some to cheer up the rather grey weather we're having.

Clicky Needles said...

Super stars.
Happy New Year.
CN x

eclectichomelife said...

Wow! Have only just discovered you and your blog, cannot wait to delve in futher and be inspired and wow at you! Thank you for this star posting, the children and I will have fun on a dull day, all excited, thanks! If you have time, pop over and visit me!http://eclectichomelife.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/snowflakes-at-christmas.html

Gillian Roe said...

Thank you so much for this! I saw these stars somewhere else but didn't really know what they were called or how to make them. Your links are invaluable. I'd like to make some with the kids next Christmas. Or maybe this winter.. Anyway, thank you. xx

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