A super-easy traditional Christmas decoration to make with paper.
By Sarah Heeringa and Susan Elijas
Traditional Polish Christmas celebrations begin on Christmas Eve with the appearance of the first star in the sky gwiazda (or little star). This reminds them of the star in Bethlehem that guided the three kings and its arrival marks the start of Wigilla – a special Christmas Eve family feast.
You will need:
- sheets of white paper
- a circle stencil using an old CD
- scissors
- paper glue
Step 1
Use your CD stencil to draw 12 to 14 circles on the paper sheets. Trace the outside as well as the inner circle.
Step 2
Cut out the circles, but leave the inner circle intact.
Step 3
Fold the circle in half, then in half again, and finally in half one more time. It should look like a tiny triangular shape now. Unfold the circle completely.
Step 4
Cut along the fold line from the outside of the circle to the inner circle – stopping at the inner circle line. You should now have eight separate segments attached by the small middle circular section.
Step 5
Put a dot of glue on the right corner of one segment. Place a pencil in the middle of the segment with the point facing away from the center of the circle. The point should be just at the edge of the paper.
Step 6
Roll the segment of paper around the pencil and secure with the dot of glue. Take the pencil out and repeat with the next segment. Continue around the circle until all eight segments are points.
Step 7
Repeat the rolling and gluing process with all of the circles you cut out.
Step 8
Thread a sequin onto the string and place it in the middle. Thread the two ends of the string through the eye of a large craft needle. Punch the needle through the center of one of the stars and slide it down the string until it meets the sequin. Make sure that the nice side of the star is facing the sequin.
Step 9
Repeat with the other stars, sliding them down until they meet the one just below. For these stars, make sure the nice side is facing up.
Step 10
Thread the needle through the second sequin once you have finished with the stars. Take the needle off the thread.
Step 11
Pull the two thread strands apart. This brings the sequin down closer to the stars. Tighten the thread as much as you can and tie the two ends together in a simple knot. Tie a knot at the ends of the thread to make a large loop for hanging from a tree.
For more Christmas craft ideas, see our Crafted Celebrations feature
