Credit:
Connections: Families; Schools (Art, Math); Community Groups.
What You Need: Copies of “Family Star Pattern” (2 copies required to make 1 star); pencil crayons and/or markers; scissors; double-sided tape; glue; gold string.
Doing It:
Hollywood has its Walk of Fame, with bronze star plaques embedded in the sidewalk honoring show-business celebrities. Why not celebrate your “all-star family” with a family star tradition? One family I know comes up with a creative new way to use stars to celebrate their family each year. One year, they decorated a star cake with stars and the names of all their family members. Another year, they used food coloring to make stars in the snow outside with the names of their family members. Yet another year, they made star decorations with their family member names on them.
Use the “Family Star Pattern” to make a special 3-D star for each member of your family — children, parents, and grandparents. You’ll need two copies of the “Family Star Pattern” for each star you make (each copy is one half of the finished star). Color both copies. For maximum 3-D effect, alternate light and dark colors. Use colors or patterns that represent the person to whom the star belongs. For example, if your brother likes blue, make his star using different shades of blue. Put each family member’s name somewhere on their star — and don’t forget to make a star for yourself! As you’re decorating the stars, be sure you can still see the guidelines for folding.
To construct a finished star, cut out both star pattern copies. Fold back all the flaps. Carefully crease along the interior lines of each copy so that the points of the star pop out. Make sure your creases all meet at the center of the star.
Put a small piece of double-sided tape on each flap of each half of the star. Put the two halves together so that each flap is attached to the inside of the other half of the star. Be careful not to crush the star as you’re putting it together (you may have to puff it out when you’re done). Glue a loop of gold string to one point on the star so that you can hang it when it dries.
Decorate a wall or corner of a room with all your family stars.