well, you know...at least outside it is looking and feeling like Christmas. That or Syberia. Haven't decided...what a time we have been having! I have been right out straight. Woke up with a doosy of a cold yesterday morning. There are hardly any decorations up in the house yet, but I have ornaments out the wazoo!! I have been making Christmas ornaments for weeks now, when I have a bit of free time here and there.
I took on the task of German Paper Stars, something my Grandma Brooks had made close to 50 years ago. My Grandmother, along with all my aunts and the rest of the youth group at the local church, ordered paper strips, and made a ton of these stars for a fundraiser. My mom and I think it was in the late 50's, early 60's time period. I had a few original stars that my Mom had given me, but wanted to learn how to make them so I could put more on my tree..They remind me of my Grandma, and I love the old fashioned look they have! They sold the original stars for $1.00/dozen, and made enough to buy an organ for the church!! That is alot of stars!! They made mostly pastel stars, because that is primarily what was available for colored paper back then, so I made pastels, too, but also used some patterned scrapbook paper and primary colored cardstock as well. After they are folded, you dip them in canning wax, and sprinkle them with glitter! They are beautiful. The wax completely changes their texture and appearance. I hung them on a cheapie plastic clothes drying rack to dry, and look at them all!! I ended up making over 125 stars-some to give as gifts, some for my Mom to give as gifts, some for me, and some for my Mom (she only allows handmade ornaments on her tree!!)-a little bit of everything. They were fun, but I gotta admit-I am glad they are done! I have had my fill!! 
I also found this great tutorial for Paper Pine Cone Ornaments. I have made half a dozen of these so far. I used some really cool Doodlebug paper I had been hoarding. The look very impressive, without a lot of work! 
I also got my order from LTD this morning. I go to the LTD site every Monday morning to see what they have for New and Exciting Values. They had THE cutest "Pathetic Charlie Brown Tree" that I just had to have...It is an exact replica of the tree on the cartoon, including the red ornament....I am in love!! 
So, that is what I have been up to!! Hopefully, I will bounce back from this cold soon, and get my house decorated! We finally finished remodeling our shed, and it is now a functioning family/trophy room! It is great, so check back for photos after the decorations are up!!
Have a great Thursday!! **keri
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10 comments:
Hello Keri!
Those wax-paper ornaments are so wonderful! What a great tradition, and memory of your Grandmother.... I loved reading this post!
You have been one busy gal, cranking those out, in addition to your pine cone ones! Cute!
Hey, Love the Charlie Brown tree! You are too funny!
Hope you feel better - Chicken Soup, homemade, does the trick!
PS
Cute new holiday header!!!!
Wow! Keri, you are amazing!!! How many paper cuts did you end up with, or blisters from the wax?? I totally had the ornaments being flat! They are gorgeous and the pine cone ones look great too! I love your banner...it looks so cool! I tried a picture up there once and it was so big, I did something wrong!! Great posts!!! Thanks for sharing!
wow you've been busy! those stars are cool and i love the pinecones - i've got one made with ribbon but the paper would be cool to try - yours are so cute :-)
Wow Keri, you've been busy!! That's a whole lot of ornaments, they've even taken over your header :)
Ooooh- I love those German stars! I haven't been able to figure them out for the life of me- I can do one side, but can't seem to do the back. I'm going to give the pinecone ornaments a try too- those look fantastic. The Charlie Brown tree is darling, I can't wait to see your REAL tree too :D
hmmm- cyber space ate my previous comment it seems. I love your German star ornaments- I've never been able to make those for the life of me. I bought a Martha Stewart kit years ago and could only get one side done, then couldn't figure out how to do the backs. Yours look amazing, and I love all the colors and you chose. The pinecone ornaments look great too, and that Charlie Brown tree is darling!! I can't wait to see your REAL tree though :D
Keri, I'm on my way to your house right now to steal that tree! LOLRITF-super cool, girlie !! You know I remember now, what I was going to ask you the day I called, it was about the wax & what kind did you use? Those stars are going to be fabulous on your tree!!
oh, I remembered this morning, I totally forgot to tell you how much I adore the new header! Super!!
Thank you sooo much for my stars! They are amazing! Such a perfect addition to my tree-just what it needed!
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