This Christmas’s hit: make a giant paper-bag star the easy way
A giant paper star comes together easily with no folding. All you need is a stack of paper bags, scissors, and glue.
Size: approx. 85 cm in diameter (33.5 inches).
Giant paper-bag star—supplies:
- 60 paper lunch bags, size 23 × 12 cm (9 × 4.75 inches)
- glue
- scissors
- pencil
- clothespins or other clips
- hanging string
Giant paper-bag star—instructions:
1. Cut the bottoms off 30 bags.
2. Make bag pairs by gluing one cut bag to one uncut bag. Slide the cut bag inside the other just enough for the edges to overlap slightly, and glue in place. Make all 30 bag pairs the same way.
3. Glue five bag pairs on top of each other. Apply glue down the center and along the bottom edge in the shape of an upside-down T. Make sure you glue every bag pair in the same orientation. You don’t need to spread glue all the way to the bag opening, since the ends will be trimmed later. Make six bundles in total, each with five bag pairs.
4. Take one bundle and sketch the star’s points on the topmost bag. You can draw freehand or use a ruler. Cut the bundle along the lines. Hold the bundle’s edges firmly in place with your fingers or clothespins so the layers don’t shift under your scissors.
5. Clip the cut bundle on top of another bundle with clothespins. Use the first as your template and cut the same shape into the next bundle.
6. Continue the same way with the remaining bundles. If you prefer, you can draw the pattern on each bundle separately. In that case, use a ruler so the points are as consistent as possible.
7. Glue the cut bundles on top of each other. Align them carefully so the points line up neatly.
8. Add glue to the topmost bag. Open the star up, add the hanging ribbon, and glue the ends together. Press the glued areas together for a moment so the glue adheres well.
9. Hang the star on a wall, window, or door. After Christmas, you can carefully open the decoration at the joined ends so you can flatten the star and pack it away easily for next year.
