Tree Presents

Instead of giving each other Christmas presents, each year my sister and I make tree decorations for each other and also for our mum.

We call them our tree presents.

These are the instructions to make my 2007 tree presents, which I really enjoyed making today.

1. Start off with a 6" square of double sided, patterned paper. (I used a sheet of Stampin' Up's! Prints Designer Series Papers in the Certainly Celery colourway, code number 109948, which can be found on page 73 of the catalogue)
2. Score and fold the paper at 1" intervals, concertina fashion.

3. Find the centre of the folded paper and staple it. You'll need a long reach stapler which I didn't have, so I secured it with some stitching instead!

4. With the raw edges of the paper facing the scissors and starting about 1" out from the centre, cut diagonally towards the opposite, outer, corner.

5. Apply double sided tape to the top edge of the paper for an inch, either side of the centre.

6. Gently ease the sides together and press firmly.
7. You'll see that the star is beginning to take shape now and all that is needed it to repeat step 6 on the other side.

8. Tease the points of the star into shape.

9. Punch a small hole at the end of one of the points, insert a thin thread and knot the ends.
10. Finally, make as many stars as you would like and hang them on your tree!

Try different colours and patterns on your paper - stamp a pattern onto plain card stock instead of using printed paper - and embellish further if you wish.

Inspiration from an original design by Gina Hanson.

Thanks for looking!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas and lots of stamping fun in the New Year!

~Debbie~

P.S. Note to self - don't try to cut paper and take photos at the same time!