DIY Large Burlap Star on my $0 Budget

This project was inspired by two posts I pinned a while ago. The first was Choose to Thrives DIY tin stars. I have wanted to make one for a long time but just never knew how I wanted to finish it. Then I stumbled upon my second inspiration The Douglas Family where she took a metal star and covered it with burlap. I knew I had a DIY project merging the two ideas together.

I made this star using a tin oven liner I purchased at the Dollar store months ago and then covered it with burlap I had left over from my custom burlap covered cardboard storage boxes.
Using a 12 inch star I cut out on my Cricut as the shape, I added 1.5 inches around the outer edges to enlarge it. I traced the star onto the tin, plus the width of my ruler, with a scoring tool that came with my Dollar store craft knife kit.
 
Here is what the scored tin looks like.
I then cut along the lines with my craft scissors; I thought I might have needed tin snips but the scissors did a great job.
I had to unravel a couple of the edges of the liner to get the points.
Here is what it looked like after it was cut out.
Using a good ruler, I scored from the center of each star point to the middle. By scoring it you can see how the star is taking shape.
I then flipped the star over and scored the lines from the center to where the two points meet. I made the shape of the star by using these score marks as the creases.
I decided to give the outer part of the start a quick coat of white spray paint so that I wouldn't see the shiny tin through the burlap.
 I covered the entire outer star with ModgePodge and flipped it over to stick on the burlap.
I cut around the star leaving about 1/2 an inch of excess burlap to fold over the back. Here is where I had to play around for a bit. I had a few failed attempts securing the excess burlap but eventually got it to work.
First I tried ModgePodge to secure the excess burlap on the back. That didn't work at all. Then I thought I would use a little clear tape to hold it until the ModgePodge dried...well the tape could not stick on the ModgePodge. So I puled out my favorite backup tool...duct tape :)  Yes, it worked but it looked horrible. I know that no one will see the back but I just couldn't live with it.
I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier, but hot glue worked the best. I ran a bead of hot glue and folded the burlap over. Stuck instantly and gave nice clean edged.
I had a ribbon and bow saved from a Christmas gift I got; I love to save these because the bows are perfect (something I can never seem to master). I glued the bow to the middle of the star and then the ribbon to the corners.
I had made the star to hang over one of the most difficult spots I have had decorating in my house, my three sided fireplace. This fireplace is huge and such a focal point in our family room and kitchen.

Here is what I have so far. I moved my toilet paper art from the dining room to here. I am still not 100% happy but feel I am getting closer.  Please HELP if you have suggestions.
 
Please don't mind the plastic on the candles, I am not sure if I love them so I refuse to take off the plastic :)

What do you think? Any suggestions?
Stephanie

Comments

  1. Cute! Maybe a empty frame around the star, with the ribbon hanging from it - spray painted in some color that makes it pop out like the green color you have going.

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  2. I can't believe you made that whole star! When I first started reading I figured you had just covered a star you already had with burlap- which still would have been super cute. But it's awesome that you made the whole thing! Great job!

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  3. WOW!! I am impressed! It is so so pretty and CHEAP!

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  4. love this! Those metal stars that you see all over are really expensive. Never thought of making my own!

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  5. Most excellent idea and great instructions. This star is appropriate all year long and think of the possibilities for Christmas! Thanks for this post.

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  6. Clever.....and cute. Great job on the instructions. Love your blog just became a follower. Would love to have you pop over to my blog...would love to here your comments....pinecreekstyle.blogspot.com
    I found at Tara's pinterest party at trendy treehouse.....NeeCee

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  7. I am impressed that you made the star as well. Good for you!

    I think with your arrangement you have too many similar sized things - you need something really big or some more small things to round it out perhaps? It's hard to tell what's over your mantle, though, so maybe it all does work. Or what if you put your toilet paper art - one over the star, one under the star to give some vertical height? Just my $.02 and worth what you paid for it - nothing!

    Kathi @ my new blog creativeagain.blogspot.com

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