A great way to reuse wrapping or parcel paper that maybe isn’t in the best condition. Painting the paper makes them stand out, so choose any colours that take your fancy.
You will need:
Scissors
Recycled paper
Watercolour paints
Sponge
Needle and thread
Glue stick
How to make
1 Cut a strip of paper with a width around the size you’d like the decoration to be. Make the length 2–3 times as long as the width.
2 Paint the paper with watercolours using a sponge. Pick two or three shades and create an abstract pattern – it doesn’t matter if it’s messy as the folds will hide any imperfections. Allow to dry.
3 At one end, fold over a strip around 2cm wide. Turn the paper and fold again, creating a concertina effect. (A bit of advice for making a concertina is to double the length of the first fold, then fold it back towards you halfway.)
4 Fold the paper in half and cut the unfolded edge to a point.
5 Using a needle and thread, sew the middle fold together and secure. Then glue the ends together, open out the star and glue the two other two ends.
6 Sew a second piece of thread and tie in a knot to create a loop to hang the decoration wherever you like – on the tree or in a window works well.
From Festive by Francesca Stone (Pop Press). Photography: Francesca Stone
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