Crafts Unleashed

Beaded strands can be used as curtain and lamp shade accents.

As Mother’s Day fast approaches, you have two choices: run to the nearest shopping mall and pick up something mom may or may not want, or dig into your stash of craft supplies and create a special treat that’s sure to knock her socks off.

I opt for creating something special!

Supplies:

• Eyelet Starter Kit (Item 1027-95)
• Beaded Cross Kit (Item 1969-27), one per strand
• Acrylic paint by Studio 71: Pthalo Green, Hookers Green, Cadmium Green, Yellow Ochre (24 Piece Paint Set Item 97848)
• Gold Glitter by Darice (Item 1146-43)
• White Tissue Paper (Item 1192-26)
• Mod Podge (Item PLCS11302)
• Clear Filament (Item 10006)
• Embroidery Thread (Item 1163-28)
• Pen

Optional Embellishments:

• Alphabet beads (Item BAB-15 )
• Silk flowers

Mother's Day star

Tools:

• Comfort Grip Scissors (Item 1149-17)
• 1/8″ Hole Punch (Item 2700-59)
• Optional: 1- 3.5″ x 4″ Tin Star (Item 6500-59) (to trace star-shape)
• Ruler (Item 9137-48)
• Hammer (In tool box, Item 1201-38)
• Embroidery Needle (Item 1124-37)
• Seam ripper
• Thin tipped paint brush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9561)
• Small, square tipped paint brush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9561)

Instructions:

Rip tissue paper into various shapes and sizes. Avoid creating straight lines.

Rip tissue paper.

Lay two sheets of paper side-by-side, then spread glue over both sheets of paper.
While glue is still wet, lay a piece of tissue paper on top of one sheet of paper. Gently go over the tissue paper with a paint brush full of glue. Press down as you spread the glue, making sure to eliminate any bubble under the tissue paper.

Create water paint with acrylic and water.

Dry brush papers with Hookers Green and let dry. Do the same with Cadmium Green and Yellow Ochre, making sure to allow paint to dry between coats of color, otherwise the colors will blend together creating a mud color.

Dry brush colors ontop of base color.

Add a little more water to the remaining Pthalo Green water mixture, then brush another coat over the dry brushed strokes of paint. (Be careful not to completely cover the work you’ve done. The idea is to use the last coat of paint to bring uniformity to the piece. Don’t worry if you no longer see the yellow paint, you should however see texture and color depth changes.)

Add a color wash over dry brushed colors.

Once paint is dry, turn papers over. Use the tin star as a template to create several stars.

Trace stars.

Cut out stars.

Cut out the stars. Then turn them over, and arrange them so that they all point the same direction.

Use the hole punch to create a hole in the top point of each star.

Punch holes.

Use the eyelet kit to affix eyelets in each hole.

Affix Eyelets

Spread glue over the top of the stars. While still wet, sprinkle with glitter. Let dry.

Adhere glitter.

Measure and cut a piece of clear filament the length of your window, plus 4 inches for knot tying.
Thread the filament through the eyelet of one star. Tie a knot.
Thread the filament through a needle.
Bead the filament the following sequence: 8 mm pearl (p), 8 mm p, 12 mm star, 8 mm p, 6 mm gold (g), 4 mm g, 8 mm p, 4 mm p, 6 mm p, 8 mm p, gold bead, 8 mm p, 8 mm p, 12 mm star.

Bead strand.

Continue beading until you have 4 inches of wire left, or until you can stop at a star.
Loop the filament through the last star, at each point, then back through the middle.
Bead the remaining filament in the following sequence: 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 6 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g.

Bead and create ring.

Loop the beads, then wrap the filament, four times, around the bottom of the loop—just above the last star.
Pull the needle through the wired wrap, tie a knot. Then repeat. Cut off any remaining wire.

Finish with a knot.

Congratulations! You’ve just completed your strand.

Here’s an idea: embellish your stars before you complete your strands. You can embellish them to match any décor in your home, or to celebrate a special occasion, like Mother’s Day.

Create a special Mother's Day star.

To create the Mother’s Day star shown above, stitch two flowers on top of each other, then stitch a bead (or button) in the middle of the flower. Next, stitch three letter beads together to spell the word, “mom”.

To make it even more special, create a star for each member of the family, alternating each member of the family with your family’s favorite sayings or quotes!

Create a star for each family member and special family sayings.

Or if you’re short on time, spell out your mom’s name in paint or stickers.  Then alternate one blank star, then one letter star.

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