How to Make a Christmas Card Star

Many people save their Christmas cards from year to year and just leave them in a box to gather dust. Recycling Christmas cards is good for the planet and makes a great holiday activity for children.

Things You'll Need

• Card
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Christmas cards
• Glue
• Hole punch
• String

Instructions

Preparing the Star points

1. Create a three-dimensional isosceles triangle template using a pencil and ruler. There are several on the web but you can easily make your own by drawing three identical isosceles triangles, about 3 to 4 inches in height, that meet at the edges on a stiff piece of card. Draw end tabs for gluing before cutting out the template.

2. Place the template on the back of the Christmas card cover, draw around and cut it out. Each template cutout will represent one three-dimensional point in your Christmas star.

3. Repeat Step 2 until you have 20 star points.

4. Score the templates with a ruler and the backside of a scissor blade. Hold the ruler along the seams and edges of both the triangles and their tabs and press down. Your score will create a permanent crease rather than a cut through the card.

5. Assemble the points by gluing tabs and folding on the inside of the cards. The result should look like 20 miniature pyramids with Christmas card designs on the outside.

6. Let the star points dry completely before assembly.

Assembling the Star

1. Find a template for a dodecahedron from the Internet, print out on paper and attached to a thin card base. A cereal box works well, as will any sort of stiff poster board.

2. Cut out the dodecahedron template being careful to include all tabs.

3. Score along all edges and tabs so that the dodecahedron begins to naturally fold into a pointy ball shape.

4. Glue the dodecahedron together and let dry. This is the base or star body for the star points you created in the first section.

5. Use white adhesive glue or a glue stick to attach the point bases to the triangular surfaces of the dodecahedron. Take your time to ensure a professional finish and let dry completely.

6. Punctuate the top of one star point using a hole punch so that a string can be attached to the finished star for hanging.

7. Thread string through the hole from Step 7, tie a knot to secure and hang.

Tips & Warnings

• Size the triangle template to suit the size of cards in your collection.

• Enlarge or minimize star body template to suit the size of your star points.

Resources

• Offers a printable template for starbody