Magical Origami Star Ornaments

These origami stars are easy to make and you can use them for the holidays in several different ways!  I'm going to hang some on my tree and turn some into Christmas cards.  Use patterned paper or stencil them like I did.  Pop a little gem in the middle and you have something super special.

Let your star shine this holiday season and don't forget to 

Make Your Mark! 

 You're a star!

 Book pages and kraft paper

Add a dab of glitter or a gem in the center....Easy peasy!

HERE'S WHAT I USED

Flat back gems

DecoArt Matte Metallics in Vintage Brass

Kraft paper & book pages

Tracy Moreau Snowflake Stencil

Allure Dimensional Design Adhesive Paint in Gold Leaf and Silver Glitter

Americana Acrylics in White

Watch how to make them here!

Sugar Skull Beanbag Chair and Skull Pillow

A few weeks ago I decided to treat myself to an outdoor movie projector and I LOVE IT!  My first movie night was a smashing success with all of my friends drinking wine and snuggling up in blankets on the lawn in my backyard.  The entire night I kept thinking how much I would LOVE to be sitting in a beanbag chair......So I thought, how hard could it be to make one?  Let's just say I was not prepared!  Sewing a pillow is one thing.   Sewing a pillow the size of a human is another thing altogether!  If and when you tackle this project, give yourself some time and some room.  In the end, I'm really glad I challenged myself.  The most crucial part of a beanbag chair is the insert (aka bladder) for your beanbag filler.  It's crucial if you ever want to wash the beanbag cover and it keeps the beans nice and safe.  Remember, challenge yourself, go BIG and always 

Make Your Mark!

Just in case you're wondering....

Julie is sitting BY the beanbag chair so that you can see it!

I even made the tiny skull pillow!

See the video

Watch how I made everything here!

STUFF I USED

DecoArt SoSoft Fabric Paints

M Squared Stencils by Tracy Moreau (25% OFF with MARKMONTANO as code)

E-6000 Fabri-Fuse and Stitchless Glue

Fairfield Classic Bean Bag Filler and Poly-fil

*This beanbag needs 9 cubic feet of filler

Sewing machine and Iron

24" zipper

2 yards black and 1 yard white 54" wide fabric (heavy duty)

2 yards 54" wide stretchy fabric (for insert)

Skull inspiration

Pattern for beanbag and skull pillow

 HERE'S HOW (PART 1)

1.  Cut to pieces of black fabric 36" long then unfold them and stack them

*You now have 2 pieces of 54" x 36" pieces of fabric

2. Measure up 6" on the 54" and mark

3.  Draw a curve down to the 36" side toward the center and cut

  *Use the scrap as a pattern to cut the other side

4.  Repeat on the insert fabric cutting 2 matching pieces with a curve

5.  On a 40" x 40" sheet of paper, draw a 36" long skull

*Fold it in half and cut out the best side for a symmetrical pattern

6. & 7.  Pin on the cream fabric and cut out

8.  Center the skull on one piece of the black fabric with the chin 8" above the curved edge

9.  Spread E-6000 StitchLess Glue on the underside of the skull and press to set the glue

*This insures the fabric skull doesn't move during your next steps

10. Carefully zigzag stitch around the entire skull, the eyes, nose and each tooth

11. & 12. Grab some stencils (or freehand if you want) and start painting sugar skull designs on the skull using the DecoArt SoSoft fabric paint

 HOW TO (PART 2)

13.  Using 1/2" seam allowance, stitch the 54" sides and the curved edge leaving the top 36" end open

14.  On the open end, match the seams and lay flat

15.  Center the zipper (with the seams in the middle) and mark the top and bottom of the zipper and then stitch both ends to where you marked

16. & 17. Pin each side of the zipper face down and stitch in place using a zipper foot

18. Using 1/2" seam allowance, stitch the 54" sides and curved edge of the insert fabric

19.  Fill with the Fairfield Bean Bag Filler

*Let gravity do the work! I stapled the bag to the fence and cut a hole in the bottom

20.  Stitch the insert shut when it's filled

21 Stuff it into the beanbag and zip closed

LET'S MAKE A SKULL PILLOW

1.  Make a skull pattern that is about 18" tall and 13" wide

LINK TO PATTERN

2.  Cut it out in black fabric

3.  Cut 2 pieces of fabric the shape of the skull but 3" larger all the way around

4.  Stitch the edges using 1/2" seam allowance leaving a 5" hole for stuffing

5.  Clip the curves up to the seam but not through the seam

6.  Turn inside out and press

7.  Glue the black skull on the white pillow with E-6000 Fabri-Fuse

8.  Stuff and pin closed

9.  Stitch closed and enjoy!