My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Copper stars to hang as Design Accessories

Cut a basic star shape out of paper

Cut a basic star shape out of paper.

Trace the shape on to a copper sheet

Trace the shape on to a copper sheet.

Cut the stars out with heavy duty scissors

Cut the stars out with heavy duty scissors

Stars ready to patina

Stars ready to design with.

For my design I added a patina to the copper

For my design I added a patina to the copper

See the Tutorial below for detailed instructions on how to add a Patina

To add the stars to the design:

Let the copper develop overnight

Let the copper develop overnight.

And let it dry on a paper towel

And let it dry on a paper towel.

Remember not to handle the stars too much. The effect is not yet permanent and can still chip away.

Carefully smooth the sides with a small file

Carefully smooth the sides with a small file

Make a small hole on one end using a hammer and a sharp object like a nail.

To hang the star: Make a small hole on one end using a hammer and a sharp object like a nail or screw.

Design note: use a piece of wood under the star to protect your surface.

Hang the star by threading a ribbon through the hole

Hang the star by threading a ribbon through the hole.

or to make it stand upright in a design:

Thread wire through the hole

Fold wire into a hairpin bend. Thread wire through the hole.

Twist the wire about halfway down

Twist the wire about halfway down the length.

Split the wire open

Split the wire open...

And twist the wire into the design

And twist the wire into the design.

By wrapping the one leg around the support on one side and the other leg around the support on the other end

... By wrapping the one leg around the support on one side and the other leg around the support on the other end. I love this way of adding the stars because you can place the stars and then adjust the angle to be exactly how you want it.

or hook the star to dangle freely down the design:

Curve your wire into a hook

Curve your wire into a hook...

Book readers you can learn more about wire and the other supplies I always have in my design room on page 37 of my book. The Effortless Floral Craftsman

Slip the one end through the star and the other over the support in the design

Slip the one end through the star and the other over the support in the design.

or the quickest... but the least versatile way:

Flip the star over so that the prettiest side face away from you

Flip the star over so that the prettiest side face away from you. Carefully wipe away the patina dust from the copper.

And glue the star into the design with hot glue

And glue the star into the design with hot glue.

Giving you three levels of stars for the design

Giving you three levels of stars for the design.

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

1 December 2021 Happy twig glow-man proudly showing off it's copper star garland

Craft a twig and foam snowman with an inner glow.

1 December 2021 Hellebores, Foxtail and copper star garland for a happy glow-man

This is the second part of my twig glow-man Tutorial... and probably the easiest garland you can possibly make.

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

24 November 2021 Patina Copper

The colour and the effect will vary due to application, temperature and humidity.

24 November 2021 Flameless Patina Copper Lantern

This is the easiest battery operated votive candle lantern to hand craft from a copper sheet... ever! As always with my Tutorials you will not need any special tools or workshop...

5 May 2011 Wire curls

curl wire to add to designs

5 May 2011 Unravel wire from a copper pot scrubber

Up-cycle a pot scrubber to get a huge roll of very pretty copper wire

18 March 2011 Reed Hourglass

Glue small sections of Mikado Reeds into a hour glass shape

8 July 2015 Using a pin to place tiny dew drop crystals

It's sometimes difficult to place a tiny crystal or bead exactly where you want it.

Related Designs

1 December 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Hap-Hapiest Patina Christmas of all!

This is the second of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Craft a three twig sphere snow man to proudly...

8 December 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Jingle Patina Christmas of all!

This is the third of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. Craft the easiest copper bells to hang in a...

29 December 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Toast-iest Patina Christmas of all!

This is the sixth of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. This week I will show you how to go overboard on...

30 November 2022 Take a bough… it’s Christmas time!

A wool and twig snowflake design (made from candy canes!) that will last the entire Festive Season.

24 November 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Glowing-est Patina Christmas of all!

This is the first of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. We will explore how to patina Copper and use it to...