How to Make Paper Bag Star Decorations
With just a gluestick and scissors (and spray paint, to glitz them up), you can turn ordinary paper bags into foldable, 3-D stars to top trees or hang as ornaments. Here's how.
Step One
Start with white paper bags—either lunch-style bags with bottoms or flat, sleeve-style ones, any size. (Our tree topper uses 15 (6 1/2-inch-tall) bags; the ornaments use 10 to 17 (4-inch-tall) bags. Divide into stacks of three or four bags. Glue bags in each stack together with a glue stick, spreading glue in a fat inverted T (across the bottom and up the center). Do not glue inside bags. Let dry.
Step Two
Cut corners and notches from the top and sides of stacks with scissors, using template (available below) as a visual guide.
Step Three
For smaller notches, you might want to use an X-Acto knife, but it’s not absolutely necessary.
Step Four
Glue a few stacks together, lining up notches; let dry.
Step Five
Open bags to unfold star. If ends don’t reach or you want more rays, add another bag or stack of bags. Secure with paper clips.
Step Six
Spray both sides with metallic spray paint, drying between sides.