German Stars Shoebox

I'm a die-hard flea market, garage sale person. I collect old Christmas ornaments. I recently bought a box of Christmas ornaments--some broken, some tacky--but of course a few gems. Down at the bottom of the box were several of the enclosed ornaments (figure A). I don't know what era they're from. They look they're folded paper dipped in wax--I can do without the glitter. I think they'd look wonderful hanging in a window, on the tree, or in a swag or on packages. I know you love paper projects and was wondering if you could come up with a pattern and procedures on how to make them.

Carol replied, "Cheryl, you haven't been paying attention!" In fact, Carol demonstrated how to fashion the German stars during the 1999 live Workshop shows, due to the response from viewers when her holiday special first aired featuring Rogene Fischer's German star tree. Other studio audience member and home viewers shared their German star projects. Here's what they've been doing with German stars.

Joyce Winans of Topeka Kan., telephoned to share how she makes German paper stars dipped in wax (figure D). She puts the wax in the double boiler, heats it on the stove to melt, threads the stars on a string then dips them in the wax. Joyce reports to have had some of her wax-dipped stars for fifteen years. Joyce also sent in bell-shaped origami ornaments (figure E), which she also dips in wax. Guest Mary O'Neil plans to demonstrate how to fold these bells on Thursday's show, episode CDW-304. Of course, Mary plans to cover hers in embossed velvet!

Betty Laslon from Syracuse, N.Y., sent in German paper stars that she placed inside plastic bottle ornaments (figure F). You might remember that guest Vivian Peritts demonstrated how to make ornaments using plastic bottles on one of the CDW-200 series workshop shows. You can find those instructions on the Carol Duvall 'all episodes' page (accessible from the Carol Duvall show page) or on the Carol Duvall Holiday Workshop page. Additionally, Betty sent in a photo of her miniature German stars (figure G), not much larger than a dime.