At the top of the tree, shining above all other ornaments, is
The Christmas Star
([Fig. 184]), and this is the way to make it:
From a piece of cardboard cut an oblong with the top and bottom edges five and a quarter inches long and the side edges just five inches long ([Fig. 185]). Now, exactly in the middle at the top edge, make a dot, A ([Fig. 185]); then on each side edge make a dot, BB ([Fig. 185]). On the bottom edge, one inch from each bottom corner, make the dots CC. With the aid of a ruler draw the lines connecting these points, as shown in [Fig. 185]. This gives a perfect five-pointed star, five inches high. Cut the star out, cover its entire surface with a coat of paste, and lay over it a smooth piece of gilt paper, pressing out the fulness and creases. When the paste is dry, cut away the paper from the edges, and there will remain a gilt star, firm and stiff enough to stand up bravely.
Fig. 185—Draw the star like this.
But this is not all. There are to be a number of gold-tipped rays flaming out from the star to represent its spreading light. For these rays select ten broom straws with two prongs. Trim the prongs evenly, shorten the stems at the bottom, and spread the prongs apart ([Fig. 186]). Now, cut twenty strips of gold paper half an inch wide and a little over four inches long. Lay one strip down, cover the wrong side with paste, place three broom straws with their prongs resting on the paste side of the paper, and press another strip of gold paper over the first, inclosing the tips of the straws. This will give a gold paper on both sides of the straws. Then, when the paste is dry, cut away the paper, leaving a gold triangle on the tip of each prong of each broom straw. [Fig. 187] shows one triangle cut out. Treat all of your broom-straw rays in this way, then cover with paste the centre of the wrong side of the star up to the points, lay two straws in place, the stems crossing, as in [Fig. 188], and over the stems press a short strip of white paper, like D ([Fig. 188]), pasting it down securely. Adjust the other rays between the points of the star, and fasten in place in the same manner.
| Fig. 186—Place three broom straws on the paper. | Fig. 187—One triangle cut out. |