This is a multi step project that looks much more complicated than it actually is. There are two parts to this project: making all the stars and assembling the final star catcher. Let’s get started:
Materials for making stars:
4mm (double strength) window glass for large star
3mm (single strength) window glass for small stars
unrolled blue bottle glass for medium stars
Red fusible glass paint (brand of your choice)
1/8″ fiber paper
glue
glass tools: cutter, running pliers, grozier pliers
scissors
Glass Pieces Sizes
Cut squares (and then triangles) of these sizes
Glass pieces cut
Glass pieces cut and ready to use
cutting fiber strip
Cut strip of fiber 1/8″ or less
fiber strip
Fiber strip, 1/8″ wide or less
1st large triangle
arrange large triangle with the longest side to the right
Add 2nd large triangle
onto the first triangle with the longest side horizontal
Add fiber strip
add fiber strip along the horizontal edge of second triangle. This will make the hanging hole in the star
last large triangle
Add last large triangle
with the long side on the left, opposite the first triangle to form a 5 pt star
Paint Large Star Red
using fusible glass paint brand of your choice
Large star ready to fuse
Blue triangles
Arrange blue triangles with the longest side to the right
glue blue triangles
add glue dots to centers of first layer of blue triangles
2nd triangle blue star
Add second triangle of blue star with the longest side horizontal
Add fiber strip
Add fiber strip above triangle with long side horizontal across first triangle
Add top blue triangle
Add third blue triangle at opposite angle of first triangle to form a 5 pt star
Blue Stars ready to fuse
tiny triangles
2nd triangle tiny stars
add second triangle to small stars with the long side horizontal. Cut the 1/8″ fiber paper in half and add to stars
Clear stars ready to fuse
Add fiber to blue stars
Add fiber paper along horizontal edge of star
1st small triangle
arrange small triangle with the longest side to the right
Firing the Kiln
Add stars to kiln and fire to a contour fuse:
300/hr to 500 h 15
350/hr to 1495 h 10
9999/hr to 1060 h 60
250/hr to 700 h 0
off
Assembling the Star Catcher
Materials:
1mm cord in red, white and blue
crystal beads in clear, red and blue
cross bar of your choice 12″ (a stick works great)
drill with 2mm drill bit
lighter to singe cord
hanging ring
Contour Fused Stars
Ready to assemble
Remove fiber
Remove fiber from star and dispose.
Knot cord
Knot cord high enough above the star to hang evenly.
Embellish cord
Add a second knot about 1″ above first knot and add crystal beads. These are red, clear, blue, from top to bottom.
Beads
Detail of crystal beads
Remove fiber
Remove fiber from stars and add blue cord
Blue stars
Tie knots the same way as previous star, and make sure knots are even.
Blue stars
Blue stars with cord and crystal beads
Small stars
Follow the same process for the small stars, using the white cord.
Small clear stars with beads
Arrange stars as desired
Arrange stars in desired conformation, these are 1.5″ apart and spaced so they don’t collide (stars are fragile, just ask their agents)
Mark support bar/stick
Mark where holes should be drilled
Drill holes
using a drill or drill press and 2mm drill bit
Add Blue Stars
Add blue stars first and secure with double knot at the top of the bar
blue cord knot
Use excess blue cord as hanging cord, tie securely to hangin ring
Add red star
Secure with a double knot above the bar
Red and Blue stars
added, ready for small clear stars.
Add Clear Stars
Clear Stars added and secured with double knots
Singe knots
Last step is to carefully singe the knots to prevent unravelling.
