Let's discuss my paper "problem"....

Shall we?  Y'all know about this issue I have with paper... especially old paper... especially old book pages sort of paper.  I adore it beyond words... the textures, the aging on the pages... the type on those pages... I just have this "thing" for it.  So much so that you see it in much of the work I do.

They say the first step to getting over an addiction is to admit you have one.  Hi, my name is June, and I am addicted to old paper.  Yup.  I love the stuff, and I have no desire to get past this particular "addiction".

I wanted to share with you the latest thing I've done with it... stars.  (Right now I have a "thing" for stars too.)

Y'all remember Charlie?  If not, you can meet "him" here.  He's a wonderful Christmas tree that I just love.  I little sparse, sorta like my mind can be from time to time... a little frazzled, sorta like I am most of the time... but pretty loveable, sorta like I am every now and again.  Every year I wrap him in white lights, and, until last year when he moved into the upstairs hallway, Charlie lives in my bedroom during the Christmas season.  IF, and I emphasize the IF, I really work at it this year, he will be covered in decorations made from old book pages. These are a good start.  They do take a bit of time to get done, but I really, really like them. 

Now, we know I can be somewhat artsy, and somewhat creative... but what I cannot be is math oriented.  Whilst visiting the nursing home last Saturday, one of the regular visitors asked me if I were doing origami (I was working on it while visiting my father at lunch). My reply was, "No, I'm doing geometry."  While everyone else seems to get the concepts, for me... I see geometry as a kid standing with their arms up in the air going, "Gee, I'm a tree!"

Yeah, I suck at it.

The good news is, there are others who don't.  Somewhere along the line this pattern was developed, and I just got lucky enough to find it when I was out there trolling other blogs.  And, you can find it too... check it out here.  Woo hoo, huh!?!?! 

First step was to print a copy of the pattern.  Once it was printed, I copied it (using my light box) onto a heavier card stock.  My theory was that it would be easier to trace around.  My theory held true, it was easy.

I also copied the base pattern onto card stock to provide a somewhat sturdier structure to glue the points on later, but for now I put it off to the side to work on making all those points.

I really wanted to make them from the more aged pages (it's a copy of "The Grapes of Wrath") and I did make one star from it, but here's what I learned... The older paperback book pages are not necessarily the most sturdy, and when you fold them, they sort of stretch.  Most of the time I tell you... don't worry if it (whatever "it" is) isn't perfectly even, it's going to be just fine... but in this case, since it's gee-I'm-a-tree, it's best to keep then as straight as possible.  I went with the newer pages.

First you trace around the template you created, and cut out 20 points.  I stacked about three pages at a time, drew several shapes on the pages (as many as I could stuff in there) and then cut them out.  And, while I know I am darned good... I cut a few extra out, just in case I made a mistake or two, or twelve.

To fold as neatly as possible, which is important here, I cut a strip of my cardstock with a straight edge to use as a tool to help me make nice straight folds.  You fold across the top (base of the triangle), and down the body of the shape as well... 

This shows my steps, and where I did the folds.  You may find it easier to fold the longer lines first... you do what works best for you.  Add glue on that little tab you make on the long edge (I have it labeled as the step 3 fold) and glue it to the other long edge to make a triangle shape.  Hold it for just a second to make sure it has adhered.  Make 20 of them... or maybe 22 or 23, just in case.  I mean, you might get so frustrated trying to glue one or two on that you may in a fit of frustration accidentally crumple the pain in the ass piece of paper point and need an extra one.

When you get all of those done, it's time to work on your base.  I'll cover that with you in the next post...