Upcycle Holiday Crafts: Towel Star Ornaments

If you are looking for a unique design for your holiday tree this year, consider these fun towel star ornaments. These can also be created and used as part of a decorative gift packaging.

For this project, you will need (per ornament):

- One bath towel, hand towel, or wash cloth in any holiday themed color
- Fabric marking pen
- Star shaped stencil in any size
- Fabric punch
- Fabric scissors
- Warm iron and ironing board
- Regular scissors
- One inch wide organza ribbon in a coordinating color
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Finishing Spray
- Newspaper and/or a large drop cloth

Before starting, it is important to first cover the space in which you will be working with a few sheets of old newspaper and/or a pretty large drop cloth. (This will protect it during the spray finishing process.) Heat up an iron to a warm setting. Lay the bath towel, hand towel, or wash cloth in any holiday themed color onto the ironing board. Iron the towel smooth and then cool completely.

Transfer the towel to the work area. Using a fabric marking pen, transfer the star shape from a stencil onto the towel fabric. Repeat this step for as many star ornaments as you wish to create. Carefully cut out the star shapes using a pair of fabric scissors. Punch a hole in the top of each star using a fabric punch.

Lay the stars out flat on the work area. Spray each side of the towel stars with ten to twelve coats of Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Finishing Spray. This will cause the fabric to stiffen, making it perfect for a holiday ornament. Let the stars dry overnight.

Cut a several inch long piece of one inch wide organza ribbon in a coordinating color. Thread the ribbon through the punched hole in the star shape. Secure in a knot. Apply a dab of hot glue to the knot of the ribbon to secure. Once cooled, hang the ornament from the ribbon as desired.

TIP: Other holiday shapes also work well for this project. Consider using metal holiday cookie cutters in the shape of Christmas trees, choo choo trains, and other designs instead of a star shaped stencil. Also, to use as part of holiday gift packing, thread the ribbon for the wrapping though the punched portion of the ornament. Use a fabric paint pen to spell out your recipient's name on the star shape.