Shining Star Wood Blocks

Supply List:
Photo trimmed to 2 1/2" square
2 - 3 1/2" wood blocks
Vinyl Words "You are my shining star"
Ceramcoat paint in Laguna Blue
Metal paint in Bright White
Stickles in Diamond color
Alcohol inks in Stream & Lettuce
Alcohol ink blending solution
Alcohol ink blending applicator
Ranger Distriss Ink in Brushed Corduroy
12" piece of a 3/16" wood dowel
Medium rustic 3-D hanging star
Mod Podge Matte Sealer
My Mind's Eye - Deena's Penny Lane Paper
- 1 piece of Tiny Dancer "Chasse" graceful circles
- 1 piece of Tiny Dancer "Plie" darling dots paper
Clear half round acrylic crystals
527 glue
Scissors & ruler or paper cutter
Hand or power drill with a 3/16" bit
Needle nose pliers with cutter
Fine sandpaper
Corner rounder punch (optional)

Instructions:
1. Drill a hole about 1 to 1 1/2" deep in the center of one side of one of the wood blocks using the 3/16" bit. This is the hole that the dowel will go in to support the rustic star.

2. Paint the wood blocks with the laguna blue paint. Let dry. Lightly sand the edges of the blocks. Wipe off the dust and then wipe the edges with the Distress Ink pad. Wipe off any excess. Set aside.

3. Using the Distress Ink pad, wipe the dowel to stain it. Wipe off any excess and blending to fill in the color on the dowel.

4. Cut off the hanger from the rusty star using the cutter on the needle nose pliers. Set the star in front of you with the point of the star facing up. Using the needle nose pliers, carefully open up a small hole in the bottom joint of the star. This is where the dowel will be inserted to hold up the star on top of the wood block. Use your needle nose pliers to smooth out the opening. Test to make sure the dowel will fit in the hole. It only needs to be just big enough for the dowel. Paint the star with the metal paint. Let one side dry before going on to the next side.

5. From the 2 pieces of design paper cut 12 pieces of paper 3" square. Use the corner rounder punch if desired to give a softer look to the corners of the squares.

6. Trace the photo size to the back of one of the 3" squares of paper. Measure in 1/8" towards the center of the square and trace a line. This will be your cutting line and will give you a small lip to cover up the edges and create a frame around your picture. (I also like to round the inside corners.) Cut out the opening of the frame carefully with a small sharp pair of scissors.

7. Mod Podge the frame over the picture to the front of the block that has the hole drilled into it. Smooth out air bubbles and seal the edges as you go. Apply another coat over the frame and photo. Let dry.

8. Mod Podge one piece of the turquoise dot paper to one side of the other wood block. Smooth out air bubbles and seal the edges down as you go. Apply another coat over the paper. Let dry. When thoroughly dry, apply the vinyl saying over the paper according to package directions.

9. Repeat with the rest of the 3" squares of paper covering all sides of the blocks and placing the designs of paper in your desired positions. Make sure that when you cover the side with the hole drilled in it that you punch through the paper to expose the hole.

10. Place several drops of the 2 alcohol ink colors on the applicator and tap the color onto the star, working with one side of the star at a time. Adding more alcohol ink to the felt pad as needed and until you have a look you like. Now add blending solution to the felt pad and tap over the ink on the star, this will soften and blend the inks together. Continue until you like the look. Repeat on the other side of the star.

11. Take about 80 of the half round acrylic gems and turn them so the flat side is facing up on several layers of paper towel. Please protect your work surface as the paper towels may not be sufficient. On half of the acrylic gems, drop a very small drop of the green alcohol ink into the small well on the flat side. On the other half use the blue alcohol ink. Let them dry completely.

12. Glue the flat side of the acrylic gems to one side of the rusty star in a random pattern mixing up the green and blue gems. I found it easiest to just lay the tube of 527 glue on top of several layers of paper towel letting the glue just kind of drip out and while holding the gem with the needle nose pliers pick up a bit of the glue from its tip and then place the gem on the star. It's normal if a bit of the color comes off onto the tip of the glue. Just wipe it clean when you're done gluing down all the gems. (I applied gems to only one side of the star, but you could put them on both sides if desired, just let dry completely before working on the other side.) Let the glue dry completely.

13. Squiggle some stickles in and around the gems. Let dry. Squiggle some stickles on the other side of the star. Let dry.

14. Glue the dowel into the hole in the top of the block. Place the star onto the dowel letting the dowel go up into the star completely. The dowel will rest at the inside top tip of the star. I didn't glue the star to the dowel because I liked that the star could move.

Change the colors of the paint, paper, alcohol inks as desired to match the picture of your little shining star. If you are making one for a boy, eliminate the glitter and cover the star with paper. The star can be embellished with so many different things: buttons, stickers, rhinestones, glitter paper. Use your imagination. Have fun!

Designed by Melody O'Neal for Ben Franklin Crafts.