Photo Collage Star Tutorial

This post has been updated.  You can see the new and improved post here.

My dear and crafty friend MyLyn told me about this project back when we were looking for fun, hand-made presents for Christmas this past year and I just loved it so much that I made one for myself.  She had come across it (somewhere) on the internet.  I looked and looked and could not find it.  So I've made up a little tutorial for you so you can make your own!

You'll need:

A large, metal star-preferably one without any embellishments.  You'll need a smooth surface to glue the pictures and paper to. I found mine at Hobby Lobby, but you can find them at lots of craft stores and/or home decor stores.  (P.S. the red one above is NOT the one I used for my collage.  It's only pictured to give you an idea and it is the exact same size as the one I used.) 

Scrapbook paper in 3 coordinating prints

10 pictures-you will probably want to plan ahead which pictures will go where on your star so that you have the right orientation (I recommend black and white pictures if using colored scrapbook paper-it's a little too much with color photos AND color paper)

Glue stick-make sure it's acid-free and safe to use with photos (think scrapbooking glue)

Mod Podge and brush

Paper and photo patterns.  You can click on the picture to make it larger, then right-click it to download/save.

Got all that?  Good.  Now let's get started.

Trace and cut out 10 paper shapes-one small and large from one piece of paper and 2 of each from the other two ("paper front" should be facing you when tracing your shapes on the paper.)

Then do the same with your pictures ("photo front" should be facing you when tracing shapes on photos.)  

Using your glue stick, glue the paper and pictures to each point.  Cover the entire back and make sure they are pressed down very firmly onto the star so that they don't bubble when you Mod Podge them.  The pattern that you cut only one of is the top point of the star and then alternate the remaining patterns on the other 4 points.  There should be a small border around each piece where the star shows through.

Once you have all of your pictures and paper glued on, apply a thin coat of Mod Podge over the entire star.  Make sure you get all the edges.  Allow 20 minutes to dry then apply another coat.

Hang and enjoy!

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I linked up!

And....just in time for Valentine's Day-another awesome Lisa Leonard giveaway!  Go check it out!