How to Make A Parol

Supplies: 10 thin sticks about 12" long (wooden barbecue skewers), wooden chopsticks cut into five pieces that are about 4 1/2" long, glue, small rubberbands, twist ties, scissors, colored tissue paper, cellophane and an LED light.

 

Step 1: Take eight sticks and make four "V-shaped" pairs by securing one end with a rubberband.

Step 2a: Take two pairs and point the tied ends down at a slant with the V's opening up to each other. (Half of one V will be on top of the other V.) Grab the middle bottom leg and weave it over the star's other leg.

Step2b: This will push the top two legs together to create the star's top point. Secure the top point with a rubberband.

Step 2c: Take a single stick and lay it horizontally across the star and tie each end with a rubberband.

Step 2d: Align the star by making the horizontal stick straight and level.

Step 2e: The star's center will look like a pentagon. Secure three of the pentagon's points with twist ties. Repeat Steps 1-2d to make another star. Place one star on top of the other star and tie the stars' points together with rubberbands.

Step2f: Insert a chopstick piece at each point of the star's pentagon to expand the star's middle. Secure with glue.

Step3: Time to decorate! Starting with one side, glue tissue paper and continue until the entire star is covered. Cover with cellophane.

Making the Star's Tails

Step 4a: To make the star's "tails," fold two pieces of tissue paper into a cone shape.

Step 4b: Cut slits across the paper without cutting the paper completely. (Get within 1/4 to 1/8 of an inch of the paper's edge.) Continue until about 2" from the tip.

Step 4c: Unfold carefully.

Step 4d: Grab the tail's top center and gently pull out the tail. Repeat Steps 4a-4d to make another tail.

Step 4e: Secure a tail to each of the star's bottom points by poking a hole through the tail's top and securing it with a twist tie (left). Or make a more sturdy tail (right).

MC Canlas holds up the finished product: a parol!