Stars are one of my favorite shapes. Not only do stars come out at night, they come out year round in my home. Christmas is no exception. They are everywhere, on cookies, on mantles, on runners on plates, on pillows, on Christmas trees... everywhere you look. Lately, I have been intrigued with tobacco stick wood stars. So what is a tobacco stick? Well, long ago tobacco was a huge crop grown on many Virginia farms. When the leaves were harvested they were tied to sturdy long sticks, most with a pointed ends and hung to dry in the barn. Once dried, the leaves were placed in wood barrels and rolled down the road to the Potomac River. The sticks were stored for the next crop. Then the barrels were loaded onto ships to be sold over seas. Near my house there is Rolling Road, an old Colonial road named for the journey of tobacco rolled to port in Old Town, Alexandria. So there is a little Colonial history. Well, love at first sight. I am smitten. Sticks are perfect for making stars. No tobacco sticks laying around here, but I spotted these wood stakes at Home Depot one day. And they even have a point at one end. Perfect! Wood stars! Yes, the wood is cut, perfect size and ready to go with just a few supplies. Simple, and, this time of year, minutes to make. And what a great look anywhere you find a spot or two...any time of year.
This is what you will need-
Wood Stakes 36"
Stain
Craft Brush
Craft Brush
White Paint
Chippy Brush
Power Drill/Screw Driver
1 1/4" Exterior Wood Screws
These are the stakes I used from Home Depot...Link here.
You can stain your wood, or just keep the wood natural as they come and let them age on their own. I used a light stain that is made up of 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup water and a pad of steel wool. Add to a jar with a lid and let rest several days. You can use any wood stain you like. This homemade stain gives wood a nice, soft weathered look.
Lightly coat the stick with the stain. Wipe off excess with a paper towel. Let dry (minutes).
Use an old chippy brush, sparingly and lightly add white paint. Craft paint, chalk paint, latex paint, any white paint you have. Let dry.
To assemble, lay two sticks as shown.
Flip over to the back side.
Drill a pilot hole at the intersection of the first two sticks.
Follow with one exterior wood screw.
Flip over to the front side and lay the third stick over the first two. You can measure, I just eyed it.
Very carefully, flip the three sticks over to the back.
Secure the third stick onto the first two sticks with screws.
Flip over to the front. Lay the fourth stick as shown.
Flip over to the back and add a screw to each of the points.
Flip back over to the front. You will have to "weave" the fifth stick under the forth stick and up on top of the third stick. Sounds a little confusing, see photo. Picture speaks a thousand words.
Flip over to the back and secure the last two points with screws. From the back you can add a screw at each of the intersections where the sticks meet if you like. I did not, I thought they were secure with just seven screws.
One for the mantle...
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