Hang it on the Line: Winter is the Time for Home

As you can see from my blog banner, I am ready for snow. And Christmas. And of course Swedish meatballs. John-boy is ready too! Yes, I have finally named my mounted jackalope mascot! His name was inspired by a 70s Halloween theme from where I work. The Waltons anyone?

I’m doing it again…I’m skipping over Thanksgiving and going right to Christmas! But I had to change my banner, because I couldn’t wait to string lights on John-boy’s antlers haha…wow I’m sounding more like a crazy cat lady by the second. Or would it be crazy rabbit lady?

I also added fluffy, powder snow banks (just waiting to be torn up by a snowmobile) and a plump, jolly snowman. It is November now, so I’m allowed to be excited for snow and winter. And probably about two days into getting snow in my shoes and soaking my socks, scraping frost off my windows and spinning out on ice, I’ll most likely be begging for spring. But for now I will allow myself to be enthusiastic and dissuade anyone trying to ruin it for me!

Alright, I’m done (for now) with my snow rant. What I really want to talk about is “welcome stars”. Is your neck getting a little sore from the whiplash it’s receiving from my random subjects? Well sorry about that, I will explain.

A couple months ago I went to the Høstfest in Minot, ND. It was my first time going and I had no idea it would have such an impact on me. Little things just keep popping up in my mind…some good (welcome stars for example) and some bad…like the giant creepy tree nymph with the huge eyes that I had to stand by to take a picture…I just got goosebumps again… but besides the people running about in costumes, the event was pretty spectacular. There were people from all over, I even sat next to a couple from Norway and got to listen to their magical accent. Score!

There were all different types of booths, with all different types of crafts and items to buy. One of the booths told the story of welcome stars. Of how people in Norway would hang these stars in their window in the winter to show others a sign of welcome, and to come visit their house. Aww yes, winter is the season for gatherings, good food and playing cards. AND SNOW! Surely, winter is the time for home.

Well, that story has stuck with me and I have been kicking myself for not purchasing one of those star lights. So when I was out hunting with my brother and manfriend the other day, and I spotted a few pieces of old tin...I had to have them! Of course my manfriend was wonderful enough to climb up and take them down for me off of the old building. “I just don’t know why you’d want that," said my baffled manfriend...

But I knew why! How exciting! I could make a welcome star and just in time for the first snow fall too. So here are my instructions for your very own homemade welcome star...

Start out by cutting a star stencil that fits your piece of tin, then trace with a white colored pencil.

Cut out your two stars. I used a scissors made for metal cutting, but clipping shears usually do just as well!

It helps to file the edges, they get a little sharp in some places after cutting.

Draw out any design you want that suits your fancy!

I would usually just set this on the ground to punch but it was too cold out! So I used this wood block and it worked really well.

I used a screw (couldn't find a decent sized nail!) and an old leather swivel knife to make the punches.

Once you have everything punched, it's time to fold your stars! You'll probably need gloves because the backs of the holes are very pointy. You can use any square edge to bend the tin over.