Free Pattern For 3D Map star Christmas Decoration
I just love working with maps, as they are a stylish way of personalizing and adding interest to a craft. In the past I’ve used them to upcycle some chairs and to add vintage style to a suitcase. Decorating and crafting with maps is a great way to pay homage to a favorite destination or a place that you have lived.
As I am now getting well into my Christmas crafting I thought an interesting decoration to make this year would be a 3D Map Star. In this post there are two free Map star printables. A vintage world map and a blank template. The blank template enables you to use a map that is special to you for your map star decoration.
I have also discovered that this is a great teen craft. It’s one of the few crafts I’ve been doing that my teenage boys have wanted to join in with. I think it’s because it involves maps and math? .
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What you need to make a 3D Map Star
- The free templates. 3D star map template, or if using your own maps, the 3D blank star template.
- If using your own maps you will need to scan these into your computer first, print and then use this paper to print the blank template onto. There are some lovely free downloadable maps at Pictureboxblue.com
- Printer, heavy paper, I use paper that is 240gsm. You will need 4 sheets of A4 per star.
- Blunt knife, scissors and ruler.
- A strong quick drying paper glue, I used a clear UHU glue.
How to make a 3D Map Star
- Print the templates onto the heavy paper. The map stars are made up of 2 shapes an icosahedron; a 20 sided base and 20 tall pyramids.
- Make the icosahedron; cut out the net and score the bold lines using a blunt knife and ruler. Your shape should easily fold up into this 20 sided ball, put glue on all the tabs as you fold it into shape.
- You should have 3 sheets of pyramid nets, 7 on each sheet. That’s 21 pyramids in total but you only need 20.
- As before cut out your pyramid nets and score the bold lines.
- Fold the pyramids into shape and glue along the long tab.
- Using the 3 smaller tabs on the base of the pyramid glue them one by one to the icosahedron base.
- When all 20 pyramids are glued your 3D map star is finished.
As I have already mentioned you can use the free blank star template to create a 3D Map star of your own design. Living in Bedford I decided to make a map star decoration from a local map. To do this I scanned in a local map of Bedford and then printed it out on to my heavy paper. I then put this paper back into my printers paper feed and printed the blank 3D Map Star template on top of the Bedford Map.
I love these 3D Map Stars they make for a great Christmas decoration, you can hang them from the ceiling with just a bit of thread and a pin. The map prints add interest to the decoration. I’m going to make some more with some old road maps I have that are the traditional Christmas colours of red, green and white for my tree.
If you liked this you should check out some of my other popular map paper crafts:
Simple Beautiful Map Roses
Personalized Treat Map Heart Bags
Map Art How to Make a Beautiful Pet Portrait.
Repurposed map decorations
Liberty
18th October 2018 at 3:25 amI like these a lot! They would look great using sheet music, or any number of kinds of scrapbook paper! Thanks for the idea!
Claire Armstrong
18th October 2018 at 11:21 amI think a sheet music star will look great.
Veronica
22nd December 2017 at 6:59 amI made one! Super cute! Now I want to make one out of sheet music.
Claire Armstrong
22nd December 2017 at 8:32 amThank you, I’m sure it would look lovely.
SF
13th November 2017 at 5:21 amthank you so much….I’ve been looking for this all over the net. I was wondering if there is a way that this star can be illuminated?
Claire Armstrong
13th November 2017 at 7:48 amYou can buy some batterey operated copper string lights on Amazon which you could use to illuminate your star.
Sam - Raggedy Bits
30th August 2017 at 4:40 amLove all of your map projects Claire!!
Claire Armstrong
30th August 2017 at 10:43 amThank you Sam.
Sandra
21st October 2016 at 10:04 pmThese are unlike any ornaments I’ve seen. Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, have a great week.
Claire Armstrong
22nd October 2016 at 6:54 amThank you!
Lori
19th October 2016 at 8:56 pmWow! Love this! Very cool project!
Thank you for sharing and linking up at Dishing It & Digging It! We enjoy having you each week! 🙂
Claire Armstrong
20th October 2016 at 6:21 amThank you !
Janet Vinyard
19th October 2016 at 3:10 pmHi Claire, What a great way to use maps! I love the more colorful ones the best! Well done! Blessings, Janet
Claire Armstrong
19th October 2016 at 7:02 pmThank you, the colourful ones are my favourite too.
Helen at Pleasures of the NW
19th October 2016 at 2:06 amWhat a great idea – looking for maps now – Thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW DIY party!
Claire Armstrong
19th October 2016 at 7:55 amThank you !
Debrashoppeno5
18th October 2016 at 12:27 amThese are fantastic. I love them for all year round in all sorts of paper. You gave such good instructions that I think I could do this.
Claire Armstrong
18th October 2016 at 6:22 amThank you, yes they look great with different papers.
Claire Armstrong
17th October 2016 at 9:45 pmThank you, I love crafting with maps.
Cheryl
17th October 2016 at 5:22 amThank you so much for a template! I can imagine all types of different papers with this!!
Claire Armstrong
17th October 2016 at 6:08 amThank you, you are welcome.
janet trieschman
15th October 2016 at 5:05 pmI had to come visit and see how you got it to hold together. I attempted a 5 point star out of paper but had trouble with the last few seams. I see you have a center shape! Thanks for sharing with us at #CCBG
Claire Armstrong
15th October 2016 at 6:57 pmThank you.
Pamela
15th October 2016 at 3:49 amI love maps too! These look great! Thanks for sharing the templates with us!
Claire Armstrong
15th October 2016 at 6:51 pmThank you and your welcome
Ali B
13th October 2016 at 4:52 pmI saw your project on the Creative Crafts Link Up and had to see how you made these fun stars! Love this project.
Claire Armstrong
13th October 2016 at 10:37 pmThank you !
Leanna
13th October 2016 at 3:45 pmThis is a nifty idea. I have never thought of using old maps. They are nice for a tree because they are so 3 d.
Claire Armstrong
13th October 2016 at 10:38 pmThank you very much.
Josephine
17th December 2015 at 9:40 pmThese are great, it really looks good. I enjoyed making it, though my fingers have stuck together – made it in lightweight paper, so not convinced the centre will hold, but may try again with something heavier. How do you have the patience?
Claire Armstrong
17th December 2015 at 9:51 pmReally glad you made the stars! I used a 240gm weight paper so not quite as stiff as card but heavy enough.
Anita
11th December 2015 at 12:56 amThis is such an amazing idea! Thanks for sharing it. I’m Anita visiting from Creativity Unleashed.
Claire Armstrong
11th December 2015 at 7:34 amCheers ! I really do like them and am experimenting with different papers.
Viv
10th December 2015 at 9:15 pmThese are beautiful Claire – I was looking for something just like this for our little tree! 🙂
Claire Armstrong
10th December 2015 at 10:47 pmThank you ! I’m sure they will look great on your tree.
Kristina & Millie
10th December 2015 at 1:33 amI love using old maps in fun new ways and these 3-d star decorations made from maps fits the bill! Love these and appreciate the photo tute!
Claire Armstrong
10th December 2015 at 7:07 amThanks ! Yeah I think old maps make a great decoration.
Rosy @ just my rosy life
7th December 2015 at 11:10 pmLove these! Don’t know that I would have the patience to make them… I love decorating with maps too and in fact I wallpapered our closet turned mudroom with old atlas pages.
Claire Armstrong
8th December 2015 at 7:10 amThanks ! Your mudroom sounds great with the old maps.
Audra @ Renewed Projects
7th December 2015 at 2:39 pmTotally love this star! You have a lot of patience to create these.
Claire Armstrong
7th December 2015 at 3:15 pmThank you, they are actually quite simple to make and fun.
Barbara viney
5th December 2015 at 1:32 pmLooks good prefer the silver one
Claire Armstrong
5th December 2015 at 3:14 pmThanks you can customise them yourself by printing the blank template onto any paper you choose.