Make your princess a glittering star wand

Welcome all! Last week was my son's 4th birthday and in lieu of a party (which never go well for me) we planned a birthday adventure for him and his older sister. They got to dress up in royal attire and among other things, slay a dragon, capture snakes and defeat a forest of spiders.
(plus a photo scavenger hunt)

For my daughter we made a tutu and crown and to complete the outfit I made her a glittering star wand.

Supplies;

glitter

Mod Podge

scissors

1/4 dowel cut to length (or a knitting needle like I used)

hot glue

some tulle, ribbon, or yarn to wrap around the wand

Here's how:

First I searched all over to find a good 3D star template and found it here

 Then I used GIMP to shrink it so that I could get two of them onto one page.

I cut them out and folded them to make the shape

Then I glued them together. I used Mod Podge but I would recommend hot glue cause it slipped around when I set it down to dry. Also cut a notch big enough for your wand (I used a knitting needle, though I bought a dowel that never got cut for it)

Apply Mod Podge to the star, be generous with the glue or you'll have empty spots.

The party was is in  pink and blue (they boy's favorite colors) so I alternated the colors.

Put hot glue on the tip of the dowel (or knitting needle), you can paint the dowel first, and push into the tip of star through the notch you cut.

Make sure you add enough hot glue so this doesn't happen.

Dress up the wand with ribbon or tulle and present it to your happy princess.

Next I'll show you how I made Little Man super easy pillow case cape (which he still wears)

Starting a circle without the dreaded 'Magic Ring'

I have a quickie tutorial for anyone else who hates (or doesn't get) the 'magic ring' method of starting a circle for amigurumi. This is how I do it.

Step One: Ch 2

Step Two: SC however many your pattern calls for into the first chain made (or second chain from hook as my patterns are written)  I used six for this example

With one stitch finished, second started

  With two finished, third started

With three finished, fourth started

With four finished, fifth started

 











With five finished, sixth started

 

All six stitches, finished with a slip stitch

Continuing to Row 1 without finishing off




Depending on how you prefer to work, you can finish the row with a slip stitch into the first SC made (which will leave a visible seam when finished. Or you can just keep going in a continous loop as most amigurumi patterns call for

And Viola! you have a base circle upon which to build your amigurumi.

You can make hacky-sacks for practice. Here's a quick pattern to try:

I used Vanna's choice yarn and an F hook

Foundation: Ch 2   SC 6 in second Ch from hook (as shown above)

Row 1. *2SC in each* across

Row 2. *SC 1   2SC in next* across

Row 3. *SC 2   2SC in next* across

  Row 4. *SC 3   2SC in next* across

Row 5. *SC 4   2SC in next* across

Row 6. SC across

Row 7. *SC 4   2SCtog* across

Row 8. *SC 3   2SCtog* across

Row 9. *SC 2   2SCtog* across

Row 10. *SC 1   2SCtog* across

Row 11. *2SCtog* across

Fill loosely with rice or soy beans

Row 12. SC all together 

Finish off