Okay, I’ll admit it. I love homemade decorations. They’re always a huge hit in our home. When the kids were small, we always made our own. Sadly, now that they’re older we don’t always have the time. Mommy chauffeur reporting for duty. So this year we cheated a bit and used some of our old store-bought ornaments and sheets of cardboard to make this bauble and light-filled star. That still counts as homemade, right!!!?

And since she’s made from cardboard, she’s budget-friendly too.

This is not the first time we used cardboard to make a Christmas decor that wows. And she sure does wow, especially when the lights are turned down low.

Okay, before we get to the tutorial, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!
What you need
It’s pretty simple to make too. All you need is:
- A large sturdy cardboard box or two pizze boxes
- Masking tape, ruler and scissors or a craft knife
- Battery operated string lights
- Christmas baubles
- Spray paint (optional)
- Glue gun
Making the Bauble and Light Filled Star
RightyO, so first things first. We need to make a huge star-shaped box for all those baubles. Grab a big, thick sheet of cardboard. The thicker the better, and draw a large five-point star as shown below.
Cut the star out using a pair of scissors or your craft knife. Use the other piece of cardboard and measure and cut 8 cm wide strips. That’s about 3 1/8 inches. Place the strips on the sides of the star and mark off how long each strip should be. I numbered the strips and the sides just in case my 5-oint star wasn’t 100% perfect.
Attach the strips to the sides of the star using some masking tape. Flip the star over and fold the strips up and tape the tips of the points and where the points of the star meet each other.
Give the star a coat of paint to hide the masking tape and invite one of your purr babies to test it out 😉 Ahhhh, my Cleo. Isn’t she beautiful? She’s always so willing to help out.
When the purr baby is satisfied, use a sharp implement to poke holes into the star.
Push the string lights through from the back of the star. Add as many lights as you can. It just makes it look so much more special. Time to fill her up. Our baubles were all different colors. Yeah, I know, I’m one of those people that used to pick a new color theme every year. Thank goodness Bonnie and Edward Seymour invented spray paint way back when. My heroes!!!! This year I’m kinda liking the whole metallic look.
Once the paint dries, put a small dab of glue on a bauble and start sticking those babies down randomly inside the star. I didn’t have enough to fill the whole star, but that’s okay.

I love how the empty space contrasts with the baubles and light. What do you think?

Ain’t she pretty?

Sorry about the image quality. I take all my photos with my mobile and struggle a bit with the ISO setting when it’s dark. And that’s when the bauble and light-filled star really starts weaving its magic.
If you like the idea of the bauble and light filled star, don’t forget to pin it for later

Sharing is caring 😉

So tell me. Do you make your own ornaments for Christmas, or do you prefer to buy them? I’d love to hear about it, and if you’re searching for more crafty cardboard ideas, you’ll find a whole bunch of tutorials on the blog.
Oh, before I forget, if you don’t want to go to the trouble of finding some of the materials we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us come up with more crafty ideas to share with you 😉
And as always wishing you a wonderful, happy crafty week. Thank you for popping in for a visit.
Last update on 2026-08-16 / Source Amazon Affiliates







118 comments
This is such a great idea!! I love Christmas just because it’s a great excuse to make things like these. Can’t wait to show this to my sister!
Thank you Ana ?
How easy! Love the photo with the cat sitting in the star…typical cat! I have a few places to decorate for Christmas this year, so easy ideas like this will work!
Purr babies seem to love their boxes ?
This is beautiful! Adding the lights is such a good idea. I’ll be on the look out for some baubles I can use to make something similar.
Ahhhh Lisa thank you. I was absolutely enthralled with all the beautiful works of art and your felt creatures when I popped over to your blog. You are so talented
Lovely decoration pieces. And homemade lends an emotional touch too. I like these Christmas stars, will try crafting these.
I hope you do Indu and please share how yours turns out
I love this! It’s so pretty! It almost seems like something I could do myself. ? I have made ornaments in the past. My sister and I took clear ornaments and used glitter to decorate in the inside and glass markers to draw/write on the outside. Most of our ornaments were purchased.
Ahhhh my sister and I used to do the same. Such beautiful memories
Wow this is so pretty! I am from Texas so I am totally loving the star!
Go Texas. I’m glad you like it Brigette, thanks so much
Yes, this DIY Christmas star is really pretty. The good thing about your blog is that you explain so nicely that even a layman like me can understand. My grandkids are also busy in decorating their Christmas tree these days.
Bahut dhanyavaad Sadhna, I really appreciate that so much
I forgot to mention your purr baby is so cute and adorable.
She is ❤️ Thank you Sadhna
I love your cat…she found her spot lol. This Christmas decor is simply stunning! I’d love to try and make one. Everything you create is absolutely beautiful!
Thanks so much CarolAnn. Isn’t she just beautiful. One of our four rescue purr babies, but she’s always out there getting involved when we’re making something ?
I love homemade decorations! This one glows so prettily in the candlelight. Wonderful job!
Thank you Emily ?
Wow, Michelle! Very creative and stunning!
Thanks soooooo much Gail ?
Your images are purrfect! I think this is a very original and unique idea cause I’ve never seen it before. It is a great way to show off your baubles while bringing some atmospheric light into the project. Michelle, I try not to buy ornaments I think it is much better to take your old ones and make them over. After all there is no fun in just going into the store to buy them.
LOL Mary, I love your purrfect comment and the fact that you make your own ornaments. It is way more fun
This is beautiful!! ….and I think it may just be easy enough for me to attempt!
Go for it Shana, it’s real easy to do
Oh my gosh that is so cute!! I just moved into my new home with my daughter this weekend and I really think I should make one for us! What a fabulous idea and looks shop bought!
Thanks so much Mel ? I hope you do get round to making one for you new home
Oh my Goodness, this is so so gorgeous! I love everything fairy lights, you know that and how you added the baubles to the star is just the most beautiful way! It looks stunning and amazing Michelle! One of my favourites!
Thanks so much Katrin, that really means a lot
Awww, sweet Cleo found a box. 🙂 Not for long though. This decoration could be right out of a PB catalog, Michelle. It’s awesome!!! Pinned of course. I never thought of spray painting baubles and gave away the ones from my pink phase some months ago. I’m just slapping myself on the forehead now, lol. I love that you added lights to the star. It must look even more amazing in real than in your pictures.
Have a great week!
LOL Julia, did you also go through a pink phase ? Why do we do that? Thank you for the pin and for being such a stunning supporter. When blogging becomes difficult and time consuming, you’re one of the reasons I keep going. Hope you have a beautiful week too xoxoxoxoxooxoxoxo
this looks so cute! the diy itself looks rather easy to do as well so I’m seriously considering giving it a try. the little details of the lights definitely set the mood.
I’m so glad to hear that Maria. Let me know how it turns out
I love homemade decorations….well I love everything homemade really….your decoration is stunning….it is a great idea and it brings a great Christmas spirit into the room….I bet even the cat had a lot of fun! 😀
? She did Paola ?
Your bauble filled star looks like a decoration you’ve just bought from a fancy and expensive shop! It looks fabulous, and knowing that you’ve made it yourself and it was so easy to do, gives us, the 2 left handed people a chance to know that we could create something like this as well. 🙂
That’s so special Joanna, thank you. And yes you can do this too ?
That’s a super cute idea! I think sometimes I get carried away with planning projects. But this seems so simple!
It is DeDe. All in all it probably took about an hour to make and that’s only coz I had to wait for the paint to dry ?
It totally counts 🙂 My mom used to be into arts and crafts … I think if I had company I would love to do it as an activity … but to do it all on my own seems like quite a task. However, I LOVE this idea and the end result looks SO good. You are an art genius.
Aaaw Tanvi, how I wish we stayed closer so I could do it with you. You’re right crafting on your own isn’t always fun