About this design
The Sixteen-Ray Starburst has sixteen short, even points around a broad body, with a circle cut out of the center. It recalls the starbursts on vintage shop signs and price badges, and the sunbursts of mid-century design, while still feeling celebratory enough for the holidays.
The open center is useful: it frames a number, a date, an initial or a small photo. That makes the starburst a good fit for New Year’s countdowns as well as Christmas.
Project ideas
- New Year’s countdowns. Put the year or a number in the center.
- Sale or “new” badges for your own handmade shop’s holiday labels.
- Retro ornaments. Laser-cut from mirrored acrylic.
- Photo frames. Place a small round photo behind the center opening.
- Party decor. Large starbursts on a backdrop for a holiday party.
Color ideas
The default color version uses deep gold with a lighter gold inner burst. Retro-friendly combinations:
- Teal and orange for a mid-century look
- Silver and white for New Year’s
- Red and pink for a playful, vintage card
- Black and gold for an elegant party sign
Size and cutting tips
The points are short and sturdy, but the open center and points together look best from about 3 inches wide, which is also its smallest cut-checked size. For badges with text, 4 inches gives room for a number or short word in the center.
Weed the center circle before the outer waste in vinyl.
Step by step: a New Year’s countdown sign
- Download the solid SVG and size it to 10 inches.
- Cut it from gold glitter cardstock or foam board.
- Cut the coming year’s numbers from black cardstock, sized to fit inside the center circle.
- Glue a circle of white cardstock behind the center opening.
- Glue the numbers onto the white circle so they show through.
- Hang the starburst on a wall or prop it on a party table as a photo backdrop.
Good to know
The open center is sized to frame two to four characters, which suits a year, a number or short initials.
A note on style
Starbursts were a staple of mid-century advertising and packaging, which is why this design instantly feels retro. Pair it with a simple sans-serif font and bright, flat colors to lean into that look, or with gold foil and a script font for a more glamorous New Year’s style.
Pairs well with
The Twelve-Point Snowflake and the Spiked Moravian-Style Star continue the radiating theme.
