outline the star, then stipple the beige part,
on the red - use red thread to 'blend' it in, and choice:
1. stars and hearts
2. stars
3. in the ditch
4. stipple
but I would use beige thread on the beige and red on the red.. and nothing on the blue unless you want to do the very edge
that way the blue star is 'puffier' than the rest...
and you can have that blue star mother banner up all the time - active duty 'parents'!
our son was in Iraq for all of 06, he made warrant officer in June and is now in schooling...