Hi Michelle,  I have done this a couple of different ways.  I have never used starch though.  I am sure there are a lot of ways this could be done.  I have cut the strips, but you get more of a prim look if you rip the material.  Then I have fastened it to the styrofoam balls with straight pins or I have used the hot glue gun.  Oh and at Easter time I covered some plastic eggs, but I used modge podge that time.  At first I didn't like the way they turned out, but with some practice, they got better.  Good luck with yours.

 I just tuck my ends in, don't even have to get the glue gun out....and if you want them to look more grungy, I soak or paint mine with coffee, vanilla and cinnamon.