Star Light Star Bright, Let’s Fold a Paper Star Tonight

By DIY Maven

I found instructions for these beautiful folded paper stars in an old magazine called The Workbasket. Not only were the directions indecipherable, the picture illustrations were misidentified. Although your first attempt might be a challenge, it’ll be worth it as the final product will impress your friends and family.

Use them to decorate your trees and presents for your holiday party, or hang them from your light fixtures for your New Years Eve bash.

Supplies

Paper

Scissors or, better yet a Fiskars Rotary Paper Trimmer

Ruler, if using a scissors

A little patience

Note: I used two red and two white paper strips so you can better identify them.

Steps

1. With scissors or paper cutter, cut paper into 4 strips measuring ½ by 14 inches.

2. Fold strips in half.

3. Thread strips through each other, as shown below.

4. Pull together.

5. Lift one of the top four strips backward across the strip below. In a clockwise fashion, fold back the other three top strips backward across the strips below.

6. Tuck the last strip folded backward under the first strip to lock strips together.

7. Fold one strip underneath at a 90 degree angle, creating a triangle, as shown below.

8. Loop the folded strip forward and around and pass it under the square directly below the triangle shape you just created. Pull strip taught and crease to make a sharp edge, creating another triangle on top of the one below.

9. Working clockwise, skip the next strip, then repeat step 8 for the next strip. Repeat step 9 to create a total of 4 points.

10. Turn piece over and repeat making points (starting with step 7) on the other side. You'll have a total of 8 points after this step.

11. Find the 4 strips on top. Pick up the one pointing towards you and push it back, holding it away from you.

12. With the other hand, take the top strip pointing to the right and loop it under and flip it a quarter turn to the side. Turn it a quarter turn again as shown. Pass strip under the square below. Pull strip to fashion a point.

13. Working in a clockwise fashion, repeat steps 11 and 12 until you have 4 points facing you. The last strip will be passed under the first point made.

(Bonus Hint: to make a bow for a present, stop here. Cut the ends of the strips off as close to the points and possible.)

14. Flip the star over and repeat steps 11-13.

15. Cut the ends of the strips off as close to the points as possible.

Attach thread or monofilament for hanger.

P.S. Feel free to post any difficulties you encounter, and I’ll do my best to talk you through them or modify the instructions. Good luck!

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Tagged:
stars folded paper decoration ornaments origami

December 20, 2006

11 comments

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stinkknits

December 02, 2007

If you can't find paper that's big enough, you can use the colourful bumf or advertising supplements that come in the mail. It's usually already folded in half so it only needs to be 7 inches.

DIY Maven

November 28, 2007

awjones...you're welcome! Sorry for the hang up. Maybe this will help.

The strip in 11 is gently pushed back; while you're holding it back, that's when you manipulate the red strip to the right, as indicated. Good luck! And let me know how it goes!

My best, Maven.

awjones

November 27, 2007

I saw these in the Hallmark book titled " home for the holiday and loved them. I looked for instructions everywhere and couldnt find them until now. thanks so much...but i need some help in the completion. I am stuck at step 11 and 12. Can you help me? thanks

Ps I am making them for christmas tree ornaments and i am going to try to get my children to help.

DIY Maven

March 16, 2007

Marti--You have made my day. And you're welcome!

martimouse

March 16, 2007

My cousins and I made these about 45 years ago and never found the instructions again after they wore out. Thanks for posting the directions.

Marti

DIY Maven

December 26, 2006

By the way, these stars make great cat toys!!!

http://www.curbly.com/DIY-Maven/posts/573-Folded-Paper-Star-Awesome-Cat-Toy

SarahM

December 23, 2006

I tried this as nearly gave up in frustration before I realized that I was doing step 3 wrong: I was weaving the strips over and under each other when I should have been threading them through each other. A close-up that shows what you should be doing there would be helpful.

Now that I've got it down, though, these are fun to make, and they look terrific. Great tree ornaments and very cool bows for wrapping presents!

Three tips: 1) cut the tips of the strips on the diagonal; makes it easier to thread them through the folds. 2) If you don't have 14" paper around, try a brown paper bag or a newspaper. 3) If you want bigger stars, art paper often comes with a side that's 27.5" long, so you only have to cut in one direction (i.e. 1" strips).

Swankymode

December 21, 2006

Wow! I used to work for The Workbasket -- actually its publishing company, Modern Handcraft. It was my first "real" job straight out of college. I was one of two graphic designers, and I remember the first thing I did on my first day on the job was to lay out a story for The Workbasket. This was before computers and I had to "spec" type for the typesetter. The story was about making lanterns by punching designs in tin cans. My apologies for the confusing directions and mislabeled diagrams, hopefully it was before my time. I remember the editor, Roma, she was a hoot! And she was the editor for decades, 30 - 40 years I think. Sadly, she pased away shortly after the magazine ceased publication in 1996. Ah memories, thanks for the trip down memory lane!

DIY Maven

December 20, 2006

Hey fellow Curbliers. I just found a website from which you can order ready-made stars just like these for a buck fifty a piece or 15 bucks for a dozen. Based on how little paper is used, that's a pretty good profit!

http://www.idlewords.com/christmas/

DIY Maven

December 20, 2006

Hi Elizabeth! Stiffish ribbon will work for the folded paper stars. I made a few dozen a while back using the smooth satin paper ribbon you can buy at Hallmark. The only issue I had with it was that it was slippery, so I had to sort of hold everything together as I tucked and folded. Also, when I finished, I had to use a little hot glue to keep the stars from slipping apart. Good luck! Let me know how it goes!!

elizabethperry

December 20, 2006

Thanks for the clear step-by-step! 14-inch paper is in short supply at my house, and I'm impatient - do you think this would work with stiffish ribbon? (Think I'll try...)