How to Fold a Paper Star

Paper Star folding is a form of origami. The stars are often titled Lucky Stars, Chinese Lucky Stars, wishing stars, dream stars or origami stars. They are basically simple to make as long as you know the technique.

To begin, you will need to collect your materials, decorative paper and scissors. The kind of paper you use can be origami paper, wrapping paper, scrap booking paper, or photocopy paper. Basically any paper can work but I have found a medium weight paper similar to copy paper or wrapping paper to work best. Thicker forms of scrap booking paper or card stock are more difficult to fold while lighter weight papers tear easily.

The star when folded only shows one side of the paper when complete.

Cutting the paper into foldable strips, they should be one-half inch by eleven inches long. ( 1/2" x 11") You will only need one strip per star. It is easy to obtain many stars from one sheet of paper.

To begin folding, hold the strip of paper at one end and tie a knot. Be gentle not to tear the paper. Attempt to place the knot as close to the end of the paper as possible. Flatten the knot as much as possible without creasing the paper. This is the trick to the folding process never crease the paper.

If you have a short end to your paper strip, tuck this in towards the knot. Using the longer end of the paper begin to fold (without creasing the paper) around the knot. The paper will follow its natural placement. Continue to fold (or wrap) the paper strip around the beginning knot until you reach the end of the strip.

At the end of the strip, take the end and tuck it under one of the folds that is around the knot.

What you have doesn't appear to be much but you are actually finished with the folding process. With your fingertips, you are going to push in or indent the paper at equal intervals around the folded shape to create the star's points. The shape will now begin to fill or appear to blow up. If you have creased any of the folds, the process of indention will be difficult if not impossible. The star can cave into it's self as well. If this happens, just take another strip and begin again.

That completes your star.

Options for use:

Make a lot of them and display them in a bowl

String them together in a chain or garland

Thread them into earrings