How to make a paper star
Paper Star: try all 32 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor eight-pointed star made from eight equal folded triangles. Every gold point is long and sharp, with a deep notch between its neighbours. Three folds make each ray; a little glue holds their overlapping bases together.
- You need
- Eight equal 3 × 3 in squares of thin origami paper and a little paper glue. No scissors.
- Start
- Use eight equal squares of thin gold or yellow paper. Start them white side up, with a corner pointing up, in two rows of four.
- Tips
- Make all eight triangles the same size before arranging them.
- Keep each base midpoint on the centre and leave every outer point free of glue.
Your model is ready
All eight points should reach equally far. Let the glue at the overlapping bases dry, then lift the star by its centre. It can decorate a card or hang from thread. The finished gold star, with eight equal sharp points and deep notches between them.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Ray 1: fold the left edge to the middle
Bring the upper left sloping edge to the line from the top corner to the bottom corner. Keep the top point sharp.
- 2
Ray 1: fold the right edge to the middle
Bring the upper right edge to meet it. The two edges make a long kite point.
- 3
Ray 1: fold the short tail behind
Fold the bottom corner behind along the line between the kite's shoulders. This leaves a triangle with a straight base.
- 4
Ray 2: fold the left edge to the middle
Repeat on the next square. Bring the upper left sloping edge to the line from the top corner to the bottom corner. Keep the top point sharp.
- 5
Ray 2: fold the right edge to the middle
Bring the upper right edge to meet it. The two edges make a long kite point.
- 6
Ray 2: fold the short tail behind
Fold the bottom corner behind along the line between the kite's shoulders. This leaves a triangle with a straight base.
- 7
Ray 3: fold the left edge to the middle
Repeat on the next square. Bring the upper left sloping edge to the line from the top corner to the bottom corner. Keep the top point sharp.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Ray 3: fold the right edge to the middle
Bring the upper right edge to meet it. The two edges make a long kite point.
- 9
Ray 3: fold the short tail behind
Fold the bottom corner behind along the line between the kite's shoulders. This leaves a triangle with a straight base.
- 10
Ray 4: fold the left edge to the middle
Repeat on the next square. Bring the upper left sloping edge to the line from the top corner to the bottom corner. Keep the top point sharp.
- 11
Ray 4: fold the right edge to the middle
Bring the upper right edge to meet it. The two edges make a long kite point.
- 12
Ray 4: fold the short tail behind
Fold the bottom corner behind along the line between the kite's shoulders. This leaves a triangle with a straight base.
- 13
Ray 5: fold the left edge to the middle
Repeat on the next square. Bring the upper left sloping edge to the line from the top corner to the bottom corner. Keep the top point sharp.
- 14
Ray 5: fold the right edge to the middle
Bring the upper right edge to meet it. The two edges make a long kite point.
Steps 15–21
- 15
Ray 5: fold the short tail behind
Fold the bottom corner behind along the line between the kite's shoulders. This leaves a triangle with a straight base.
- 16
Ray 6: fold the left edge to the middle
Repeat on the next square. Bring the upper left sloping edge to the line from the top corner to the bottom corner. Keep the top point sharp.
- 17
Ray 6: fold the right edge to the middle
Bring the upper right edge to meet it. The two edges make a long kite point.
- 18
Ray 6: fold the short tail behind
Fold the bottom corner behind along the line between the kite's shoulders. This leaves a triangle with a straight base.
- 19
Ray 7: fold the left edge to the middle
Repeat on the next square. Bring the upper left sloping edge to the line from the top corner to the bottom corner. Keep the top point sharp.
- 20
Ray 7: fold the right edge to the middle
Bring the upper right edge to meet it. The two edges make a long kite point.
- 21
Ray 7: fold the short tail behind
Fold the bottom corner behind along the line between the kite's shoulders. This leaves a triangle with a straight base.
Steps 22–28
- 22
Ray 8: fold the left edge to the middle
Repeat on the next square. Bring the upper left sloping edge to the line from the top corner to the bottom corner. Keep the top point sharp.
- 23
Ray 8: fold the right edge to the middle
Bring the upper right edge to meet it. The two edges make a long kite point.
- 24
Ray 8: fold the short tail behind
Fold the bottom corner behind along the line between the kite's shoulders. This leaves a triangle with a straight base.
- 25
Place the first ray
Place the first triangle with its point upward. Its base midpoint marks the centre of the star.
- 26
Add ray 2
Turn this ray an eighth of a turn farther round than the last. Match the middle of its base to the same centre. Glue its base over the neighbouring ray, keeping the pointed end free.
- 27
Add ray 3
Turn this ray an eighth of a turn farther round than the last. Match the middle of its base to the same centre. Glue its base over the neighbouring ray, keeping the pointed end free.
- 28
Add ray 4
Turn this ray an eighth of a turn farther round than the last. Match the middle of its base to the same centre. Glue its base over the neighbouring ray, keeping the pointed end free.
Steps 29–32
- 29
Add ray 5
Turn this ray an eighth of a turn farther round than the last. Match the middle of its base to the same centre. Glue its base over the neighbouring ray, keeping the pointed end free.
- 30
Add ray 6
Turn this ray an eighth of a turn farther round than the last. Match the middle of its base to the same centre. Glue its base over the neighbouring ray, keeping the pointed end free.
- 31
Add ray 7
Turn this ray an eighth of a turn farther round than the last. Match the middle of its base to the same centre. Glue its base over the neighbouring ray, keeping the pointed end free.
- 32
Add ray 8
Turn this ray an eighth of a turn farther round than the last. Match the middle of its base to the same centre. Glue its base over the neighbouring ray, keeping the pointed end free.
- ✓
Finish
All eight points should reach equally far. Let the glue at the overlapping bases dry, then lift the star by its centre. It can decorate a card or hang from thread. The finished gold star, with eight equal sharp points and deep notches between them.
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