How to make a paper star garland
Paper Star Garland: try all 12 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
Accordion-fold a paper strip into six panels and cut one star through all of them. The side points stay joined at the folds, and the strip opens into a garland of six stars to hang on the tree or across a window.
- You need
- Thin paper, a pencil, a ruler and scissors.
- Start
- Begin with one 36 × 8.4 cm strip of thin gold, yellow or red paper. Mark six equal 6 cm panels along its length.
Your model is ready
Open every fold and smooth the strip flat. Make two or three strips and tape their end stars together for a longer garland, then drape it on the tree or across a window. The finished star garland, six stars joined point to point.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Fold panel 1 over the next
Measure another 60 mm panel. Fold the entire left packet over the paper to its right, lining up the edges. Keep all panels the same width.
- 2
Fold panel 2 behind the next
Measure another 60 mm panel. Fold the entire left packet under the paper to its right, lining up the edges. Keep all panels the same width.
- 3
Fold panel 3 over the next
Measure another 60 mm panel. Fold the entire left packet over the paper to its right, lining up the edges. Keep all panels the same width.
- 4
Fold panel 4 behind the next
Measure another 60 mm panel. Fold the entire left packet under the paper to its right, lining up the edges. Keep all panels the same width.
- 5
Fold panel 5 over the next
Measure another 60 mm panel. Fold the entire left packet over the paper to its right, lining up the edges. Keep all panels the same width.
- 6
Cut over the top point
Draw a star on the top panel first, with its side points running off both folded sides. Start on one folded side, about 3 cm below the top. Cut up along the star's side point, up to the top point and down to the other side point, ending on the other folded side at the same height. Remove the strip above.
- 7
Cut under the legs
Start on the folded side 9 mm below the first cut, so a short join holds the side points together. Cut in under the side point, down round the first leg, up into the notch between the legs, down round the second leg, and back out under the other side point to the other folded side.
Steps 8–12
- 8
Open pleat 5
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- 9
Open pleat 4
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- 10
Open pleat 3
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- 11
Open pleat 2
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- 12
Open pleat 1
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- ✓
Finish
Open every fold and smooth the strip flat. Make two or three strips and tape their end stars together for a longer garland, then drape it on the tree or across a window. The finished star garland, six stars joined point to point.
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