Origami Star from Paper Strips
Learn how to make an origami star from paper strips – the ultimate “fidget” craft to keep hands busy! When you’re done, learn how to make a 5 pointed origami star too. This post contains affiliate links.
In the 90’s and early 00’s, before we had phones to keep our hands busy, we had “fidget” crafts. You know what I mean… Friendship bracelets. Boondoggle. Holographic pastel seed bead bracelets.
Among these crafts that work to keep the hands busy is the origami star from paper strips. A simple folding process makes a fun little puffy star – and is easy to make by the dozen.
The paper strips can be purchased pre-cut and glued together on one end so that they don’t make a mess. It may take a few tries to really get the hang of it, but the more you make, the more you’ll want to – and the better they’ll be coming out!
What to use your puffy origami star from paper strips for
So is this an exclusively “fidget” craft or is it actually useful? Honestly, most people make it just for fun. But yes, it can be useful, and here are some of my favorite ways.
To make it look really nice, use different shades of yellow (it’ll look like a solid color but give a little texture). Or choose a cohesive color scheme.
Confetti
If you’re decorating for Christmas, for a summer picnic, a fairy party, graduation, or anything where stars are a fit, you can use these as less-messy confetti. Team up to make piles of it and scatter them on the table, toss them in the air…
Fill a jar decor
On that note, you can also make them to fill decorative containers (such as candle holders, cylinder vases) as centerpieces. You’ll definitely need a lot of them to fill ‘er up – but this is one of those crafts that is addictive and fun to make a lot of!
“Pick a chore/activity/wish jar”
The stars can easily be folded, so you can write anything you’d like on it before folding! This is a fun way to do any “pick a” type jars – whether it’s for a family or a party! You can combine this with the idea above, writing a fortune or wish on each and having partygoers pick one from the centerpiece.
What you need to make an origami star from paper strips
- Paper strips
- A ready pair of hands
How to make puffy origami stars
I’m going to go into as much nitty gritty details as I can in case you don’t have access to the images, but the photos really say it best. First, if you’d like you can watch the YouTube video:
1. Start with a paper strip. Lay it flat on your surface.
2. Create a loose knot, leaving about 1cm on one side.
3. Flatten out your knot into a pentagon shape. This is the base of your origami star from paper strips. Proportionally, the piece sticking out should be slightly longer than the diameter of the pentagon.
4. Fold that extra bit over to the other side, so that it’s flush on the bottom of the pentagon and reaches the other side that connects to the bottom.
5. Tuck whatever is leftover between the layers of the knotted pentagon and the extra strip.
6. Now you’re going to start “wrapping” that extra bit of paper around your pentagon until it’s finished. Again, this is something that’ll become easier as you make more as it requires some “instinct” with the direction that you’re wrapping in. Fold over your paper so that it reaches the side opposite.
Fold it under again to the opposite side.
Fold it over and under again until you only have a little bit – not enough for a complete fold.
7. Tuck that little extra bit between the layers of your star. Crease into place.
8. Use your nail to poke the sides – between the corners – in, allowing the front and back of the star to puff out. Again, it might make a few tries to really get the hang of this, but once you do it a few times, you’ll “nail” it (ouch).
Repeat with all five sides to complete your origami star from paper strips!
What will you be using yours for? Comment below!
DIY Origami Wish Stars
Make these tiny origami wish stars from paper strips! Write a message on them first and fill a jar, use them as confetti, or just enjoy them as a fun fidget craft.
Materials
- Paper Strips
Instructions
1. Start with a paper strip. Lay it flat on your surface.
2. Create a loose knot, leaving about 1cm on one side.
3. Flatten out your knot into a pentagon shape. This is the base of your origami star from paper strips. Proportionally, the piece sticking out should be slightly longer than the diameter of the pentagon.
4. Fold that extra bit over to the other side, so that it's flush on the bottom of the pentagon and reaches the other side that connects to the bottom.
5. Tuck whatever is leftover between the layers of the knotted pentagon and the extra strip.
6. Now you're going to start "wrapping" that extra bit of paper around your pentagon until it's finished. Again, this is something that'll become easier as you make more as it requires some "instinct" with the direction that you're wrapping in. Fold over your paper so that it reaches the side opposite.
7. Fold it under again to the opposite side. Fold it over and under again until you only have a little bit - not enough for a complete fold.
8. Tuck that little extra bit between the layers of your star. Crease into place.
9. Use your nail to poke the sides - between the corners - in, allowing the front and back of the star to puff out. Again, it might make a few tries to really get the hang of this, but once you do it a few times, you'll "nail" it (ouch).
Repeat with all five sides to complete your origami star from paper strips!
