How to Make a Paper Star in 6 Easy Folds

Start with a 15 cm square sheet, color side down. Fold it in half top to bottom, crease firmly, and open it back up. Flip the paper over to the color side, then fold corner to corner both ways to make an X of diagonal creases. You should end up with one valley crease across the middle and two mountain creases through the corners. Sharp creases here make the next collapse fall into place on its own.

Pick the paper up by the two side points where the creases meet. Push those sides in toward each other and let the top flatten down. The square folds itself into a triangle with two flaps front and two flaps back. This is the waterbomb base, and it's the foundation every point of the star comes from. Press the triangle flat on the table before moving on.

Position the triangle with the open edge at the bottom. Take the bottom-right corner of the front flap and fold it straight up to meet the top point. Repeat with the bottom-left front flap so both lower corners now sit at the apex. You're looking at a small square shape sitting on top of the triangle. These two folds become the first pair of star points.

Flip the model over. Repeat the same fold on the back flaps, bringing each lower corner up to the top point. You now have a diamond with four flaps that will become four of the five points. Fold each of those flaps outward at a slight angle so the tips fan out from the center. The shape starts to look like a star with one point still tucked underneath.

Find the hidden flap at the back and gently pull it down and out to form the fifth point. Adjust the spacing so all five points sit evenly around the center. Pinch each tip with your fingers to sharpen the creases, and crimp the base of every point where it meets the middle. The crimps lock the star flat and stop the points from popping back open.

Press the whole star under a heavy book for a minute to set the creases. Flip it over to check that both sides look clean. The model finishes around 10 cm across and looks good from either side, so it works strung on thread, taped to a window, or glued onto a card. Try the same sequence with patterned paper or two-tone sheets for a different look.