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Mum taught me how to make these star ornaments. She used wax paper but I prefer legal-size (8 ½" x 14") photocopy paper. This is convenient for 2" x 2" sized stars.
Options: use coloured paper or decorate after construction.
Scale up or down: final dimensions are 4 times the strip width - make sure strip length is in proportion.
Note: picture and diagrams are the left-handed
version; the
right-handed is a MIRROR image. (I know this is awkward for right-handers, but
as a leftie, I wanted the majority to experience what it's like for those of
us living in a counter-intuitive world).
1. Fold paper in half to make 8 ½" x 7" rectangle. Mark along fold and open side in ½" increments and connect with straight lines (I crease the surface with the blunt edge of scissors to avoid pencil marks). Cut along lines. (Or, if you have one, use a paper cutter!). (Keep edges smooth - jagged edges will not assemble easily!)
2. Cut each strip diagonally on the open ends (not the fold!!) to make a blunt point.
3. Take four strips. One after another (clockwise for the left-handed, counter-clockwise for the right-handers), slide the folded end through the loop of the next. Open the fourth strip to wrap it around the first and then both ends through the third loop (Diagram 1). Pull the strips to make a tight square in the centre (Diagram 2). If the strips pull through, try again. If your pattern is the wrong hand version, flip the piece over before the next step.
4. Fold the top layer down, one strip at a time, clockwise. The fourth strip is folded down and pushed under the lower right corner to lock it in place. (Diagram 3)
5. Starting with the top left corner and working clockwise: fold the strip at a 45o angle backwards, then at 45o angle forwards. (Diagram 4). Fold across toward the centre to make a point and tuck the strip under the first square.
6. When the 4 corners are finished, flip the piece over and do the same for the other four. This finishes the flat base and corners. The ends of all the strips should be extending from the centre lines of the base. (Diagram 5).
7. Taking the lower left strip, pull strip under and clockwise (do not crease) to make a cone shape and push end under centre opening of upper right corner (end comes out of point). (Diagram 6). This is where the blunt point comes in handiest. Turn piece clockwise and continue with rest of the points; flip piece over to do same for other side.
8. Cut off the excess paper coming out of the points. With a needle, punch a hole into one point and thread a 6" piece of silver thread through. Knot the ends to make a loop. Done!
