DIY Fun Folded Origami Lucky Paper Stars

Learn how to make Folded Origami Lucky Paper Stars using this step-by-step craft tutorial for kids! All you need is a piece of paper and some simple folds to create small or large paper stars from any kind of paper.

Jump to:

• Easy Craft Alert: How to Make Paper Stars
• The Best Paper for Origami Stars
• Craft Supplies
• Steps to Make Paper Stars
• How to Make a Garland of Stars!
• Paper Craft Tips
• Fun Craft Variations
• FAQ
• More Easy Origami Paper Crafts for Kids
• Come Join the Fun!
• Crafts, Crafts, & More Crafts!
• DIY Fun Folded Origami Lucky Paper Stars

Easy Craft Alert: How to Make Paper Stars

Fun Folded Origami Lucky Stars was “the thing” for a while at our house. Our girls loved folding little strips of origami paper into these fascinating stars. When finished, they gave them to their friends in little jars as gifts.

Folded paper stars are a symbol of luck and prosperity. They are lucky to make and even more lucky to give away! The story goes that if you give someone 100 folded origami lucky stars then the recipient can make a wish. 

These simple paper crafts are cute birthday gifts. But better yet, the simple craft kept young hands busy while we visited and laughed together. Ah, that is my favorite part of these crafts and activities, the connection!

I hope you and your kids have as much fun with these little paper stars as we did. Have fun talking, laughing, and folding easy origami stars. If the kids reach 100 stars, give them away as a gift to a friend!

The craft is fun. The connection is epic.

The Best Paper for Origami Stars

The best size and type of paper for origami stars depends on the size of star you'd like to create. You can use whatever paper you would like, but it is best to use lightweight paper and not something thick, like cardstock.

Create small paper stars like the ones in the video with ½ inch strips, cut from 12x12 inch scrapbooking paper. Origami paper, printer paper, and wrapping paper all work great! Cut into strips with a pair of scissors.

If you don't want to cut your own strips, you can actually purchase paper star strips, precut for easy use! You'll find all kinds of colorful designs and paper variations.

Create larger paper stars like the ones in the video using 2 inch strips cut from wrapping paper. Some wrapping paper even has grid markings on the back, making it easy to cut into strips. I found some at Hobby Lobby.

Craft Supplies

You don't need much to make stars using paper:

• Thin Paper: like origami, scrapbooking, or wrapping paper. Cut into strips (½ inch or 2 inch).
• OR Precut Paper: I love this Origami Lucky Stars Paper, and this Outer Space Design Origami Stars Paper

Steps to Make Paper Stars

Ready to make some paper stars? Follow the step-by-step written directions below!

Want to see the process instead? Watch how paper stars are made with this YouTube video tutorial! While you are there, follow my YouTube channel for new craft tutorials every week.

Tie a knot in the paper

Tie a single knot in one end of your paper strip so that the print is showing on the knot. Gently pull the paper until you end up with a pentagon, five sided knot shape.

A little end will be showing. Tuck this end behind the knot.

Be careful NOT to hard fold and flatten this little knot! If you crease the edges of the pentagon, it will not open easily into a star.

Wrap the paper around the knot

Now wrap the long strip of paper around the pentagon knot. Continue wrapping around and around so that the print side of the paper is to the outside and showing. Pull the strip firmly but do not hard fold.

If the pentagon sides were numbered from 1 to 5 from the front, the paper would wind like this: side 1 and 4, 2 and 5, 3 and 1, 4 and 2, then 5 and 3.

This pattern will repeat if your paper is that long (mine was not). Tuck the end of the strip inside the last loop of paper when it is too short to make another loop around the star.

Press in the sides of the pentagon

Finally, firmly hold the pentagon shape with four finger tips on four sides of the shape. Press gently with your thumb and forefinger to "pinch" one point of the star. Gently crease with the thumbnail as the star sides gently cave inwards and "puff up" the paper star.

Repeat this motion on each of the other 4 sides of the pentagon to create each point of the star. Go back around the star and gently press and shape the star as needed to be in a symmetric shape.

Now repeat these steps 99 more times to create all 100 stars for a friend!

How to Make a Garland of Stars!

As you'll see in the video, the large paper stars look cute as a garland! The garland is easy to make and creates a fun DIY decoration in no time.

Simply tape large origami lucky stars onto a string in an evenly spaced pattern. Hang the string as a decorative garland by tying the edges of the string, or securing with tape.

You can make other folded paper items into a garland as well. How about a string of pretty origami butterflies?

Paper Craft Tips

• Change the Size: Make the paper strips smaller, i.e. ¼ inch wide or width in between if you want. The larger the star you make, the longer the paper needs to be as well.
• Purchase Precut Strips: You can purchase the Origami Lucky Star paper strips already cut. That makes this easy craft that much easier! 
• Cut More with a Paper Cutter: I cut my scrapbook paper on a paper cutter and cut a couple sheets of paper at a time. It went quickly and kept its shape uniform.

Fun Craft Variations

Want to mix it up? Give some of these variations a try:

• Write a Message: If you would like, write a message on the strip of paper before folding it. That makes each folded origami lucky star an extra gift. The recipient can unfold the stars, one by one, and read your messages. Just be sure to not use a pen that soaks through the paper!
• Use Different Paper: Try fun patterned paper to make your stars bright and beautiful! Or branch out with unique paper like sheet music to give to a music-loving friend.
• Christmas Tree Decoration: How about making stars from metallic wrapping paper and hanging on a Christmas tree?
• Add to a Jar: Fill a little jar with the 100 small folded origami lucky stars. Put a tag on it with the meaning of the stars and give as a birthday gift to bring encouragement and cheer.

FAQ

More Easy Origami Paper Crafts for Kids

Looking for more fun origami ideas for kids? Check out these great folded paper crafts from around the blog:

Come Join the Fun!

Try this craft, leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.

This post was originally published in July 2020 and has been updated to add more relevant and detailed content.