I love decorating for Christmas, but I also love making and crafting which makes these accordion-folded paper stars using gift wrap the best of both worlds. A homemade seasonal decoration that is simple to make, so simple that I used to make them as a child. I adore how they are simple to make, but also how you can also adapt them to your seasonal decor and have fun making them.
I grew up in a large Victorian terrace house and we used to have paper decorations everywhere. Each year we used to make more to add to them and I don’t ever remember not making these simple folded paper stars. Sometimes we used gift wrap as I have here, other times tissue paper and even leftover wallpaper to make them. I have also seen them made in patriotic colours for the fourth of July too. Plus origami stars represent a special gift of love and good luck. . “Whenever a lucky star is made, a falling star is saved
There really is no right or wrong size to make them, but I do have some tips and tricks that will make it easier.
How to Make Accordion Folded Paper Stars using gift wrap
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Materials
- Gift wrap, paper, wallpaper scraps or butcher’s paper
- Small sharp scissors
- Metal ruler
- Craft knife
- Bone folder or ruler
- Florists wire
- Tacky Glue or hot glue gun
- Piece of Ribbon
Tutorial to make folded paper stars
I love that this simple craft is something you can add to year after year, especially if you use glue that undoes well, although this year I have used tacky glue and I don’t think it will separate well. Growing up my parents always secured the folded paper stars with paper clips and removed them before storing them for next year.
I used what I had which was sheets of wrapping paper, so the length and height of the origami paper stars were determined by that. I find that paper that is about twice as long as wide is perfect.
It is much easier to fold the larger pieces of paper as they need fewer folds and larger folds. The more you fold it, the more points your star has. So I would suggest starting with a larger 3d paper star and then moving on to the smaller more intricate stars. It helps to make the fold line crisp. I use a paper folder to sweep across the end of the strip, but you could use a ruler too.
Make an accordion fold from short side to short side. Here you can either fold small or large folds. It’s a matter of taste and gives a different character to the stars. I start by folding in half and then half again and to each midpoint (I find it easy to keep consistency) and on until I get one fold the size I prefer and then add to it in a concertina style.
The fun comes with cutting and making the patterns within the paper stars, I like to sharpen the edges and then make small triangular cuts in each blade.
Then fold the outer 3 or blades in half and nip at the bottom.
Fasten florists wire around the centre of the paper and tighten by twisting.
Then spread out and use a dab of glue to hold the folded paper together (I like tacky glue for this) and hold in place with paper clasps or use double-sided tape to hold the left edge of one piece to the right edge of the other together.
Don’t remove the clips until the glue is dry.
You can punch a hole in one of the star blades and use coordinating ribbon to hang. You could always use a needle and thread to hang your starts too (I have used dental floss in the past as it is pretty invisible)!
Watch out though, they are addictive and I am not on the lookout for paper to make even more and I made 14 in an afternoon!
If you like these then check out our other Christmas Crafts.