3D Paper Star/Snowflake

I don’t know about you, but I’m all “halloweened” out! I know that’s not really a word, but it accurately describes the Halloween oversaturation I am experiencing!

So, I was aching for a quick project that had nothing to do with Halloween, or Fall, or Thanksgiving. I wanted to quickly fast forward to my favorite holiday season: Winter … Advent … Christmas!

 

Since this Paper Star could be made with any kind of paper it doesn’t even have to be a Christmas/Winter project … you could just do it any old time

 

And let me just say this now – it’s not nearly as complicated as it may look! Really, it’s not!

Once you’ve done one point, you’ll be doing the other five in no time!

So, let’s get started!

Here is what you’ll need:

• 6 square sheets of printer paper (I trimmed mine to 8 inches)
• 1 pair of scissors
• 1 stapler (mini staplers work better here)
• 1 measuring device, such as a geometry triangle ruler or whatever else works for you
• Invisible tape or tape dots
• Pen (not on the photo)

1. Fold each of the 6 pieces of paper in half, diagonally. Try and make the corners align as perfectly as possible.

2. Fold it in half again by folding the right side over to the left.

3. Then, measure out your lines. First of all, on the folded vertical side of your triangle, measure top and bottom and mark about 1 cm or 1/2 inch in. It really doesn’t matter what number you choose, just make sure that you do it the same on all 6 sides.

On smaller or larger papers, this number will have to be increased or decreased accordingly.

Just eyeball it and make a note, so you can make sure you do it the same on all of them!

4. Draw a very faint line from top to bottom. I recommend pencil as you can make the lines really light and then you can rub it out later if you find it shows.

Then measure from the side edge in. I made my strips 2 cm, but again, it really doesn’t matter what number you choose. Just make sure you start measuring from the outside in and that all your strips are the same width!

 5. Now connect the lines.

Until you have this:

   This is your cutting guide.

6. Cut from the bottom up, along your lines, making sure you stop at the vertical line!

{I started having trouble with my camera at this point, so please ignore the grainy backgrounds!}

You’ll now have something like this!

7. Open the triangle up (carefully!) and position it as seen in the photo below.

Unfold your paper all the way and turn it so that the diamond shape is facing you for working with.

8. If you are using tape, it is a good idea to get yourself some small pieces ready to go, as you’ll be holding things while you are taping. It’ll be much easier that way!

9. Still keeping your paper diamond side-up, roll the first two innermost paper lines together to form a tube. Tape these two pieces together.

 

10. Turn your paper over to the other side, so you are looking at the back of the “tube” you just made.

Take the next two paper lines and pull them together on the opposite side of the tube and tape together as before.

Turn the paper again and join the paper lines together on opposite side.

Then turn it one more time and join the outside paper strips together with tape.

You just finished your first point!

11. Now do it all (steps 1 – 10) again 5 more times!

12. Once all six pieces are completed, take three of them and join them together at the tip, by placing a staple.

  {Things got a little hard to photograph at this point lol}

Do the other 3 pieces the same way. Now you will have 2 halves consisting of 3 “star points” each.

13. Now join both halves by stapling them together in the middle.

I used a staple on either side of the existing staple to keep things in place.

We’re almost done now!

14. We just have to join the outside sides of the points now.

Staple where each of the 6 arms meet. This pulls the snowflake shape into place. 

And there you have it. Your completed star!!

15. If you want to hang the star, just cut a length of ribbon and staple it to the top of one of the points.

Here’s the completed star/snowflake again:

And from the side:

And one last look from the front:

You can make them in different sizes, different colors or different patterns and group them, hanging from windows, or over a mirror, or cupboard doors etc.

Since they are so light, they also hang really well from the ceiling without heavy duty hooks. A thumb tag will do it!

Use vellum paper to make them appear more translucent too. Or, once finished, use some light squirts of spray adhesive and some glitter to really bling them up a little!

Or make lots of smaller ones and join them in a garland!

Lots and lots of possibilities!

I hope you have fun making your own stars/snowflakes!

 

I’m linking to:

and here

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2010/10/sns-54-brings-you-signs.html

and all of these!