How to Make Origami Lucky Stars

By
Chrissy Pk
Chrissy Pk
Chrissy Pk
Chrissy Pushkin, also known as Chrissy Pk, is an origami and paper craft expert and writer with 15 years of experience. Chrissy founded the popular website and YouTube channel, Paper Kawaii, where she creates tutorials, templates, printable origami paper, and handmade crafts.
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Updated on 06/23/23
origami lucky star tutorial 01
Paper Kawaii
Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Yield: 1 origami star
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $5-10

Learn how to make lovely little origami lucky stars, sometimes called wishing stars. Use them to add color to a room, as party decorations, add them to gift wrap, or use them to bring a little luck to your life.

These origami lucky stars are made with strips of paper cut about 10 inches to 11 inches long. Each strip can be as wide as 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch, or 3/4 inch. Thinner strips make smaller stars while wider strips make larger stars.

Spend as much time as is needed to make the knot and wrap the pentagon of your star as neat and tight as possible. Making them neat ensures your little origami lucky stars will turn out puffy, but sturdy as well so you can easily hold them while making a wish.

Learn how to make one or dozens of cute little stars with this step-by-step tutorial.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Paper cutter or scissors
  • Ruler

Materials

  • Printer paper, A4 paper, letter paper, patterned paper, or origami paper

Instructions

  1. Start Folding the Strip of Paper

    Start with your strip of paper color side up if you're using colored paper or origami paper. Follow the steps according to the illustrations below.

    • Bring the right end of the paper over and down (top left square).
    • Bring the bottom end up and over the left end (top right square).
    • Now that you have a loop, feed the top end behind and through the hole (bottom left square).
    • Continue to pull the end through the loop, also gently pull the bottom end to tighten the knot (bottom right square).
    origami lucky star tutorial 02
    Paper Kawaii

  2. Make the Knot of the Star

    Follow the steps according to the illustrations below.

    • Keep wiggling and pulling the knot tighter, flattening it at the same time (top left square).
    • The end of the paper strip on the left should be much longer than the end on the right. Fold the excess end behind. You do not need to cut it off but you can do it if it's too long (top right square).
    • Fold the end on the left behind, keeping the bottom edge aligned with the bottom edge of the shape in the center (bottom left square).
    • Continue wrapping the pentagon. Fold the strip on top, over to the top left (bottom right square).
    origami lucky star tutorial 03
    Paper Kawaii

  3. Keep Wrapping the Pentagon

    Again wrap the pentagon following the steps according to the illustrations below.

    • Fold the strip down behind to the bottom (top left square).
    • Fold the strip up and over to the right (top right square).
    • Fold the strip over behind to the left and continue until you only have a small section left (bottom left square).
    • If your strip is just a bit too long, cut it or tear it off (bottom right square).
    origami lucky star tutorial 04
    Paper Kawaii

  4. Finish Tucks and Inflate the Star

    Finish the star by following the illustrations below:

    • Insert the end of the strip inside the pocket (top left square).
    • Now inflate the star. To do this, use your index finger and thumb to pinch in one of the points of the star (top right square).
    • Rotate the star and gently do the same on all of the points (bottom left square).
    • You can get different results by pinching more or less at this stage (bottom right square).

    Tip

    Your first attempt at making an origami star may not come out as well as expected, but keep practicing to create the points. If you'd like to try another shape, learn how to make a puffy origami heart or the flat ninja star.

    origami lucky star tutorial 05
    Paper Kawaii