How to Fold a Traditional Origami Lucky Star
Looking to add little sparkles to your origami collection? The traditional origami lucky star, sometimes called a wishing star, is a fun and easy project perfect for beginners.
With just a few simple folds, you’ll create a charming 3D star that’s small enough to use as decorations, gifts, or even as part of a larger craft project.
To get started, you’ll need long, thin strips of paper—about 10 to 11 inches (25 cm) long and 3/4 of an inch (2 cm) wide for standard-sized stars. Thinner strips create smaller stars, while wider ones result in larger stars.
The key to a perfect paper star is keeping your folds neat and tight so it will puff up beautifully at the end.
Ready to fold your way to a pile of tiny origami stars? Let’s get started with this step-by-step guide!
Traditional Origami Lucky Star Step-by-Step Instructions
- Difficulty: Easy
- Folding time: Less than 5 minutes
- Model designer: Traditional
- Paper we used: Lucky star origami paper 24 × 1 cm (9 x 0.4 in)
Step 1
Start with a long, narrow strip of paper. The exact measurements are not important. Form a loop at one end of the strip.
Pull the loop through, leaving only a small strip of paper at the end.
Step 2
Flatten the loop so that it forms a pentagonal shape.
Step 3
Tuck the remaining small strip of paper under the two top layers of the loop.
Step 4
Flip the model around.
Step 5
Fold the pentagonal portion down, aligning the top left edge with the width of the long strip.
Step 6
Fold down the pentagonal portion again, aligning the top right edge with the strip. Note that the edge being aligned is different from that of Step 5.
Step 7
Continue to repeat Steps 5 and 6, alternating the edges that are lined up. Stop when there is only a small strip remaining.
Step 8
Tuck the small remaining strip under the top two layers, similar to Step 3.
Step 9
And now, the fun part! Pinch at the corners to puff up the star.
The Completed Origami Lucky Star
And there you have it—your very own 3-D paper star!
These stars add a touch of magic to any occasion. I hope you enjoyed making them and feel inspired to create dozens more.
Feel free to share your creations with us in the comments or on socials!
