1Make a paper star.

Make a symmetrical 5-pointed star following either of these methods:

a.) Fold-and-cut star - with a few folds and a cut, you can quickly create a star out of paper. See our Folding Paper Stars for craft instructions.

b.) Printable template - print out any of these 3D star templates on A4 or US Letter size paper or cardstock. Cut out the stars. Trim off the five tabs on each star unless you want to make a double-sided or back-to-back 3D star.

For a double-sided star, you need to keep the tabs on so that the pair of stars can be glued together.

* When printing on patterned cardstock, make sure to print on the blank side of the paper.

2Score along the lines.

This step is only necessary if you printed out the stars on cardstock or thick paper. Scoring along the lines makes folding a lot easier. Find a scoring tool such as a blunt plastic knife or a spent ballpoint pen. Place the edge of a ruler on one line. With the ruler to guide the tool, score along the entire line. Remember not to score too hard as this may tear the paper. Score all the five lines on the star.

Score along the tabs as well.

3Fold along the lines.

Position the star template with the printed side up. Fold the star in half along one line. Crease firmly.

Instead of lines, your fold-and-cut star has creases to guide you with folding. Fold the star in half following one crease.

Continue folding the star in half at each point until you get five creases.

4Fold the tabs.

For a double-sided 3D star, fold in all five tabs.

5Pinch the arms together.

To turn the star into a 3D shape, the arms need to be pinched together by pairs. To illustrate this process more clearly, we've labeled each arm with the letters A to E.

Pinch arms A and B. Bring them towards each other.

While holding arms A and B together, crease firmly. This emphasizes the outward crease on each arm and creates the inward crease in between the arms.

Release to see the 3D or puffed-up effect. Repeat the process with arms B and C, C and D, D and E, E and A.

6Attach a string.

Tape a string at the back to complete your 3D paper star. Hang it up as a Christmas ornament or use it to decorate wreaths, picture frames, hats, costumes, and other craft projects.

If you wish to make a double-sided or back-to-back 3D star, continue with the next step.

7Glue a pair of 3D stars together.

For a double-sided star, make a pair of identical 3D stars following the steps above. One star should have a string taped at the back.

Put glue on one tab on each star. Position the pair of stars back-to-back so that the tab on each star gets tucked under the other star's tabless edge.

Place the tab with glue under the opposite star's tabless edge. Press on the seams for at least 30 seconds to allow the glue to set.

Glue the tabs by pairs until you've sealed all the seams. We find it more manageable and less messy to work on the tabs by pairs compared to putting glue on all the tabs all at once.