Origami Coach

Star ornament

An original fold-and-cut eight-point star. Three folds repeat a small angular cut around the whole sheet. You will need scissors; optional hanging thread is added after the lesson.

Star ornament

Before you begin

1 sheet · Square paper

15 × 15 cm

Scissors needed

Start folding

This lesson is being checked for folding accuracy. It has not yet passed a physical fold-through review.

Step-by-step instructions

Read through the fold before you begin, or open any step in the folding viewer.

Printable guide (opens a new tab)
  1. After step 1: The square is flat with one edge nearest you.

    Start with a square

    Lay your square flat, colored side down. Keep scissors nearby and clear a space for the offcut. This is a cut-paper decoration, not an uncut origami star.

    Look for: The square is flat with one edge nearest you.

    See this fold
  2. After step 2: A two-layer rectangle has its folded edge at the bottom.

    Fold bottom to top

    Bring the bottom edge to the top edge. Align the corners and press the horizontal fold.

    Look for: A two-layer rectangle has its folded edge at the bottom.

    See this fold
  3. After step 3: A four-layer square has folded edges along its left and bottom sides.

    Fold left to right

    Bring the left edge to the right edge. The lower-left corner is now the center of the original sheet; keep track of it.

    Look for: A four-layer square has folded edges along its left and bottom sides.

    See this fold
  4. After step 4: An eight-layer triangular wedge points toward the center of the original sheet.

    Make the eighth

    Fold the upper-left half diagonally down to the lower-right half. The left folded edge meets the bottom folded edge. Keep the center corner closed.

    Look for: An eight-layer triangular wedge points toward the center of the original sheet.

    See this fold
  5. After step 5: Two narrow points remain on the outside of the wedge, joined to its uncut center.

    Cut the angular outline

    Cut through all layers along the highlighted two-segment outline: from the outer bottom corner inward to the notch, then outward to the diagonal edge. Remove the outer corner section. Do not cut off the folded center point.

    Look for: Two narrow points remain on the outside of the wedge, joined to its uncut center.

    See this fold
  6. After step 6: Two matching notches appear in the quarter-sheet shape.

    Open the diagonal fold

    Carefully unfold only the most recent diagonal fold. Separate the delicate tips with your fingertips rather than pulling them.

    Look for: Two matching notches appear in the quarter-sheet shape.

    See this fold
  7. After step 7: Four outer tips are visible along a symmetrical half-star.

    Open from right to left

    Unfold the vertical fold to reveal half the star. Keep the remaining horizontal fold closed until the points are free.

    Look for: Four outer tips are visible along a symmetrical half-star.

    See this fold
  8. After step 8: Eight equally spaced points remain connected as one continuous piece of paper.

    Open your star

    Unfold the last horizontal fold. Gently flatten the eight-point star. Add optional hanging thread around a point after folding; it is not needed to hold the star together.

    Look for: Eight equally spaced points remain connected as one continuous piece of paper.

    See this fold