Origami Star

The process of making an origami star is easy to understand if the step-by-step instructions are followed properly. To learn any of the origami craft pattern/design, it is necessary to understand how to perform valley and mountain folds. In valley folds, paper is folded inwards and reopened. The fold after reopening, looks like a valley (with a depression at the crease). The mountain fold is exactly opposite to that of the valley fold. Paper is folded outwards and then reopened. The crest or peak seen after the paper is reopened displays a mountain-like crease. It is known as mountain fold.

Origami Crafts
The different craft works made under the art of origami include those with simple folding patterns. Using the patterns/designs created by simple folds, one can create many complex shapes and structures with the art of origami. Along with the star shape, origami can be used in making shapes of animals, birds and objects that we see in day-to-day life. The art of origami came into existence in the 17th century and was popularized in the 1900s. The essence of origami art is to transform paper sheet into sculptures with the use of different folding techniques. Specialty of this paper craft is that paper sculptures are prepared only by means of folding; scissors, glue, tapes, etc. are not at all used.

How to Make an Origami Star
To make an easy star, one would require a square-shaped piece of paper. The instructions given below should help in making a simple star using origami.

• The square-shaped paper used for making the star should be folded in half and separated into two. It results into the formation of 2 separate pieces of paper.
• The two pieces obtained after folding (and cutting) the original square-shaped paper should be folded along their vertical axes. It is necessary to make these folds accurately because, all the further folds depend on how perfectly these two are done.
• The following instruction is common for both the pieces of paper. End of these papers should be folded diagonally. It results into the edges of paper aligned with each other. The flap/folded portion of paper appears triangular in shape.
• The diagonally folded edges of papers need to be folded again horizontally to form a triangular shape. Both ends of the 2 papers should be folded in these triangular shapes. The triangles should face away from each other.
• After making these triangular folds, one of the pieces of paper should be turned over. The other paper which is not turned, should be placed over the first. The papers should be placed one above the other in such a manner that their axes intersect each other at an angle of 90°.
• The upper flap of paper should be folded downwards diagonally and tucked inside the pocket of paper. Similarly, the lower flap should be diagonally folded upwards and slid under the pocket.
• After performing these steps, the whole paper structure should be turned over. The triangular flaps (present on left and right sides) of the paper should be diagonally folded sideways and tucked inside the pocket.
• Completion of all the above folds leads to the creation of a star-shaped structure.

The star prepared with procedure given above, should help in creating a nice paper sculpture. One thing should, however, be kept in mind that folds need to be accurate. Any problems in the initial folds can add to the imperfections. Thus, accuracy is one of the important thing to be considered in origami.