Paper is one of my loves.  When I was little, I would spend entire afternoons snipping and cutting paper, creating paper chains, dolls and snowflakes.  I have always loved how something ordinary can be moulded quite quickly into something so beautiful.

I adore the work of contemporary paper crafters including Rob Ryan and Helen Musselwhite.  I am mesmerised by their ability to create exquisite and intricate artworks from the simple medium of paper.

So today I thought I would show you some of my recent paper crafting, pretty origami paper stars.  They are easy to make and are very effective decorations for all year round.  They would be lovely for any celebration, made from all sorts of different papers.  You could maybe string a few as a garland in a nursery or use some to make a mobile.

The stars are created using simple squares of thin paper and origami folding. Rather than reinvent the wheel I have included a link to an excellent tutorial I found online which illustrates the folding process.  There are no limits to the paper you use, providing it is fairly lightweight. I have used origami paper, old newspapers, old books and wrapping paper in the past.  The basic template is a square and the finished star size depends on the size of the initial squares of paper.  I used 10cm squares for the biggest star and 8cm squares for the smaller one.

This is a great activity for a winter’s afternoon and the folds are fairly easy so kids can get involved. When assembling the stars I add a little dab of glue as I insert each new piece.  It helps create a sturdier finish.  Do you fancy having a go?

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope you have a lovely few days whatever you’re doing.  I’ll be back on Thursday with a delicious recipe for mulled fruit trifle, perfect for the festive season.  I do hope you can join me.