Paper Star Earrings

Another star project from the backlog of space themed summer reading that I found when trying to clear out my files.

But also another possible fast-ish and easily personalize-able gift idea :D

I use gift wrap for these a lot. Those tiny strips left over from trimming paper down can be perfect for this. Plus the good stuff is crisp folding and shiny. (The cheap floppy wrapping paper doesn't work nearly as well.)

***These take practice, try not to get too frustrated! Also, save your practice stars. Even imperfect ones make an awesome packing peanut alternative, opening a package to have a bunch of little stars cascading out, no one will inspect each an every one.***

-paper (lucky star paper is usually about 1cm x25 cm or about ½” by 10”-the thinner the paper the more length needed)

-headpins

-4mm beads

-needle nose pliers

-wire cutters

-round nose pliers

Make a knot towards one end of the strip of paper. Gently pull it tight and flatten.

You should get an even sized pentagon with a short and a long tail. Fold the short tail even with the knot.

Fold the long tail across the pentagon and over the flat edge, which will angle it for another flat fold across the other side.

Keep crossing and turning over, always keeping the paper flush against the edges of the pentagon.

Continue until you’re almost at the end of the strip. Leave enough to tuck into the little pocket formed from the previous pass of the strip across the pentagon.

If it’s a little too long to tuck but too short for another fold across, tear a little off the end.

Hold the pentagon by the edges.

Pinch two sides together by pushing the side of your fingers against the centers of two adjacent edges and pinch gently to get a point.

If you have nails, slowly pressing your fingernail into the center of each edge before pinching can make this step easier.

Make 2 stars!

Poke a hole in the stars with a needle.

Start at the middle bottom and go up through the point so that it isn’t crushed.

Slide paper star onto headpin.

Add beads. (Optional but nice to protect the paper from squishing.) Use flat nose pliers to bend wire about 45 degrees to one side.

Hold the wire with round nose pliers and pull wire up and around to make a loop. Cut wire flush.

Open the ear wires by bending the loop to the side, slip on stars, bend back to close.

And you're done.