Paper Stars

Handmade paper stars make a festive finishing touch on a holiday mantel or tree.

Materials: Paper in a variety of colors and patterns Staples or wire Awl, optional Scissors Tape

Instructions:

1. To make one, start by folding a square or rectangle of paper into accordion pleats (you may want to experiment with plain paper before working with fancier stock). The number of pleats determines the number of points on the ornament: For example, four pleats will equal eight points.

2. Fold the accordion of paper in half to find the center; unfold, and staple once at the center. If your ornament is too long to be stapled, you can fashion a staple out of wire: Make two small holes in the center with an awl, insert the wire through the holes, and twist the back.
3. Make a deep diagonal or slightly curved cut into each end of the folded paper (about halfway to the center); the sharp corners will form the points of the star.
4. Fan the sides out so that they meet, and attach them on the back with small pieces of tape. Use Scotch Magic tape, which is easier to remove at the end of the season, so you can flatten and store the ornaments till the next year.

MarthaStewart.com - Good Things: Paper Star. www.marthastewart.com. Viewed on April 27, 2001.