Discover the magic of 3D origami with this charming starfish, folded from a single sheet of paper.
A quick tip from my experience: for the cleanest look, use paper with the same color on both sides. If choosing a patterned paper, ensure the design is small-scale. Large and numerous patterns can overwhelm the entire shape and distract the eye.
For more five-pointed fun, check out our guide 7 Easy Origami Stars.
If you are new to origami, start here from our beginner guide to know the basics and how to read the step-by-step instructions.
- Folding time: 30 minutes
- Paper: 7.5×7.5 cm × 5
- Total steps: 14
- Difficulty: Easy
Material
Prepare 5 pieces of 7.5×7.5 cm origami square paper, with different colors on each side, to create a 7.5×7.5 cm origami starfish. Besides, you will also need to prepare glue, toothpicks, or tweezers for assembly and shape.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Place one piece of paper with the desired display color face up. Fold and unfold it in half vertically and horizontally to create two creases. Then flip the paper over.
Step 2
Fold both the top right and bottom right corners to meet the center intersection, then turn the model over.
Step 3
Fold the bottom edge to align with the top edge.
Step 4
Fold the bottom left corner to meet the top right corner, crease, and unfold.
Step 5
Flip the paper over, fold the bottom right corner to meet the top left corner, crease, and unfold.
Step 6
Rotate the model 90 degrees from back to front to stand it upright (Picture 1).
Slightly open it, make mountain folds along the crease shown by red dash-dot-dot lines (Picture 2).
As you do this, the model will naturally begin to close. Lift the left corner, and a valley fold will form along the dashed line, pulling the left corner to the right (Pictures 3-4).
Finally, press everything flat to complete the fold (Pictures 5-6).
Step 7
Rotate the model 90 degrees from front to back to lay it flat.
Fold the right triangle (top one only) downward along the hypotenuse of the left triangle, then unfold.
Step 8
Now, make the same fold again, but this time, tuck this triangle firmly into the pocket beneath it.
Step 9
Turn over, and fold the left triangle.
Step 10
Make another 4 modules in the same way.
Step 11
Now, let’s assemble these 5 modules.
Take two and position them vertically as in Picture 1, with the folded triangles at the bottom. Apply glue to the triangle of the left module and tuck it into the pocket of the right one, just as you did before. These two are now connected.
Step 12
Continue assembling the remaining modules in the same manner. Finally, join the first and last modules together by tucking the triangle into the pocket to form a ring. Adjust all layers to shape the piece into a “ball”.
Important tip: Each module has two layered pockets. For a successful assembly, you must tuck the triangle into the same pocket on every module. This ensures all pieces align correctly to form the final shape.
Step 13
Rotate the model 90 degrees from back to front to stand it upright, then 90 degrees from right to left.
Curl all the single-layer flaps by rolling them around a toothpick or another thin, cylindrical object. After finishing this, rotate it 90 degrees from left to right.
Step 14
Now, we will reverse this “ball”.
Gently expand each module and push down from the top while simultaneously pushing the center of the bottom upward. It will pop from a concave bowl into a convex dome.
Turn over, and this is your cute origami starfish.
What’s Next
Congratulations on completing your origami starfish! We hope you enjoyed this unique 3D work. If you love folding marine life, dive into our other origami fish tutorials to create your own underwater world. Happy folding!
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