All models

How to fold an origami sea star

Fold a square into a long thin double point, snip up the bottom point's folds and swing its hidden layers out: they fan into four arms around the fifth.

You need: 1 square sheet (15 cm), purple on one side and white on the other, scissors and a white gel pen. Hard, 10 steps, about 25 minutes.

Steps

  1. Fold in half. White side up, fold the left corner onto the right corner.
  2. Open it again. Unfold it, leaving a sharp crease down the middle.
  3. Top kite. Fold the two top edges in to the middle crease.
  4. Bottom kite. Fold the two bottom edges in to the middle crease too: a long thin diamond.
  5. Narrow the top. Fold the top edges in to the middle again, from the top tip.
  6. Narrow the bottom. Fold the bottom edges in to the middle again, from the bottom tip.
  7. Turn it over. Turn the paper over. It is all purple: a long, thin diamond.
  8. Snip three slits. Snip from the bottom tip up the middle crease to the widest point, then up both folded edges to the widest point.
  9. Swing up two arms. Fold the back flap on each side up behind from the end of its slit, so it points up and out.
  10. Swing down two arms. Fold each front strip out to the side on a slant from the top of the middle slit, so it points down and out.

A sea star!

Dot three white bumps down the middle of each arm.

What to fold next