The Finnish Paper Star can be made in various sizes and can be used as a ceiling decoration, a Christmas Tree ornament or even as a Christmas Tree Topper! If you make it with glitter paper (as I did) you will have an extra sparkly decoration for your home.

It is so easy to make, with only a few basic tools, that you may find yourself making a whole tree full or room full of these beautiful decorations.

Lets get started.

Step 1: Materials

Paper (Almost any kind of paper will work for this craft. I used a 12" x 12" scrapbook paper sheet from a dollar store.)
Pencil
Eraser (If you plan to make mistakes.)
Ruler
Scissors
Glue (I used a fast dry liquid.)
String (To hang.)

Optional: You may want to use some clothes pins or paper clips to hold the ends you glue until they have dried.

Step 2: Introduction

I have selected a sheet of scrapbook paper that is 12" x 12" (purchased in a pkg from a dollar store).

I will show you how to make a large hanging decoration. Using a ruler I measured out 12 strips that are 12 inches long and 3/4" wide.

If you want to make an ornament sized star, make all 12 strips 6 inches long and only 1/2" wide.

You have a lot of flexibility when making this paper craft, so measure strips for the size of star you wish to have.

Once you have measured 12 equal sized strips you will need to cut them out.

The remaining instructions are very easy to follow no matter what size you decide.

Step 3: Making the Finnish Paper Star

Take 6 of your 12 strips and weave them as shown. (See photo 1 notes for more information on how to weave.) Ensure that the point where the strips intersect is the center. (Use your ruler to make sure.)

Once your strips are woven as shown, you will need to glue down the strips where they overlap (see photo 2). Allow to dry if needed.

Now we will shape the star.

Take 2 'corner' strips (like shown in photo 3), twist them and match ends. Then glue down the strips where they overlap.

Continue taking the corner strips and glue them together (like shown in photo 4) until all 4 corners are done.

When all 4 corners are shaped, it should look like photo 5.

Now take your other 6 strips and repeat the same process as above until you have 2 that look like photo 6.

Step 4: Joining the Star

Lay one of the star halves on top of the other star half as shown in photo 1 so that each curved loop matches a straight end.

Now weave the straight ends into the curved loops, like shown in photo 2.

Glue the straight ends to the curved loops (like shown in photo 3 and photo 4).
Don't worry that the straight strips are now longer and extend past the curved loops. (They will be trimmed later).

Now trim the excess straight ends (like shown in photo 5) using the curved ends as your guide.

When all your ends are trimmed, your star should look like photo 6.

Now add a string to your star (like shown in photo 7) and your beautiful Finnish Paper Star is ready to hang.

If you wish to make your star into a Christmas Tree Topper, you can omit the step of adding a string.

I hope you enjoyed this instructable!

- canucksgirl