Beautiful Danish Christmas Stars in 3D

Hi! This is my first Instructible, so bare with me if something's missing! :P

This is a tutorial on a typical danish christmas decoration that is so fun and easy to make, once you've learned all the steps.

The first and most important thing to do before we start this craft is getting in the right mood. It's christmas, guys! Go light a candle, put on your favourite christmas music (I can warmly recommend the album 'Christmastime' by Basix), make that cup of hot chocolate you've been thinking about all day - and when all this is done, you're more than ready for these 3D christmas stars! <3

Materials you will need

• 4 paper strips of the same size and same length (picture below). They can be in different colours or with patterns, but seeing as that can get confusing, it's better to use plain white strips if you're doing this for the first time.
  
• Tape and decorative string if you want to hang them on the walls or windows.
  
• Scissors

Step 1: Step 1: Prepare Your Materials and Cut the Ends Off

Mine are about 1 cm wide and 17 cms long when folded on the middle (which means the length is 34 cms).

The most important thing is the length, you will need most of the paper strips and the rest is there to make it easier for you.

If you can't buy these pre-made you will need to make you own - which can be done! The strips just need to be precisely the same width for you to be able to fold them correctly.

After you've prepared your strips you need to cut a triangle off of the non-folded end of the strips.

Step 2: Step 2: Create Square

Now you need to put the second stripe over the first strip, so the first strip is between the second. Then you do the same thing where you put the second strip in between the third. The fourth strip goes over the third and in between the first. Then you pull carefully.

It's important that all the squares 'point' in the same direction.

After you've pulled you should have the base square that we will be doing the rest of the star on. We need to secure this square so it doesn't move around while we do the rest. To do this you push one of the strips backwards.You do this counterclockwise with all the strips. The fourth goes under the first. The last picture is what it should look like if your square is properly secured! :o)

Step 3: Step 3: the Flat Triangels on the Sides

You should now bend one of the strips over backwards, flip it and bend it through the square in what looks like a loop. When you pull the strip more to through the square, the loop will get smaller. You need to pull enough to make it flat like a triangle.

This step is repeated with the three other sides.

You will now see a gap between each triangle, so you flip the whole thing over, and repeat the process all over again.

Step 4: Step 4: the Triangles in 3D

The next step is to fold a strip over backwards to make space for the next thing you need to do. Then you take the strip in the second picture and fold it over backwards. If you're new at this, you'll probably need to press down to make the triangle flat - if not you can leave the triangle slightly bended, which gives a smoother look in the end.

The you flip the strip over backwards and pull it under the square of the strip we bent over at first. Pull carefully and you will end up with a 3D triangle... thing. Do this to the other three strips as well - bend the 2nd strip over and fold the 1st in a triangular shape before pushing it through the square under the 2nd strip..

Then you flip the star over and create the triangles on the other side too. Be careful not to squish the triangles you just made!

Step 5: Step 5: Cut Off Excess

Cut off the rest of the strips and you should have a beautiful christmas star as an end result! Congratulations <3

Now, where to put it?...

If you've got any questions at all, please ask. Merry Christmas everyone!