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**Origami Mini Star**
Have you ever seen paper stars? They are quite amazing! Did you know that all you need is a tiny strip of paper! They make great presents for that special loved one. Many stores sell jars of colorful stars for $20. Learn how to make your own star and start building your own collection! You can use these cute little nickel sized stars for Christmas, Fourth of July, geometry class, and as presents! Follow along to start folding your own stars! Materials: • Strip of paper 1/2 inch by 11 inches o plain white paper or construction paper work o this is a good chance to practice recycling by using junk mailings -- they have nice colors that make nifty stars when they're all done. Warnings: • Although stars are quite easy to make, it may be hard for children under the age of 10 (unless they have experience with origami). • Make sure the paper you use is not too thick or it will be hard to fold. • The following words are important for you to understand before you start folding: MOUNTAIN FOLD: When you fold the paper under -- see how it looks like a mountain?

VALLEY FOLD: When you fold the paper to the front, towards you. ________________________________________________________________________ Instructions: Step 1) Make a "ribbon" from the strip of paper, with one end as short as possible and the other long. The short end should be over the top of the long end. Step 2) Finish tying a "knot" by slipping the long end through the loop of the "ribbon" but don't scrunch it. Pull the "knot" as tight as you can without scrunching the paper.

Step 3) Flatten the edges of the knot to make a pentagon shape that has one short end sticking out and one long end. Step 4) Valley- fold the short end and tuck it into the "pentagon" so it doesn't show anymore. You should be able to do this without scissors, but if you left your short end a bit too long, you can snip it shorter (start over if you have to snip off more than 1/2 an inch). Step 5) Turn over the project Step 6) Valley- fold the long end along the pentagon (see the red line in the image). Step 7) Turn over the project. Step 8) Valley- fold the long end along the pentagon (see the red line in the image). Step 9) Continue folding, making the pentagon fatter, until you have an end that's too short to fold anymore. Tuck this short end in just like you did with the first short end. Step 10) Now you have a perfect little paper pentagon. Hold it lightly along two edges and then push in one of the edges (red arrow) with the tip of your thumbnail. Step 11) Repeat with the remaining sides. When you are done, you end up with a puffy little 3D star! It's about the size of a nickel when you're done. It is a popular relationship gift given in many Asian cultures. Some people make a star for each day they have been together with their boyfriend and girlfriend and make a jar for of them for their loved one.