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In this blog post, I’m super excited to show you how to easily make your own gorgeous paper star that looks fancy and high-end! We’ll be making an 8-pointed Bethlehem Christmas star, inspired by the beautiful ornaments from Pottery Barn and Lulu & Georgia.
You can turn this star into a stunning ornament, garland, wall or table decor, or even use it as a tree topper – seriously, it’s such a versatile and chic piece for the holidays!
And the best part? You can download the template for free 🙂!
It’s kind of becoming a holiday tradition here at FancyBloom – last year, I shared a free template for a paper Christmas tree, and it was such a hit! And this year, we’re making a chic and fancy paper Christmas star!
So, without further ado, let’s dive right into this fun and festive DIY project!
To get started on your paper Christmas star, first download the paper star template.
I use my cutting machine, as always, but if you don’t have one, no worries! My templates always include PDF files that you can print out using a regular printer, and then cut the pieces by hand. It’s super simple since the ray shapes are very easy to cut out.
Sources: 1. Brother ScanNCut Electronic Cutting Machine with Scanner (I use) 2. Cricut Maker 3
A quick note about paper.
You can choose any paper you like – regular matte paper, metallic paper (like the one I’m using here), or even glitter paper, which will look super festive and glamorous. But keep in mind that the thicker the paper, the harder it may be to work with.
Here, I’m using 120 gsm metallic paper in a beautiful copper color. It’s pretty thin and has a non-sleek surface, making it perfect choice for this craft.
Foil paper might look super tempting to use because of its stunning mirrored finish, especially for Christmas projects. However, I have to warn you: it can be very tricky and tough to work with!
I made one of my stars using rose gold foil paper from Michaels, and while it turned out gorgeous, I had a really hard time with it. My glue easily dissolved the top layer of the foil, and was causing oxidation, which made everything super messy.
So, when working with foiled paper, any little mistake – like using too much glue or even a tiny touch from your gluey fingers – can be super noticeable and could ruin the look. Plus, this paper is quite thick and has a slippery surface. So if you really want to use foiled paper, I highly recommend practicing first to get the hang of it!
Conclusion: it’s preferable to choose a thinner paper, ideally around 120 gsm, with a regular matte surface rather than a sleek one. This will make the crafting process much easier and help you achieve a beautiful final result!
It’s very important to choose the right glue for this project because not all glues will work equally well.
❌ You’ll want to avoid thin and runny regular craft glue because it’s too wet, dries too slowly, and can warp your paper.
❌ You should also avoid hot glue when gluing each part individually. It dries too quickly and leaves a raised, uneven surface due to its volume.
✅ So your best option is a craft glue that dries quickly without beign too runny. And even better, use glue sticks to avoid any mess from glue seeping out of the seams.
For this project, I used fast-drying glue from Beacon. The only reason I didn’t use a glue stick is that Beacon glue dries much faster, and I wanted to complete everything quickly. But if you’re not confident about working neatly and want a flawless finish, definitely go with the glue stick.
And in addition to paper and glue, you will also need a ruler and a craft knife on hand.
Sources: 1. Craft knife w/replaceable steel blade 2. Clear Ruler 12″
Alright, once you’ve prepared all the necessary tools and materials, the first step is to cut out 8 rays – 4 large and 4 smaller ones.
Next, we need to mark the two center fold lines on each ray. I intentionally didn’t include these lines directly on the templates because I felt that the dashed scoring lines wouldn’t look very nice and neat.
So all you have to do is connect the two highest points with the lowest one. Just be careful not to press too hard with the knife to avoid cutting through the paper.
After marking the fold lines, I begin folding each ray with the help of a ruler.
The remaining scoring lines are already conveniently placed on the templates for you, so folding them will be very easy.
But if you’re cutting the parts by hand instead of using a cutting machine, you’ll also need to mark the other fold lines with a craft knife. Don’t worry, it’s not complicated – you’ll easily see the points you need to connect.
After shaping all the rays, it’s time to glue them together.
However, holding the rays while trying to glue them can be quite tricky and awkward, and there’s a good chance you will mess the ray with the glue.
So to make this easier, fold the ray like a flat envelope, just like this:
When you lay it flat on the table, gluing will be much more comfortable and will result in a cleaner finish.
Be careful not to apply too much glue, as you don’t want it to squeeze out over the edges – this is very important for achieving a neat look. If glue does happen to squeeze out, try to remove it immediately.
Also, always check to ensure that the ray isn’t stuck together on the inside; if it is, you can use a craft knife to separate the layers while the glue is still wet.
If you’re planning to hang this star, for example, on a Christmas tree, don’t forget to insert a fastening in one of the rays before gluing all the rays together. You can use a thread, rope, wire, or anything else you like.
Here’s how I do it: I take a piece of wire and use hot glue to secure it inside the ray (this keeps it in place once the hot glue hardens). Then, I close and glue the ray. And finally, I make a loop at the end of the wire.
Alright, all that’s left is to glue the rays together. At this point, I’m switching to hot glue because it dries very quickly, which is exactly what I need.
When using hot glue, be very careful but at the same time try to work quickly. Remember not to apply too much glue, as you want to avoid any visible hardened glue once it sets, so make sure to press the edges tightly together as you glue them.
Please note that I glue the edges one at a time. Also before I apply the glue, I always lift and pull out each edge I’m about to glue.
Just a heads-up: Please, don’t try to glue both edges at once – you can do that with other types of glue, but hot glue isn’t the same. While you’re lining up one edge, the glue on the other one will already be hardening. Plus, when you take it one edge at a time, you’ll be much more careful and end up with a neater finish.
This way, I glue all the rays one by one.
For the very last edge – when the star is already assembled – I switch back to regular glue. It’s just too tricky to get everything perfectly lined up and avoid making a mess with hot glue at this final step when closing the star. I hope that makes sense.
And here is the beautiful Christmas star that I got using just two sheets of paper! I think it looks very chic and will be a lovely addition to any holiday decor!
I hope you enjoyed making this gorgeous Christmas star as much as I did! It’s amazing what a little bit of paper can turn into, right?
Whether you hang it on your Christmas tree or add it to your holiday garland, this star is sure to bring chic and festive charm to your decor!
If you give this DIY a try, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Please share your experience or ask any questions in the comments below.
Happy crafting😘!
With simple steps, you’ll create a stunning snowflake that looks just as chic as the store-bought version. Perfect for your tree, garlands, or as a unique gift topper!
Click here to check it out!
I’m Oksana and I love paper flowers and all things paper. Here at FancyBloom I design new flower templates, make paper flower tutorials, and share my ideas and inspiration for fancy and modern craft.
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