{"id":290,"date":"2008-07-01T15:05:13","date_gmt":"2008-07-01T19:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.planetjune.com\/blog\/?p=290"},"modified":"2025-03-16T14:29:27","modified_gmt":"2025-03-16T18:29:27","slug":"more-origami-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.planetjune.com\/blog\/more-origami-stars\/","title":{"rendered":"more origami stars"},"content":{"rendered":"

I can’t stop making these stellated icosahedra! (Alice<\/a>, it’s all your fault!) I’ve been casting about for different papers to make them from, with some interesting effects.<\/p>\n

I just finished this one made from an origami pattern that I downloaded and printed onto regular paper – I wanted to review the paper for Folding Trees (you can now see that review below), and when I coincidentally ended up with 30 squares of the paper, it seemed like a sign that I should make them into a stellated icosahedron (the exact number you need to make this shape):<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

And my Easter egg this year was a box of mini individually wrapped chocolates. The wrappers were such pretty colours, I decided to trim them into squares and make them into something… It took me a while to eat all 30 chocolates, so I’ve only just finished it! The result wasn’t quite what I expected – the outside looks like a Milka advert:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

All the bright colours ended up on the inside of the star, where nobody will ever see them (except in this photo):<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I still like the end result though – and Milka does make lovely chocolate, so there are worse things to inadvertently advertise \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Here’s my modular origami collection to date:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

(Joanna, the top left star uses some of the Japanese papers you gave me – thank you!)<\/p>\n

Next, I think I need to find some different<\/strong> designs to fold…<\/p>\n

\n

Review: Print Your Own Origami Paper<\/h2>\n

This review originally appeared on my old papercraft site, Folding Trees.<\/em><\/p>\n

I’ve come across several sites that offer printable origami patterns. Origami paper can be expensive and\/or difficult to find, so\u00a0to be able to print your favourite designs on demand\u00a0sounds like a great solution. But what’s the print quality like? And\u00a0how does\u00a0it hold up to being folded into origami? Let’s find out…<\/p>\n

In progress<\/h3>\n

\"printable\u00a0<\/p>\n

First impressions: looks good! Although it doesn’t have the texture or richness of the best origami papers, the pattern was distinct and the colours were lovely. The pattern I downloaded was a 8.5×11″ pdf file, so it filled an entire sheet of paper when I printed it onto regular white printer paper.<\/p>\n

I decided to cut it into smaller squares, and I calculated that I could make 30 (5×6) 4cm squares from one sheet of printed paper – what a bargain! (Tip: a paper cutter is invaluable to speed up this stage!)<\/p>\n

\"printable<\/p>\n

After cutting it into squares, it still looks great, but the real test is in the folding. I like to strongly crease my folds with my fingernail, and I thought\u00a0this homemade origami paper might develop white lines along the folds after creasing…<\/p>\n

Finished piece<\/h3>\n

\"printable<\/p>\n

No problem! No white lines, and the paper stood up well to folding. The paper was probably slightly thicker than regular origami paper, but it still came together well.<\/p>\n

Verdict<\/h3>\n

Print only the designs and colours you like, on demand, at any time.<\/p>\n

Notes<\/h3>\n

I\u00a0folded all 30 of my 30 squares into\u00a0one stellated icosahedron<\/a>\u00a0– I’m addicted to making them!<\/p>\n

Level of difficulty<\/h3>\n

\"easy\/kids\"\u00a0to print the paper (I’m not rating the folding as that’s not the point of this review!)<\/p>\n

Time<\/h3>\n

\"quick\"<\/p>\n

Cost<\/h3>\n

\"low\u00a0– as long as you already own a printer, this is essentially free!<\/p>\n

Links<\/h3>\n

Here are some free patterns<\/a> that you can use for all types of printing projects. And here are some sites with origami paper patterns available to download and print:<\/p>\n