Sunday, November 4, 2012

"Easy money" folded five pointed origami star







I am posting these instructions by request.  Every year around Christmas I fold origami stars out of five one-dollar bills.  Sometimes I leave them as tips in restaurants. (And many times the waiters or waitresses follow me out to ask how to do it)  Other times I give them as gifts with a string attached for hanging on the tree. Most people love them and think they are complicated to create, but if you can fold a paper airplane you can fold an origami dollar star. You can make them using one dollar bills but if you feel generous you can certainly make them with fives, tens, twenties, fifties…well you get the picture. A chopstick, butter knife or skewer makes it easier to tuck the pieces together.

1.     Lay a dollar bill with the ONE facing up on the table and fold it in half lengthwise.



2.     Open the fold and fold the top corner to the fold line.  Repeat on the other side.




3.     Turn the bill so the point is facing you.  Fold the point up to the edge of the circle on the fold line.




4.     Turn over so the folded edge is at the top.  Fold the right hand corner to the center fold line.  Fold again.




(Just like you are making a paper airplane.) Repeat on the other side.

5.     Turn over.  You have made a pointed flap.  Take the bottom edge and fold up under the flap.  Fold it again under the flap and repeat it a third time. You now have a star point with a tab on each side. The front will be the one with the flap and the back has a pocket.






6.     Make four more star points for a total of five.



7.     To assemble start from the back.  Tuck one of the folded tabs into the back pocket of another.  Then tuck the front tab under the flap on the front.




8.     Repeat this around for all the points.  The last one is the hardest but with the help of a chopstick or butterknife you can easily tuck it in.  It stays together nicely. 
9.     Of course if you want to spend the money it’s easy to unassemble and spend!

front of point

back of point

back of star



Easy, easy and so much fun!  It is best to use crisp, new one dollar bills to fold since it makes a sturdier star.  You can easily ask your bank for new dollar bills and have fun, believe me... "you can't make just one!"

Note: After you have a bunch of these it is easy to adapt the pattern to rectangular sized origami paper too.



17 comments:

  1. Thanks for stopping by my blog this morning. I love this idea for tips around the holidays. We've had some great servers in a few restaurants around town. This is a great idea!
    Thanks
    Lori in Atlanta

    ReplyDelete
  2. Whenever I've seen one of these I've wondered how it was made and now someone has shared the secret. Now if only I can follow the instructions. Thanks Crystal.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank You for sharing I will hae fun trying such a gift!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That's pretty cool! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for doing this one again! It's so cool!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is too cool. I can see my younger cousins getting some stars for Christmas! Thanks so much for sharing on Tout It Tuesday! Hope to see you next week.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a cute idea!
    -Melanie

    P.S. I'm hosting a $50 Shabby Apple Giveaway on my blog, you should come check it out!
    http://meandmr.com/post/35113285949/shabby-apple-50-giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  8. I LOVE this idea. I'm definitely using this next time I eat out, and as a stocking stuffer, and to put on the tree for my niece and nephew to find. Wonderful!!! Found you at Whatch Work Up Wednesday and would love it if you would link up at a new "show and tell" linky I started this week http://quarteredheartcrochet.blogspot.com/p/pin-there-done-that-linky.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. This will be a popular post for sure and I wanted you to know I am featuring you tonight on this week's Motivated Monday at BeColorful.
    p

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think this is such a cool craft.
    And to leave them as tips is just so cute and touching, much nicer than just handing over some money, love it!
    Thank you so much for sharing and linking over on Tutorial Thursdays, it is much appreciated.
    Your post is one of the most visited links from this week and as such I will gladly be featuring you tomorrow.
    x
    Natalie
    www.marigoldsloft.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is really neat! Thanks for linking up last week & if you'd like to join in this weeks linky is up! Have a wonderful weekend ahead!! Visiting from @DearCreatives.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cool, a cute way to give a few bucks to the kids ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I just sprinkled this post at all my favorite places: Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

    Thank you for sharing at Freedom Fridays and so happy to chose you as one of my Five Faves

    Hope you week is filled with Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  14. These were super easy instructions to follow. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is so very lovely. I just did this using Euros for friends who are getting married and traveling to France. It is so much cooler than cold, hard, cash. Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your lovely comments!