Paper Star Ornaments from Grocery Bags for Kids

Cut a strip of brown paper from a grocery bag, tie a simple loose knot-like fold, flatten it, and snip one angled cut. When you unfold it, a perfect 5-point star pops out. Punch a hole, add string, and it is ready for the tree. Each star takes about 3 minutes, costs nothing, and hangs flat without curling.

• Age: 5 and up to fold and cut solo; 3 and up to decorate and hang with adult help
• Time: about 3 minutes per star once kids learn the fold; 30 minutes for a set of six
• Mess level: very low; paper scraps and a dot of glue stick

What Supplies Do You Need for Paper Bag Stars?

• Brown paper grocery bags (use the flat side panels, not the printed logo side)
• Kid-safe scissors
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Hole punch
• String, twine, or yarn
• Glue stick
• Clear tape
• Paper plate or tray
• A heavy book
• Bandages

How Do You Fold and Cut a 5-Point Star?

This is the classic one-fold star trick, and it works the same on grocery bag paper as on any paper strip.

1. Cut a strip of brown paper 1.5 inches wide and 11 inches long from a flat panel of the grocery bag. Use the ruler and pencil to mark it first so the strip comes out straight.
2. Tie a loose overhand knot in the strip, like the first step of tying a shoelace. Leave a short tail of about 1 inch sticking out.
3. Flatten the knot gently with your fingers, working the edges until it forms a neat pentagon with five even sides. Press the short tail flat against one edge of the pentagon.
4. Take the long end and wrap it around the pentagon, folding it snugly along each edge as you go. When the strip runs out, tuck the end under the last fold and press it down. A dot of glue stick on the end keeps it in place.
5. You now hold a flat folded pentagon. Pinch it firmly between your thumb and fingers so the layers cannot shift.
6. Cut straight across one corner of the pentagon at a shallow angle, slicing through all the layers. This single cut is the whole trick.
7. Unfold both pieces. Each one opens into a perfect 5-point star.

The classic kid mistake is cutting too close to the edge, which clips a point short. Aim the cut about a quarter inch in from the corner.

How Do Kids Make the 3D Folded Star?

The flat star is lovely on its own, but five extra folds turn it into a puffy ornament that catches the light.

1. Start with a finished flat star.
2. Fold each point in half lengthwise: bring the tip of a point down toward the center of the star, crease firmly, then open it back up. Do this for all five points.
3. Push the center of the star upward with your thumb while the points stay down on the table. The five creases make the star pop into a puffy 3D shape.
4. For a full 3D star that looks the same from both sides, make a second puffy star and glue the flat backs together with the glue stick. Set it under the heavy book for 10 minutes so it dries flat and even.

How Do Kids Hang the Stars?

Punch a hole near the tip of one point, about a quarter inch in from the edge. Thread a 6-inch piece of string through the hole and tie the ends in a knot to make a loop. Hang the star on a tree branch, a doorknob, or a window.

If the hole tears out, it was punched too close to the edge. Press a small piece of clear tape over the tip, front and back, and punch a new hole through the tape.

What Goes Wrong with Paper Bag Stars, and How Do You Fix It?

The star has four points instead of five: the angled cut missed a layer, or the layers shifted while you cut. Pinch the pentagon tight and cut a fresh strip.

A point comes out clipped or ragged: the cut was too close to the edge or the scissors were dull. Aim a quarter inch in, and let an adult make this cut for younger kids since it goes through many thick layers.

The paper tears while tying the knot: grocery bag paper is sturdy, but a hard yank tears the crease. Tie the loop loose first, then tighten it gently. A torn strip is not a failure; bags give you plenty of paper, so start a fresh strip.

The folded layers will not separate when you unfold: run the tip of a pencil gently into the folds to loosen them, then open the star slowly.

The star curls after a day: brown paper curls in humidity. Press finished stars under the heavy book overnight and they flatten right out.

How Do You Keep Paper Bag Stars Safe?

Match the scissors to the child. Kids 5 and up can use kid-safe scissors; an adult should make the angled cut for kids under 5, since it slices through many thick layers at once.

Brown grocery bag paper is thicker than copy paper, and its edges can give a real paper cut. Show kids how to hold the strip by its middle instead of dragging fingers along the cut edge. Keep bandages nearby; most paper cuts just need a quick rinse and a bandage.

The hole punch pinches hard. Adults should punch for kids under 5, and everyone keeps fingers clear of the punch opening.

Which Christmas Crafts Go Well with Paper Bag Stars?

Paper bag stars look beautiful next to popsicle stick Christmas tree ornaments on the same tree, and kids who enjoy cutting ornaments often love shrink art Christmas ornaments next. For another ornament made from free materials, try salt dough ornaments.

Love crafts that cost nothing? Sign up for our Christmas Craft Pack email list and we will send you new seasonal activities as we publish them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this craft for?

Kids 5 and up can fold, wrap, and cut their own stars with kid-safe scissors. Kids 3 and 4 can decorate finished stars and thread the string through a pre-punched hole while an adult does the knot and the angled cut. Teens can batch a dozen stars in under half an hour for a full tree or a classroom garland.

How messy is it?

Barely messy at all. There is no paint, no glitter, and only a dot of glue stick per star. The paper plate or tray catches the paper scraps, and brown paper bits sweep up easily. Wash hands after handling the glue stick, but that is the whole cleanup.

How long does it take?

One star takes about 3 minutes once kids learn the fold. A first-timer needs 10 minutes for star number one, then speeds up fast. Plan 30 minutes for a set of six stars, plus 10 minutes under the heavy book if you make the 3D version. Punching holes and adding string takes about a minute per star.

Is it safe?

Yes, with the right scissors for the age. Kid-safe scissors cut paper but not skin, and adults handle the thick angled cut for kids under 5. The main risk is paper cuts from the stiff bag edges, so kids hold strips by the middle and an adult keeps bandages handy. Hole punches pinch, so adults punch for little ones and everyone keeps fingers clear.

Be safe and have fun!