Beautiful and easy to fold, Chinese lucky stars make excellent gifts, crafts or decorations. Presented here are ten ways to use Chinese lucky stars.
The most straightforward use for Chinese lucky stars is also the most common. Write a special message to the recipient on the inside of each lucky star before you fold it. Then pour the Chinese lucky stars in a clear bottle, jar, or vase and include a note explaining there is a message from you within each star. The recipient can leave them folded, or pull one out to unfold whenever they need a pick-me-up.
Fold Chinese lucky stars using ½ inch by 8.5 inch paper strips. Then, using a needle and long thread, string the paper stars together. You can pierce the stars from tip to tip for more stability, or pierce the stars through only the uppermost point. The stars can be strung right next to each other, or separated by knots or a short string of beads. Use the string of Chinese lucky stars to decorate a tabletop Christmas tree or to accent a centerpiece for the Fourth of July.
Sew or glue a string of Chinese lucky stars around the bottom of a lamp shade as a decorative accent.
Make small lucky stars for jewelry. Coat the stars in a layer of decoupage medium to increase durability, then string together for a bracelet or glue onto earring posts.
Glue a tiny magnet to the back of a lucky star and use on the refrigerator. Make some lucky star magnets single and others with a “tail” of smaller lucky stars dangling by thread.
Attach the Chinese lucky star to a piece of paper which reads “I think you’re a STAR.” Give them to people who deserve recognition or need a pick-me-up. In addition to friends and co-workers, consider giving one to a helpful store clerk or your child’s teacher. Stick one in your child’s lunch bag or attach it to their backpack.
At a child’s birthday party, teach the children how to fold Chinese lucky stars. Ask them to write something nice about the birthday child inside a star and then add the star to a jar you provide, or have all the kids glue their star on a single piece of cardstock that says “Happy Birthday (Name)!
Include a few in pink, white, and red in each Valentine you give for Valentine’s Day.
Make an inexpensive or impromptu board game. Make 24 Chinese lucky stars, 12 in each of two colors, for a game of checkers. Or make 10 lucky stars, 5 in each of two colors, for Tic-Tac-Toe.
Use Chinese lucky stars in different colors at a party to differentiate wine glasses. Coat the lucky stars in glue or decoupage medium for durability, then attach a clasp big enough to fit around the glass stem. You should be able to find clasps in a hobby store; check the beading isle.
With a little ingenuity, these origami stars function in a multitude of ways.
