Few paper folds spark the imagination quite like the shuriken. That four-pointed ninja star is pure childhood movie magic, and the satisfying part is that it's not one complicated sheet — it's a handful of simple units you fold, then click together into something that actually holds its shape.

This modular version keeps each piece easy: a few creases, one squash fold, and you're ready to assemble. Mix the colors for a confetti-star look, or go monochrome and mean. Either way, in about seventeen steps you'll have a springy little star that's far more fun to throw (gently) than it has any right to be.

How to Fold

STEP 1. Fold it in half to crease it, then unfold.

STEP 2. Fold it so the red line lines up with the blue line.

STEP 3. Now fold it so the blue line lines up with the green line.

STEP 4. Turn it over. Hold the ★ section and fold the top part down, aligning the blue and red lines as you go.

STEP 5. It should now look like this.

STEP 6. Open it out and fold the other side the same way.

STEP 7. When you open it, you’ll see a crease pattern like this.

STEP 8. Pinch the ☆ section between your fingers…

STEP 9. …and the other side will stand up.

STEP 10. Fold it down and flatten (a squash fold).

STEP 11. Pull the △ flap out from inside.

STEP 12. You now have one unit. Make six more like it.

STEP 13. Connect the units. Here we’ll use the green and red pieces to show how. First, insert the green piece into the red one.

STEP 14. Wrap it with the red piece — it should look like a snug little layered wrap.

STEP 15. It should look like this.

STEP 16. Repeat the same connection for the remaining pieces.

STEP 17. Your shuriken is complete!

After You Fold

How did it go? The folding itself is pretty easy, right?

You can make each unit a different color, or keep them all one color.

Since it’s simple modular origami — built from separate pieces — even kids should be able to put it together without trouble.

Tips for Folding

The pointed tips look best when they’re crisp, so take care to fold each corner sharply.

Keep the pieces aligned as you assemble them, and push each unit firmly onto the sword tip when connecting.