It's fun! All you need is an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of paper, a ruler and good scissors.

ummmmm...

5-Pointed Star in One Snip

How to Cut a 5-Pointed Star in One Snip

George Washington's original pencil sketch for the flag indicated 6-pointed stars, a form he apparently preferred.

Betsy Ross, however, recommended a 5-pointed star. When the committee protested that it was too difficult to make, she took a piece of paper, folded it deftly, and with a single snip of her scissors, produced a symmetrical five-pointed star. This seeming feat of magic so impressed her audience that they readily agreed to her suggestion.

To you we pass along the secret...

Take a thin piece of paper 8-1/2" x 10" (or an exact proportion thereof), fold it as indicated and cut yourself a perfect 5-pointed star.

Thanks to the Betsy Ross House for providing these instructions.

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Step 1. Fold an 8-1/2" x 10" piece of paper in half.

Step 2. Fold and unfold in half both ways to form creased center lines. (Note: be sure paper is still folded in half.)

Step 3. Bring corner (1) right to meet the center line. Be sure to fold from the vertical crease line.

Step 4. Bring corner (1) left till edges coincide, then make the fold.

Step 5. Bring corner (2) left and fold.

Step 6. Bring corner (2) right until edges coincide. Then fold.

Step 7. Cut on the angle as shown in the picture. Then unfold the small piece.

Step 8. Marvel at your perfect (we hope!) 5-pointed star! If your star is not perfect, take a fresh piece of paper (8-1/2" x 10" -- not 8-1/2" x 11") and return to Step 1.

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BETSY ROSS HOME PAGE

Hey, it works! Thanks

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Okay, how do you cut a perfect seven-pointed star? Hmmm. (The Bennington Flag uses seven-pointed stars).

Well, everyone here appreciates the fact that you didn't post this under "Breaking News".

"Okay, how do you cut a perfect seven-pointed star?"

A little tough to explain, but you can figure it out by first constructing a seven-pointed star with a protractor & straight-edge and then folding it so that all of it's edges align. That tells you where the cut should be made in the folded paper, and then you work it backwards to determine the proper sequence of folds.

You can do this for a six-pointed star, as well. In fact, the six-pointed star turns out to be easier than the five-pointed one! I think Betsy Ross just wanted to put one over on G.W.

bttt

Woah, cool - it does work! Beats the heck out of doing work here in my cube... :-)

Woah, cool - it does work! Beats the heck out of doing work here in my cube... :-)

LOL! Cubites of the world unite!

Hey wallaby, what do you think?

get to work

Amen, Cubite Brother! Of course, the mere fact that I'm reading and posting to FR in and of itself indicates that I'm not getting a whole lot of work done... :)

Cool beans! Thanks!

Thanks to you, too!

cool....

Well, everyone here appreciates the fact that you didn't post this under "Breaking News".

Yeah, but you have to agree that the story is "cutting edge". <|:)~

I had just read the thread to put a white star on blue field if you have a family member in the service (I do) and I was thinking of how to get a perfect star and here it is. Thanks.

Thanks, I demonstrated for my kids, neat!