Few paper ornaments feel as festive as the Moravian star, and joining six of them into a single glowing ball takes that charm one step further. The trick is wonderfully simple: each star is prepared with a flat back and alternating folded points, then the points of neighboring stars are tucked under one another so the whole thing locks together into a hidden cube that reads as a soft, spiky sphere. No special tools required, and for larger stars you will not even need glue. Whether you hang it in a bright window, on a holiday tree, or give it as a handmade gift, this little ball of stars is a project that rewards patience with a genuinely eye-catching result. Let us put one together.

A paper Moravian Star Ball is made of six Moravian Stars. The process involves tucking the tips (points) of the stars under the layers of paper so they interconnect. The Moravian Star Ball is actually assembled as a cube, but the spikes and points soften the corners so it looks like a ball.

Prepare six Moravian Stars as shown here, but do not complete the star. Make each one with only 12 points and omit the remaining 4 perpendicular points. This leaves the back of the star flat, as shown below.

Instructions for the Paper Moravian Star Ball

Position the star so the points form an X shape (rather than a + shape).

On the right side of the star, fold the top point down.

Working around the star, fold down every other point.

This is how it looks when finished. Do this for all six flat-backed Moravian Stars.

Place two units side by side and slide them together.

Insert the folded point of the left star into the underside of the right star. At the same time, insert the folded point of the right star into the underside of the left star.

Be sure to tuck the points under a layer of paper so they stay secure.

Keep inserting the star units until four of them are connected.

For large stars (wider than 2 inches), no glue is needed: the points are big enough to tuck securely under a paper flap. Smaller stars may need a dab of glue to hold the points in place.