This is a fabulous money 5-Pointed Star which uses 5 one-dollar bills. You can use 5 five-dollar bills or even ten-dollar bills, but no matter which denomination you use, you will need 5 sheets. You can get at least 4 variations on the star depending on which side of the dollar bill is facing up when you start folding.
This money 5 pointed star is easy to make, but typical of modular origami, the last piece is challenging to assemble. This origami star is often attributed to Trang Chung because she was the first person to make the star using money; however, the design itself is a traditional one published in Origami from Around the World
Instructions for making Money 5-Pointed star
1. MAKE 5 UNITS
Step 1:
Start with a crisp dollar bill with the black-side facing up.
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Step 2:
Fold the dollar bill in half (left to right).
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Step 3:
Valley fold the top-right and bottom-right corners of the dollar bill.
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Step 4:
Fold the right side of the dollar bill towards the left.
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 Turn the model over.
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Step 5:
Valley fold the the top-right and bottom-right corners of the dollar bill. It should be two layers thick.
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Step 6:
Valley fold the top-right and top-left edges of the model once more.
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 Turn the model over.
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Step 7:
Fold the left side of the dollar bill towards the right and tuck the end under the triangular flap.
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Step 8:
Repeat: fold the left end of the dollar bill towards the right and tuck it under the triangular flap.
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Step 9:
To make this section of paper more narrow, fold it over itself three times then tuck under the triangular flap.
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 This is how it looks like.
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 Pinch the arms of the model with clips, or clothes pins to prevent it from unraveling. Make 4 more of these dollar bill units.
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2. ASSEMBLE THE STAR
Step 10a:
Take two of the units and turn them around so you see the back side. Insert the left-arm of unit B in between the layers of paper of unit A.
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Step 10b:
Once that is done, insert right-arm of unit A under the layers of paper of unit B. It’s a little more difficult to do, but it is doable.
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Step 11a:
Assemble the third unit: insert the left arm of unit C under the layers of paper of unit B. This is easy.
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Step 11b:
Slide the right arm of unit B under the layers of paper of unit C. This is a little harder to do but it works.
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Step 12:
Continue assembly with a 4th unit. Insert one arm (1) and then the other (2). Sometimes you need to bend the arm of the unit to get it to cooperate.
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Step 13:
Insert the last unit the same way. Sometimes you need to undo the previous step a little to give yourself room to make the next move.
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Step 14a:
Close the loop by inserting the arm of one unit in between the layers of the adjacent unit.
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Step 14b:
Complete the money 5 pointed star by insert the remaining arm under the layers of paper of the adjacent unit. This is the hardest one to do but once done, it will lock the units together securely.
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 Wiggle the units around a bit to get a nicely balanced money 5-pointed star. Turn the model around and see what you’ve made.
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Ta-da! |
You can get a different pattern if you start with the green side of the dollar bill facing up. You can also get a different pattern if you fold the left-side of the dollar bill instead of the right-side as shown above. The images below show you how to orient the money to get the corresponding pattern.
   
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