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If you don't have a handy template
around, then you will need two things to make a star any length you wish.
1) You will need a protractor. Look in your kids room, or purchase one which has 1/5th inch markings on it. It should have 20 lines between degrees. Make sure you can read the numbers on it and it is marked very clearly. Be picky! You can get these in many places, the nicest ones are in drafting departments of office supply stores. They are not expensive. And while you are there, pick up a 45 degree triangle too. It will be helpful later! Oh heck, while you are thre, get a 60 degree triangle too... you might need it someday for a 6 pointed star! |
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For an eight pointed star, you need a 45 degree angle in the tip of the star. You need to measure out to each side from the center of your protractor to get this angle. So, if you divide 45 degrees by 2 you get 22.5 degrees. With me so far...stay! Now this really is easy and you will be so proud you did it! |
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So, from the center 90 degree mark you need to measure
out 22 and 1/2 degree to each side.
So, find 90 on your protractor, which will be at the very center of your arch. Go out 10 degrees and 10 more to make 20 degrees. Then you need two more degrees so go out 2 longer lines which will be 2 degrees and and then one of the shorter lines which will be 1/2 a degree! THAT'S IT! On your protractor, it is actually at the marks of 72.5 degrees. (see image) |
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Now you need to find the centering mark on your protractor.
1) There will be a dot or a + or some other indication of the centering mark of the straight edge of the protractor. The one above has a plus (+) but some have a hole or a dot. |
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1) Okay, here we go! Now draw a line on your paper choice
the length you want you star point to be. You should have determined the
line length from How big a star do you
want to make?
2) You have to put the protractor centering mark EXACTLY on the end of the line. 3) The 90 degree mark must line up with your drawn line. 4) Make a dot on the paper 22.5 degrees out each side from the center 90 degree center mark. NOTE: This is not the22.5 numbers on the protractor, but 22.5 lines out from the center mark. It's just easier this way. |
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You are going to draw a line from the tip of the vertical
line and through the dots. Draw them long enough to extend beyond what
is the middle of the vertical line.
Now do the same thing on the opposite side of the vertical line. |
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That's all! There...you
have just freed yourself from high priced templates and you can make a
45 degree diamond for an eight pointed star in any length your little heart
desires.
Just clean up the sides where the lines cross and save this one for a template. You might want to transfer it to poster-board or, better yet, template plastic. Using this one as template, put it on top of a stack of 8 pieces of paper the required size and cut out around the template. A rotary cutter is good for this. Be careful the papers don't slip. A staple here and there through all the layers of the paper will help this. |