This is how you build a LEGO® star

It's time for our annual #BuildToGive campaign! This year, together with you, we want to give up to 1.5 million children in need the opportunity to play with LEGO® bricks.

This is how it works.

If you build a Christmas decoration with LEGO bricks and share it on social media with the hashtag #BuildToGive, we will donate a LEGO set to a child in need through our network of charity partners.

Hmm... That seems too easy. Let me quickly check the rules… No, it really is that simple!

This year we're asking fans and families around the world to use their bricks to build the sparkliest Christmas decoration of all: a star!

“But how can we build a star with our LEGO bricks?”, we hear you say. “How do we best approach this? Tell us, please, please, please!!!”.

Well, who better to explain this to you than our wonderful Art Director (and now volunteer Christmas elf in charge of charity) Patrick Hansen!

Patrick's specialty is digital 3D LEGO models, a task that requires you to know exactly how to build all kinds of unusual and unique objects with LEGO bricks – including stars!

Be creative

“A star is a fantastic choice for a LEGO building. After all, everyone knows that shape, so everyone should also know how to build one.

“However, it is a complex shape, especially to make with LEGO bricks. This is because a classic star has five points and a LEGO brick only four corners.

“So you have to be creative. Take all your LEGO pieces, ignore what they are actually for and focus on their shape instead. For example, a croissant element can be ideal if you need a semi-circle, or you can even use a horse as the base of your star!”

(One of our favorite examples from last year of our designers using odd pieces for unexpected purposes was when we discovered that the beautiful flowers of the LEGO Bonsai Tree are made of... pink frogs! Anyway... Back to Patrick.)

Make sure it is sturdy

“Building a star is one thing, but to actually use and hang it as a Christmas decoration, the whole thing has to be very sturdy, and that's where the challenge lies.”

“Many people make the mistake of making their construction too complicated too quickly. Think back to when you were little and someone asked you to make or draw something. Then you only thought about the basic shape and the result was immediately recognizable. For example, if you drew a house as a child, it was simply a square and a triangle, and everyone immediately knew what it was. So try to think more like a child when you start building. Once you have gained a little more confidence, you can be more creative.”

Make it stand out

Well, how do we make our stars stand out, dear Christmas Elf?

“Just call me Patrick....”

“Making something stand out does not always mean that it has to be very big. Anyone can make it bigger. What's really hard is building things on a smaller scale. Also, if you're making Christmas decorations, they'll be easier to hang if they're really small!

“Of course you have to use a lot of bright colors. This way they immediately stand out when you hang them in the Christmas tree.

“While building, you also have to think about how you will hang your structure. If you build a large star, you might want to provide it with two openings to thread a wire through, so that the star stays nice and still.”

“And finally, clear LEGO elements (like those small, round 1x1 bricks) are the perfect choice to decorate your star with gems to make it extra sparkle!”

You will understand that we can hardly wait to see what stars you will pull out of your hats this Christmas! Have fun building and happy holidays!

#BuildToGive