Hot Origami Posts
How To: Fold an elegant butterfly out of origami paper
First, take a perfectly even and square piece of paper, Then follow the steps outlined in this video, and you'll end with your own beautiful origami butterfly! Use it for decoration, incorporate it as an accessory, or add them to an origami garden!
How To: Fold an origami heart using paper money
Give your heart this year to your Valentine. But more than likely, your lady friend is looking for a little more than that. That's why this origami heart is perfect for a gift. It involves you putting effort into the present, it's symbolic of your love for her, plus— it's made out of MONEY!
How To: Origami a cootie catcher (or paper fortune teller)
We all remember these neat little devices from elementary school. It has many names, the paper fortune teller, the scrunchie, chancer, chatterbox, but the most notorious is the cootie catcher. It's easy to fold, but funner to play with it. Watch and learn this origami masterpiece! Remember your youth!
How To: Fold an origami cherry blossom ball
Want to create a neat looking decorative item using just paper? Origami is the answer. The Origami Cherry Blossom paper ball created in this video by Tomoko Fuse requires papers, dexterity and a toothpick if the presenter is to be believed. The first steps consist of creating precreases on the paper. This step makes the subsequent folds easier to make as the fold lines also double up as markers. The second step consists of creating a complex shape. The same design is then repeated 30 times. F...
How To: Fold miniature 3D origami lucky stars from long paper strips
The smaller your origami gets, the harder it is to fold, but not in the case of the lucky stars. The miniature 3D stars are easy to fold, and you just need a long strip of paper. You could buy pre-made strips of paper, or cut your own with scissors, box cutter or paper cutter. On you fold these mini stars, you'll have to fluff it out for that 3D look and feel.
How To: Create an origami place card holder crane
Everybody has place card holders that can be bought from various stores. However, this video by Ngai Chen Cheung shows how you can make your own place card holder using only a square piece of paper and a bit of origami skills.
How To: Create an easy origami paper rose
In this video, we learn how to create an easy origami paper rose. First, take a piece of paper and fold it into a square. After this, unfold it and then reverse the fold the opposite way. Now, take the middle of the paper as you are folding and make a square out of it. Fold down the flaps from the middle down in the front and the back. Next, flip the paper over and push down all the creases. Then, fold the paper into a triangle on all sides and push the creases down. After this, pop up the mi...
How To: Quickly make an origami kusudama
In this video, we learn how to quickly make an origami kusudama. This only requires six pieces of paper to make. First, fold one piece of paper into a triangle, then open it up and fold it in a triangle on the opposite side. Open this back up then flip over. Bend in the edges to make a new triangle, then press down the creases on the side. Bend the middle of the triangle up to the point on both sides. Bend these back down, then fold over the side and make a crease. Open up the bottoms where y...
How To: Create an origami bird
In this tutorial, we learn how to create an origami bird. Start with a rectangle, then fold a triangle into the end of it. After this, fold a crease down the middle of the triangle and tear it off. Next, fold this triangle in half, then in half on the other side. Push down in the middle crease to make a diamond shape on both of the sides as well, then fold down to reach the bottom of the diamond. Fold the top up and the bottom up, then bring the edges into each other to create a pocket. After...
How To: Make an origami book
This video will show viewers how to fold a small book out of origami paper. You will need a square piece of paper for this project. First, fold the paper downwards in half, then fold it into quarters by folding down both edges of the paper to meet in the middle. Unfold and fold the two top sections down to make eighths on your paper. Then turn the paper around and repeat. Mountain fold both sides of the paper until you reach the middle, after which you should have a strip of folded paper. At ...
How To: Make a multi-colored paper cube
In order to make a multi-colored paper cube, you will need the following: 6 pre-made folded squares, which can be found separately.
How To: Make a glossy wallet using magazines
Make a hip and functional wallet using the glossy photos taken from old magazines. Your wallet will be colorful, trendy and have pockets for both your bills and cards. All you need in addition to the magazines is a pair of scissors and some clear tape.
How To: Make a simple and quick origami crane for beginners
When it comes to origami, does it get more basic than the crane? Well, other than an origami box, an origami crane is one of the essential beginner origami projects that origami students learn on their way to achieving folded bliss.
How To: Make a simple origami Christmas elf for beginners
Christmas will be here before you know it, which means weeks of festive parties, spending quality time with friends and family, and, if you're the crafty type, making presents and other favors for friends. This year, surprise your loved ones with a truly unique gift by making this Christmas elf.
How To: Make an easy origami goldfish with tiny fins
Okay, so we have to admit something to you: This isn't actually an origami craft in the strictest sense of the term. Origami dictates that an object be folded into being from a single sheet of paper, but for this goldfish we take a bit of a shortcut, literally. Instead of folding to get all the pieces in place, we make a few cuts to facilitate the fish-forming process.
How To: Make a simple origami CD case for beginners
Whatever happened to the mix tape? A few years back, there wasn't a better and more meaningful gift to give someone than a mix tape full of jams specially tailored to his/her tastes. But with MP3s and internet streaming being the most popular forms of music listening these days, we suppose it's no surprise the mix tape has died out like the dinosaurs.
How To: Make a quick and simple origami envelope
Honestly, we're getting a little tired of purchasing mass-produced cards. Not that we don't adore Papyrus, with its often handmade-like cards and pretty details, but more and more we're finding we enjoy gifting our friends and family something authentic for special occasions.
How To: Make a cheerful origami penguin for beginners
We don't know where the penguin trend started, but for the past couple of years the arctic animal has been getting some serious loving. From "Happy Feet" to Club Penguin, penguins are flopping around everywhere in the public conscoiusness. And who can really blame our fascination with penguins, given their chubbiness and adorable waddling?
How To: Craft an origami sun-like spritzer circle
So we have to admit something. We're not entirely sure what this project is. It looks like one of those Sweedish straw ornaments you hang on the tree during Christmas, but then again it could also just be an abstract representation of the sun.
How To: Fold a Basic Origami Crane for Beginners
Alas, you have hit the mother of origami projects, the one project from which all others originate and from which all origami folders begin their journey to paper tweaking bliss.
How To: Make a cute origami elephant for beginners
Is your best friend's baby shower speedily approaching and your mind out of ideas for a cute and cheap way to decorate the party? Then you've come to the right place. These tiny blue origami elephants would make great pieces of decor as centerpieces on the dining room table and placed on counters around the house to emphasize the baby theme.
How To: Make a menacing origami bull for advanced origami folders
The basic tenet of origami is to create an object - a bird, cube, monkey, etc. - using a single piece of paper. And while for the most part this is possible, there are notable exceptions, including modular origami and this menacing red bull.
How To: Create an inflatable origami cube for beginners
This origami project is fun if for no other reason than we get to blow into it at the end of folding and turn it from flat to so phat (sorry). This origami cube is simple and quick to make and is a great introductory project for origami beginners who are looking to increase their finger prowess.
How To: Make a simple origami bird with a moving mouth
Are you a big fan of origami but scared to try it out yourself for fear that your creations will turn out more like balled up pieces of paper than strong, sturdy shapes? We hear you.
How To: Make a simple and quick origami raven for Halloween
Thanks to popular folklore, few of us would be happy to cross paths with a black cat or a raven on our way home. The creatures supposedly bring you bad luck (though, frankly, we've seen our share of black cats who were chubby and adorable).
How To: Fold an easy and quick origami warplane jet
As kids, we had dreams of becoming a fighter pilot, menacing enemies and saving the day with our stealth fighter plane. Needless to say, our pipe dreams kind of went bust, but that doesn't mean we still don't dream of piloting one of those things!
How To: Make a quick and easy origami cup
While this paper cup can't hold water or other beverages, it is actually very useful as a container. Whether you're having a birthday party soon and wish to produce inexpensive favor boxes (just fill the cups up with candy) or need little cups to store your tiny treasured knick knacks, these will fit the bill.
How To: Make an easy and quick origami monkey/ape
It's safe to say that this is one ape that you won't soon see climbing the side of the Empire State Building, terrorizing Wall Street snubs and taking damsels in distress at his whim.
How To: Make an origami flapping bird with large wings
Do you know how to fold an origami flapping crane? If you do, then great, because that's the only origami project you need to know how to fold in order to complete this origami bird. A variation of the crane, this bird has larger wings and you can make them flap by pulling on the tail.
How To: Make an elegant origami gliding swan
Watch this origami tutorial and in no time at all you'll transform an ordinary piece of paper into a fabulous, beautiful swan, unsuspectingly reenacting the classic gratifying story of "The Ugly Duckling." All you need are two hands with more or less dexterous fingers and a piece of white origami tissue paper or printer paper.
How To: Make an adorable origami kiwi for intermediate origami students
Seriously, how could you NOT fold this adorable kiwi? Chubby, tiny, and totally kawaii, this origami kiwi is a proud and beautiful mascot for its indigenous habitat of New Zealand.
How To: Make a simple origami box for beginners
Are you practically handicapped when it comes to crafting or doing anything at all that requires hand-eye coordination? We hear ya. While we aren't the most coordinated ourselves, even we have been able to complete the simple origami project in this video.
How To: Make an origami pterodactyl for intermediate origami students
Back in 5th grade history class, the dinosaur section was our favorite. Big, mean monsters with horns shooting this way and that and cool, funky-looking birds that were ten times bigger than us made history lessons actually fun for us.
How To: Fold an origami bird in flight with Aeric
Think the crane is the end all be all of origami birds? Think again. While folding cranes is an excellent way to build finger dexterity for future projects, if you are already at an intermediate level in origami folding then it's time to start challenging yourself!
How To: Fold a simple origami ship for beginners
Have you finally completed the 1,000 cranes project, achieved luck, prosperity, and all that goodness, and are finally ready to move on already from folding the same crane day in and day out? Then consider this project a beautiful release.
How To: Fold an elegant origami swan by Robert J. Lang
Origami is a lot of fun (okay, and also a lot of frustration), but what often turns beginners off from the Japanese art form is simply that it requires special origami tissue paper. While it's true that thin paper made exclusively for origami is preferable for any origami project, you can substitute plain old printer paper instead if you're low on money or just out of origami tissue paper.
How To: Fold a spinning paper helicopter
Tired of paper airplanes? Make a paper helicopter! You can download and print out a pattern off the Internet to make a toy helicopter with a real spinning paperclip propeller! Use colored paper and colored pencils on your rig, and hold contests with your friends.
How To: Make a cool origami stealth fighter with Tavin
When it comes to planes, is there really anything cooler than a surreptitious stealth fighter? We think not. Faster than the speed of, well, just about everything, streamlined, and oh so sleek, stealth fighters elicit involuntary drooling from guys everywhere.
How To: Flatten dollar bills with an iron for origami
It doesn't make common sense for most people to use irons on anything other than cloth, but if you'rea (really) careful you can actually employ irons to flatten and straighten paper products, as well.
How To: Fold a kirigami cherry blossom with five petals
If you're not afraid to stray from your origami craft, then kirigami worth a shot. It's just like origami, but you're allowed to cut the paper, not just fold it. Kirigami makes origami look more mature and more accurate, like when it comes to flowers. This video will show you how much better a kirigami cherry blossom looks! Learn how to make this cherry blossom with five petals.