Hot Origami How-Tos
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 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 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: Fold an origami box and lid by Dave Brill
The origami version of a box and lid may seem like one of the simplest origami projects out there, but you should consider this origami box and lid the hard mode version of an otherwise beginner origami craft. Rather than use two sheets of paper total - one for the box and the other for the lid - this origami project only involves one piece of origami tissue paper.
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: 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 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: 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: Make an easy origami gorilla for intermediate origami students
This tough origami gorilla would totally kick King Kong's ass in a one-on-one match-up. Or at least we think so. With a broad, intimidating body and a strong, confident scowl on his face, this gorilla is not one to be messed with.
How To: Make pinwheel shaped united cranes for beginners
Already mastered folding a crane? Congrats, you're already halfway there to becoming a veritable origami master! Harder origami projects take more time and patience to perfect, but you can begin making impressive origami projects now even if you're just a beginner.
How To: Make an origami flying pterodactyl dinosaur for beginners
Ah, this dinosaur origami project takes us back to the good old days, when Power Rangers was the bomb and all the girls wanted to be pink ranger kelly with her skirted pink costume and pink pterodactyl robot thingy.
How To: Make a 3D origami vampire/bat for beginners
No one would ever fear the sight of a vampire if they were this adorable. Part Dracula and part bat, this is a hybrid origami figure that attempts to intimidate but whose penguin-like figure and cuddliness gives him away as a sweetheart.
How To: Make a 3D origami snail for intermediate origami students
Snails are such cool cats. While we humans labor the day away in a whirlwind of errands and obligations, snails take their time wherever they choose to go. As such, we can learn a bit about taking it easy and relaxing from these small wisdom bearers.
How To: Make a scary origami rabbit monster with ferocious teeth
Bunnies are the last things you'd expect to eat your face off, but behind those cute, beady eyes and fuzzy fur lies a ferocious monster just waiting to get out. Or at least that's the case with this fiendish rabbit monster.
How To: Craft a ferocious origami eagle for intermediate origami students
Eagles are the most effective of the predator birds. With eyesight like nobody's business, a huge wingspan for excellent air foil control when flying and diving down for a yummy little mouse, and a strong, muscular body, it seems eagles were designed to, well, kill.
How To: Make an adorable inflatable origami bunny cube
Just when you thought bunnies couldn't get any more adorable comes this chubby wubby inflatable bunny cube. It's like the love child of a bunny and a square! Cute drawn-on beady eyes, a button nose, and perky pink ears that shoot up from its body only add to its sheer adorableness.
How To: Make a historical gundam (Japanese Shogun) origami hat
The Shoguns were ancient Japan's most brutal and elite warriors. As military dictators, they were said to maintain order and subdue barbarians. Shoguns were fierce in battle and, as bloodshed was a daily thing for them, equipped themselves with state-of-the-art armor and helmets.