The Art of Origami

Types of Folds Mountain and Valley Folds These are the two basic folds in origami for beginners. Pretty much every fold is either a mountain fold, a valley fold or a combination of the two. MOUNTAIN FOLD: With a Mountain Fold the crease bends the paper down and the crease resembles a mountain. VALLEY FOLD: With a Valley Fold the crease bends the paper up and the crease resembles a valley. Other Common Folds Inside Reverse Fold                          Outside Reverse Fold                      Rabbit Ear Fold                       Squash Fold                      Pleat                     Crimp                     Petal Fold         ...

  Origami Bases There are several bases in origami that are used to start many different models. For example the bird base is the start of many paper birds. Often times you’ll see instructions telling you to start with a particular base just to save some time or space in the instructions. There aren’t too many bases and you’ll see the same ones repeated a lot of times in different models. Major types of bases are mentioned below. Types of Bases Kite Base This is the most simple base in origami and it kind of looks like a kite which is where the name comes from. Square or Preliminary Base This is probably the most common base in origami and is used in many different models. Sometimes this base is called a Square Base and sometimes it's referred to as a Preliminary Base. Water Bomb Base This base is used to fold the traditional origami Water Bomb and that's where it gets its name. The base is used to fold lots of other things as well. Bird Base This base is used to fold a l...

Origami Crane Design (Orizuru) The "orizuru", or paper crane, is a design that is considered to be the most classic of all Japanese origami. In Japanese culture, it is believed that its wings carry souls up to paradise, and it is a representation of the Japanese red-crowned crane, referred to as the "Honorable Lord Crane" in Japanese culture. Steps to make: 1. Using a square piece of paper, fold the paper in half to form a triangle. If using a piece of paper colored on one side only, begin with the colored side facing up. Unfold the paper and repeat to make folds seen in the image above. 2. Flip the paper so the colored side is facing down and fold the paper in half forming a rectangle. Unfold the paper and repeat to make folds seen in the image above. 3. Now fold along all four creases at once to form a square with the open end facing you. 4. Fold two edges in, to form a kite-shape on top. Repeat on other side. 5. Fold the point down and crease above the ot...

Simple Origami Fan (Sensu/Ogi Style) Origami fans are easy to fold that just need to know the two basic folding methods, mountain folding and valley folding. Steps to make: 1. Start with your paper white side up. Divide paper into thirds. Then fold the right edge to left along the dotted line. 2. Make a crease, Fold the paper in half by folding the bottom edge to the top edge, then unfold. 3. Make a crease fold the bottom edge to center point along the dotted line, then unfold. 4. Make a crease fold the bottom edge up along the dotted line, then unfold. 5. Fold the bottom edge up along the dotted line. Then turn over          6. Fold the bottom edge up along the dotted line. Then turn over          7. Now we simply repeat step5 and step6 over and over until there is no more paper to fold. 8. Now just need to open up the fan, Make a crease form the bottom to create a handle for the fan. COMPLETED... ENJOY!!!

Origami Simple Snake Design This is an easy to make origami snake. This is very easy to fold. You can use green paper to fold it. Although most people are afraid of snakes, this origami snake is very cute. You’ll love it. Steps to make: 1. Make a crease by folding the bottom corner to the top corner, then unfold.               2. Fold both upper-right and bottom-right edges meet to the center line. 3. Fold both upper-right and bottom-right edges meet to the center line again. 4. Fold both upper-left and bottom-left edges meet to the center line. 5. Fold in half by folding the upper part of the model behind along the dotted line. 6. Make creases on the dotted lines as shown below. Then unfold.                             7. Unfold 8. Make Mountain folds and valley folds along the dotted lines made in step 6. The model will look like as Figure 2 that in this step.       ...