Welcome to the world of origami, the ancient art of paper folding. In this article, we’ll embark on a journey to create a beautiful and delicate mini origami crane, a symbol of peace, hope, and longevity in many cultures.
Origami cranes are a popular choice for beginners due to their simple yet elegant design. With just a few folds and creases, you can transform a square piece of paper into a graceful and iconic origami crane. Whether you’re a seasoned origami enthusiast or just starting out, this step-by-step guide will guide you through the process of making a mini origami crane.
Before we dive into the folding instructions, let’s gather the necessary materials: a square piece of origami paper (approx. 15 x 15 cm), a flat surface for folding, and a pair of scissors (optional for trimming the paper).
How to Make a Mini Origami Crane
With just a few simple folds, you can create a beautiful and delicate mini origami crane.
- Start with a square.
- Fold in half twice.
- Unfold and squash-fold.
- Fold in half again.
- Unfold and make bird base.
- Fold wings and tail.
- Fold head and beak.
- Open up wings and tail.
- Enjoy your origami crane!
With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold a mini origami crane in no time.
Start with a square.
The first step in making a mini origami crane is to start with a square piece of paper. The size of the square will determine the size of your finished crane. For a mini crane, you can use a square that is approximately 15 cm x 15 cm.
If you don’t have origami paper, you can easily make your own by cutting a square out of a piece of regular printer paper. Just be sure to use a sharp pair of scissors to get a clean, straight cut.
Once you have your square piece of paper, you’re ready to start folding.
Folding the square in half twice
To begin, fold the square in half diagonally from corner to corner. Unfold the paper and then fold it in half again, this time from the opposite corner to corner. Unfold the paper again, and you should now have a square with four crease lines.
These crease lines will help you to make the rest of the folds necessary to create your mini origami crane.
Fold in half twice.
After you have started with a square piece of paper, the next step is to fold it in half twice.
- Fold diagonally from corner to corner.
To make the first fold, take the square piece of paper and bring one corner to the opposite corner, forming a triangle. Crease the fold well with your fingers or a bone folder.
- Unfold the paper.
Once you have made the first diagonal fold, unfold the paper so that it returns to its original square shape.
- Fold diagonally from the opposite corner to corner.
Now, take the opposite corner and bring it to the opposite corner, forming a new triangle. Crease the fold well again.
- Unfold the paper again.
Once you have made the second diagonal fold, unfold the paper so that it returns to its square shape once more.
You should now have a square piece of paper with four crease lines, two diagonal creases and two horizontal and vertical creases. These crease lines will help you to make the rest of the folds necessary to create your mini origami crane.
Unfold and squash-fold.
After you have folded the paper in half twice, the next step is to unfold and squash-fold it.
- Unfold the paper completely.
Start by unfolding the paper so that it returns to its original square shape.
- Fold the paper in half from top to bottom.
Take the top edge of the paper and bring it down to the bottom edge, creasing the fold well.
- Unfold the paper again.
Once you have made the vertical fold, unfold the paper so that it returns to its square shape once more.
- Squash-fold the paper.
Now, take the top two layers of the paper and squash them together towards the center crease. You should see a diamond shape forming in the middle of the paper.
The squash-fold is a unique origami fold that helps to create the wings and tail of the crane. By squash-folding the paper, you are creating a crease that will allow you to fold the paper in a specific way later on.
Fold in half again.
After you have unfolded and squash-folded the paper, the next step is to fold it in half again.
- Fold the paper in half from left to right.
Take the left edge of the paper and bring it over to the right edge, creasing the fold well.
- Unfold the paper again.
Once you have made the horizontal fold, unfold the paper so that it returns to its square shape once more.
- Fold the paper in half from top to bottom.
This time, take the top edge of the paper and bring it down to the bottom edge, creasing the fold well.
- Unfold the paper again.
Once you have made the vertical fold, unfold the paper so that it returns to its square shape once more.
You should now have a square piece of paper with eight crease lines, four diagonal creases, two horizontal creases, and two vertical creases. These crease lines will help you to make the rest of the folds necessary to create your mini origami crane.
Unfold and make bird base.
After you have folded the paper in half again, the next step is to unfold it and make the bird base.
- Unfold the paper completely.
Start by unfolding the paper so that it returns to its original square shape.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally from corner to corner.
Take the top right corner of the paper and bring it down to the bottom left corner, forming a triangle. Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper again.
Once you have made the diagonal fold, unfold the paper so that it returns to its square shape once more.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally from the opposite corner to corner.
This time, take the top left corner of the paper and bring it down to the bottom right corner, forming a new triangle. Crease the fold well.
You should now have a square piece of paper with two diagonal crease lines. These crease lines will help you to make the bird base, which is the foundation for many origami models, including the crane.
Fold wings and tail.
After you have made the bird base, the next step is to fold the wings and tail.
- Fold the top layer of the paper down.
Take the top layer of the paper and fold it down along the diagonal crease line. Crease the fold well.
- Fold the bottom layer of the paper up.
Now, take the bottom layer of the paper and fold it up along the same diagonal crease line. Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the top and bottom layers.
Unfold the top and bottom layers so that the paper returns to its original square shape.
- Fold the right and left sides of the paper to the center.
Take the right and left sides of the paper and fold them towards the center crease. Crease the folds well.
You should now have a diamond shape with a square in the center. The square in the center will become the body of the crane, and the diamond shape will become the wings and tail.
Fold head and beak.
To fold the head and beak, follow these steps:
1. Take the top layer of the paper and fold it down along the center crease. Crease the fold well.
2. Unfold the top layer so that the paper returns to its original diamond shape.
3. Fold the right and left corners of the top layer down to the center crease. Crease the folds well.
4. Unfold the right and left corners so that the paper returns to its original diamond shape.
5. Fold the top layer of the paper down along the center crease again. Crease the fold well.
6. Now, take the bottom layer of the paper and fold it up along the center crease. Crease the fold well.
7. Unfold the bottom layer so that the paper returns to its original diamond shape.
8. Fold the right and left corners of the bottom layer up to the center crease. Crease the folds well.
9. Unfold the right and left corners so that the paper returns to its original diamond shape.
You should now have a diamond shape with a small square in the center. The small square in the center is the head of the crane, and the point at the top of the diamond shape is the beak.
Open up wings and tail.
To open up the wings and tail, follow these steps:
1. Gently pull on the right and left sides of the diamond shape to open up the wings.
2. Gently pull on the bottom point of the diamond shape to open up the tail.
3. Adjust the wings and tail until they are spread out and symmetrical.
4. Your mini origami crane is now complete!
You can use your crane to decorate your home or office, or give it as a gift to a friend or family member. It is a beautiful and meaningful symbol of peace, hope, and longevity.
Enjoy your origami crane!
Now that you have made your mini origami crane, there are many ways to enjoy it.
- Display it in your home or office.
Place your origami crane on a shelf, desk, or windowsill where it can be admired by all.
- Give it as a gift.
Origami cranes make wonderful gifts for friends, family members, and co-workers. They are a unique and meaningful way to show your appreciation.
- Use it as a decoration for a special occasion.
Origami cranes can be used to decorate for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events.
- Hang it from a string or wire.
You can hang your origami crane from a string or wire to create a beautiful mobile.
No matter how you choose to enjoy your origami crane, it is sure to bring you joy and happiness.
FAQ
If you have any questions about origami, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
Question 1: What is origami?
Answer: Origami is the ancient art of paper folding. It is a fun and challenging way to create beautiful and intricate objects using only a single sheet of paper.
Question 2: What are the benefits of origami?
Answer: Origami has many benefits, including improved hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills. It can also help to reduce stress and improve focus.
Question 3: What kind of paper is best for origami?
Answer: Origami paper is specially designed for folding. It is typically thin and strong, and it comes in a variety of colors and patterns. However, you can also use regular printer paper or any other type of paper that is thin enough to fold easily.
Question 4: What are some easy origami projects for beginners?
Answer: There are many easy origami projects that are perfect for beginners. Some popular choices include the origami crane, the origami frog, and the origami boat.
Question 5: Where can I learn more about origami?
Answer: There are many resources available to help you learn more about origami. You can find books, DVDs, and online tutorials that teach you how to fold different origami models.
Question 6: Can I sell origami that I make?
Answer: Yes, you can sell origami that you make. However, it is important to note that some origami models are copyrighted. If you plan to sell origami models, be sure to check the copyright status of the model before you do so.
Question 7: How do I display my origami creations?
Answer: There are many ways to display your origami creations. You can frame them, hang them from strings, or place them in shadow boxes. You can also use origami creations to decorate your home or office.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ
These are just a few of the frequently asked questions about origami. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Now that you know a little bit more about origami, you can start folding your own paper creations. With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold all sorts of amazing things.
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you get started with origami:
1. Start with simple folds.
Don’t try to fold a complex model right away. Start with simple folds, such as the square fold, the triangle fold, and the bird base. Once you have mastered these basic folds, you can start to learn more complex models.
2. Use good quality paper.
Origami paper is specially designed for folding. It is thin and strong, and it comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Using good quality paper will make it easier to fold your models and they will look better when you are finished.
3. Be patient.
Origami can be challenging, especially at first. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t fold a model perfectly right away. Keep practicing and you will eventually get the hang of it.
4. Have fun!
Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby. Enjoy the process of folding paper and creating beautiful objects. Don’t worry about making mistakes. The most important thing is to have fun.
Closing Paragraph for Tips
With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold all sorts of amazing things with origami. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
Now that you know the basics of origami and have some tips to help you get started, you can start folding your own paper creations. With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold all sorts of amazing things.
Conclusion
Origami is a beautiful and rewarding art form that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a fun and challenging way to create beautiful objects using only a single sheet of paper. Origami has many benefits, including improved hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills. It can also help to reduce stress and improve focus.
In this article, you learned the basics of origami, including how to fold a mini origami crane. You also learned some tips to help you get started with origami. With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold all sorts of amazing things.
So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
Origami is a wonderful way to express yourself creatively and to connect with your inner child. It is also a great way to learn about different cultures and traditions. So next time you have some free time, why not try folding an origami model? You might just surprise yourself with what you can create.
