Origami is the art of folding paper into decorative shapes, and the crane is one of the most popular and recognizable origami designs. It is a symbol of peace and good luck in many cultures, and it is often folded as a gift or used as a decoration.
Making a crane origami is a fun and relaxing activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is also a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. If you’re new to origami, don’t worry – this beginner’s guide will walk you through the steps of making a crane origami. With a little practice, you’ll be folding beautiful cranes like a pro in no time!
To make a crane origami, you will need a square piece of paper. You can use any color or pattern you like, but traditional origami paper is usually thin and has a crisp, smooth texture, making it easy to fold. Once you have your paper, follow these steps:
How to Make a Crane Origami
Follow these 10 steps to fold a crane origami:
- Start with square paper.
- Fold in half both ways.
- Unfold and rotate.
- Fold top and bottom to center.
- Unfold and fold in half.
- Unfold, rotate, and fold.
- Unfold and squash fold.
- Fold top and bottom corners.
- Unfold and fold in half.
- Pull out corners for wings.
With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold a crane origami in no time!
Start with square paper.
The first step to making a crane origami is to start with a square piece of paper. You can use any color or pattern you like, but traditional origami paper is usually thin and has a crisp, smooth texture, making it easy to fold. If you don’t have any origami paper, you can use a regular piece of printer paper and cut it into a square.
To cut a square piece of paper, follow these steps:
- Start with a rectangular piece of paper.
- Fold the paper in half lengthwise.
- Unfold the paper.
- Fold the paper in half widthwise.
- Unfold the paper.
- You should now have two crease lines running through the center of the paper.
- Fold the top right corner of the paper down to the bottom left corner, aligning the edges.
- Unfold the paper.
- Fold the bottom left corner of the paper up to the top right corner, aligning the edges.
- Unfold the paper.
- You should now have a square piece of paper.
Once you have your square piece of paper, you can begin folding your crane origami.
Tip: If you are using a large piece of paper, you may want to cut it into smaller squares before you start folding. This will make the folding process easier.
Fold in half both ways.
Once you have your square piece of paper, the next step is to fold it in half both ways. This will create two crease lines that will help you to fold the crane origami.
- Fold the paper in half vertically.
To do this, align the left and right edges of the paper and fold the paper in half from top to bottom. Press along the crease to flatten it.
- Unfold the paper.
Once you have folded the paper in half vertically, unfold it so that it is flat again.
- Fold the paper in half horizontally.
To do this, align the top and bottom edges of the paper and fold the paper in half from left to right. Press along the crease to flatten it.
- Unfold the paper.
Once you have folded the paper in half horizontally, unfold it so that it is flat again.
You should now have two crease lines running through the center of the paper, one vertical and one horizontal. These crease lines will help you to fold the crane origami.
Unfold and rotate.
Once you have folded the paper in half both ways, the next step is to unfold it and rotate it. This will prepare the paper for the next step.
- Unfold the paper completely.
If the paper is still folded in half, unfold it so that it is flat again.
- Rotate the paper 45 degrees.
To do this, hold the paper in front of you and turn it clockwise or counterclockwise until one of the crease lines is diagonal.
- Press along the crease to flatten it.
Once you have rotated the paper, press along the diagonal crease to flatten it.
- The paper is now ready for the next step.
The diagonal crease will help you to fold the crane origami.
Tip: If you are having trouble rotating the paper, you can use a ruler or a protractor to help you.
Fold top and bottom to center.
The next step is to fold the top and bottom edges of the paper to the center. This will create two smaller squares.
- Fold the top edge of the paper to the center crease.
To do this, align the top edge of the paper with the diagonal crease that you made in the previous step. Press along the crease to flatten it.
- Fold the bottom edge of the paper to the center crease.
To do this, align the bottom edge of the paper with the diagonal crease that you made in the previous step. Press along the crease to flatten it.
- You should now have two smaller squares.
The diagonal crease should run through the center of the squares.
Tip: If you are having trouble folding the paper, you can use a ruler or a bone folder to help you.
Once you have folded the top and bottom edges of the paper to the center, you are ready for the next step.
Unfold and fold in half.
The next step is to unfold the paper and fold it in half again, but this time in the opposite direction.
- Unfold the paper completely.
If the paper is still folded in half, unfold it so that it is flat again.
- Fold the paper in half in the opposite direction.
To do this, align the left and right edges of the paper and fold the paper in half from top to bottom. Press along the crease to flatten it.
- You should now have a long, thin rectangle.
The diagonal crease should still be visible.
Tip: If you are having trouble folding the paper, you can use a ruler or a bone folder to help you.
Once you have folded the paper in half in the opposite direction, you are ready for the next step.
Unfold, rotate, and fold.
The next step is to unfold the paper, rotate it, and fold it again. This will create the basic shape of the crane.
- Unfold the paper completely.
If the paper is still folded in half, unfold it so that it is flat again.
- Rotate the paper 90 degrees.
To do this, hold the paper in front of you and turn it clockwise or counterclockwise until the long edge is horizontal.
- Fold the paper in half vertically.
To do this, align the left and right edges of the paper and fold the paper in half from top to bottom. Press along the crease to flatten it.
- You should now have a long, thin rectangle.
The diagonal crease should still be visible.
Tip: If you are having trouble folding the paper, you can use a ruler or a bone folder to help you.
Once you have folded the paper in half vertically, you are ready for the next step.
Unfold and squash fold.
The next step is to unfold the paper and make a squash fold. This will create the head and neck of the crane.
- Unfold the paper completely.
If the paper is still folded in half, unfold it so that it is flat again.
- Make a squash fold.
To do this, hold the paper in front of you with the long edge horizontal. Bring the top left corner down to the bottom right corner, and the top right corner down to the bottom left corner. Press along the creases to flatten them.
- You should now have a diamond shape.
The diagonal crease should still be visible.
Tip: If you are having trouble making the squash fold, you can use a ruler or a bone folder to help you.
Once you have made the squash fold, you are ready for the next step.
Fold top and bottom corners.
The next step is to fold the top and bottom corners of the diamond shape inward. This will create the wings of the crane.
- Fold the top left corner inward.
To do this, align the top left corner with the center crease. Press along the crease to flatten it.
- Fold the top right corner inward.
To do this, align the top right corner with the center crease. Press along the crease to flatten it.
- Fold the bottom left corner inward.
To do this, align the bottom left corner with the center crease. Press along the crease to flatten it.
- Fold the bottom right corner inward.
To do this, align the bottom right corner with the center crease. Press along the crease to flatten it.
You should now have a square shape with four smaller squares inside.
Unfold and fold in half.
The next step is to unfold the paper and fold it in half again, but this time in the opposite direction.
- Unfold the paper completely.
If the paper is still folded in half, unfold it so that it is flat again.
- Fold the paper in half in the opposite direction.
To do this, align the top and bottom edges of the paper and fold the paper in half from left to right. Press along the crease to flatten it.
- You should now have a long, thin rectangle.
The diagonal crease should still be visible.
Tip: If you are having trouble folding the paper, you can use a ruler or a bone folder to help you.
Once you have folded the paper in half in the opposite direction, you are ready for the next step.
Pull out corners for wings.
The final step is to pull out the corners of the paper to create the wings of the crane.
- Pull out the top left corner.
To do this, gently pull the top left corner of the paper outward. Be careful not to tear the paper.
- Pull out the top right corner.
To do this, gently pull the top right corner of the paper outward. Be careful not to tear the paper.
- Pull out the bottom left corner.
To do this, gently pull the bottom left corner of the paper outward. Be careful not to tear the paper.
- Pull out the bottom right corner.
To do this, gently pull the bottom right corner of the paper outward. Be careful not to tear the paper.
You should now have a crane with its wings spread out. Congratulations, you have completed your origami crane!
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about origami:
Question 1: What is origami?
Answer: Origami is the art of folding paper into decorative shapes. It is a fun and challenging activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Question 2: What kind of paper is best for origami?
Answer: Traditional origami paper is thin and has a crisp, smooth texture, making it easy to fold. However, you can use any type of paper for origami, as long as it is not too thick or too flimsy.
Question 3: What are some basic origami folds?
Answer: There are many basic origami folds, such as the square fold, the triangle fold, and the bird base. Once you have mastered these basic folds, you can use them to create more complex origami models.
Question 4: Where can I learn origami?
Answer: There are many resources available to learn origami, such as books, websites, and videos. You can also find origami classes at local community centers and libraries.
Question 5: What are some popular origami models?
Answer: Some popular origami models include the crane, the butterfly, the elephant, and the rose. These models are relatively easy to fold and are a great way to practice your origami skills.
Question 6: Can origami be used for anything other than decoration?
Answer: Yes, origami can be used for a variety of purposes, such as creating toys, packaging, and even architecture. Origami has also been used to create medical devices and other functional objects.
Origami is a beautiful and versatile art form that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little practice, you can create amazing origami models that will impress your friends and family.
Now that you know more about origami, here are a few tips to help you get started:
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you get started with origami:
Tip 1: Start with simple folds.
Don’t try to start with 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 use them to create more complex models.
Tip 2: Use good quality paper.
The type of paper you use can make a big difference in the outcome of your origami model. Traditional origami paper is thin and has a crisp, smooth texture, making it easy to fold. However, you can use any type of paper for origami, as long as it is not too thick or too flimsy.
Tip 3: Be patient.
Origami can be a challenging art form, but it is also very rewarding. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right away. Keep practicing and you will eventually be able to create beautiful origami models.
Tip 4: Have fun!
Origami is a great way to relax and de-stress. So put on some music, grab a piece of paper, and start folding. You might be surprised at what you can create!
With a little practice, you can create amazing origami models that will impress your friends and family. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!
Now that you have some tips to get you started, here is a simple origami model that you can try:
Conclusion
Origami is a beautiful and versatile art form that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a fun and challenging activity that can help you to develop your hand-eye coordination, your spatial reasoning skills, and your patience. Origami can also be a great way to relax and de-stress.
In this article, we have provided you with a step-by-step guide on how to make a crane origami. We have also included a FAQ section and a tips section to help you get started. With a little practice, you will be able to create amazing origami models that will impress your friends and family.
So what are you waiting for? Get started today and discover the joy of origami!
