Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, is a fascinating and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Among the various origami models, the crane is a timeless classic, known for its beauty, symbolism, and cultural significance. In this beginner-friendly tutorial, we will embark on a step-by-step journey to create your own origami crane.
Origami cranes are often associated with good luck, peace, and prosperity, making them popular gifts and decorative ornaments. The crane’s graceful posture and elegant wings evoke a sense of serenity and harmony, capturing the essence of origami’s intricate art form. As you follow the instructions below, you will discover the joy of folding paper into a beautiful and meaningful creation.
To begin our origami crane adventure, you will need a square piece of origami paper, scissors if you need to cut the paper into a square, and a patient and steady hand. Let’s dive into the folding process, one step at a time.
how do u make an origami crane
Follow these 6 simple steps to fold an origami crane:
- Square paper
- Fold in half twice
- Unfold and squash fold
- Fold into a bird base
- Fold wings and tail
- Open up and enjoy
With practice, you’ll be able to fold a crane in no time!
Square paper
The first step in making an origami crane is to prepare your square paper. Origami paper is typically thin and lightweight, making it easy to fold and manipulate. If you don’t have origami paper, you can use any square piece of paper, such as printer paper or wrapping paper. However, thicker paper may be more difficult to fold.
- Choose the right size:
The size of your square paper will determine the size of your finished crane. For a small crane, use a 6-inch (15 cm) square. For a larger crane, use an 8-inch (20 cm) or 10-inch (25 cm) square.
- Cut the paper:
If you are using a rectangular piece of paper, you will need to cut it into a square. Use a ruler and scissors to make a clean, straight cut.
- Fold the paper in half twice:
To begin the folding process, fold the square paper in half twice, creating a smaller square. This will give you a crease pattern that will be used throughout the folding process.
- Unfold the paper:
After folding the paper in half twice, unfold it completely. You should now have a square piece of paper with four crease lines.
With your square paper prepared, you are now ready to embark on the exciting journey of folding an origami crane.
Fold in half twice
The next step in making an origami crane is to fold the square paper in half twice. This will create a smaller square with four crease lines. These crease lines will serve as guides for the subsequent folds.
- Fold vertically:
Hold the square paper with the colored side facing up. Fold the paper in half from top to bottom, aligning the left and right edges. Press along the fold to create a crease.
- Unfold:
Unfold the paper completely.
- Fold horizontally:
Fold the paper in half from left to right, aligning the top and bottom edges. Press along the fold to create a crease.
- Unfold:
Unfold the paper completely.
You should now have a square piece of paper with four crease lines. These crease lines divide the paper into four smaller squares.
Unfold and squash fold
After folding the paper in half twice, we need to unfold it completely. This will reveal the four crease lines that we created in the previous step.
Now, we will perform a “squash fold” on the paper. This is a technique used in origami to collapse the paper along a diagonal crease line, creating a diamond shape.
To do this, place the paper with the colored side facing up. Locate the two diagonal crease lines that intersect in the center of the paper. Pinch the paper at the intersection of these two crease lines, bringing the top and bottom corners together.
Gently push the paper down along the diagonal crease lines, flattening it into a diamond shape. Make sure to press firmly along the crease lines to create sharp folds.
Once you have completed the squash fold, you will have a diamond-shaped piece of paper with eight crease lines. These crease lines will guide the subsequent folds to create the origami crane.
The squash fold is a fundamental technique in origami, and it is used to create a variety of shapes and forms. By understanding and mastering this technique, you will be able to fold more complex origami models with ease.
Fold into a bird base
With the squash fold complete, we can now fold the paper into a “bird base.” The bird base is a fundamental origami structure that serves as the foundation for many origami models, including the crane.
- Fold in half diagonally:
Hold the diamond-shaped paper with the colored side facing up. Fold the paper in half diagonally from top left to bottom right. Press along the fold to create a crease.
- Unfold:
Unfold the paper completely.
- Fold in half diagonally in the opposite direction:
Fold the paper in half diagonally from top right to bottom left. Press along the fold to create a crease.
- Unfold:
Unfold the paper completely.
You should now have a diamond-shaped piece of paper with four crease lines intersecting in the center. These crease lines divide the paper into eight smaller triangles.
Next, we will fold the paper into a bird base. To do this, follow these steps:
- Fold the top two layers of paper down:
Fold the top two layers of paper down along the horizontal crease line, bringing the top point of the diamond to the bottom.
- Unfold the top layer:
Unfold only the top layer of paper.
- Squash fold the top layer:
Perform a squash fold on the top layer of paper, collapsing it along the diagonal crease line.
- Fold the right and left sides in:
Fold the right and left sides of the paper inward along the vertical crease lines.
- Unfold the right and left sides:
Unfold the right and left sides of the paper.
- Fold the top layer down:
Fold the top layer of paper down along the horizontal crease line, aligning the top edge with the bottom edge of the bird base.
Fold wings and tail
With the bird base complete, we can now fold the wings and tail of the crane.
To fold the wings, follow these steps:
- Fold the right side of the bird base to the left:
Fold the right side of the bird base over to the left, aligning the right edge with the left edge.
- Unfold the right side:
Unfold the right side of the bird base.
- Fold the top layer of the right side down:
Fold the top layer of the right side of the bird base down along the horizontal crease line.
- Unfold the top layer:
Unfold the top layer of the right side of the bird base.
- Fold the right side in half vertically:
Fold the right side of the bird base in half vertically, aligning the left edge with the right edge.
- Unfold the right side:
Unfold the right side of the bird base.
- Repeat steps 1-6 for the left side:
Repeat steps 1-6 for the left side of the bird base to create the other wing.
To fold the tail, follow these steps:
- Fold the bottom layer of the bird base up:
Fold the bottom layer of the bird base up along the horizontal crease line.
- Unfold the bottom layer:
Unfold the bottom layer of the bird base.
- Fold the bottom layer of the bird base down:
Fold the bottom layer of the bird base down along the horizontal crease line, aligning the top edge with the bottom edge of the bird base.
- Fold the bottom layer in half vertically:
Fold the bottom layer of the bird base in half vertically, aligning the left edge with the right edge.
- Unfold the bottom layer:
Unfold the bottom layer of the bird base.
- Fold the right and left sides of the bottom layer in:
Fold the right and left sides of the bottom layer of the bird base inward along the vertical crease lines.
Once you have completed these steps, you will have a folded origami crane with spread wings and a tail.
Open up and enjoy
The final step in making an origami crane is to open it up and enjoy your creation.
- Open up the wings:
Gently open up the wings of the crane by pulling them outward.
- Open up the tail:
Gently open up the tail of the crane by pulling it outward.
- Adjust the shape:
You can gently adjust the shape of the crane’s wings and tail to your liking.
- Admire your origami crane:
Take a moment to admire your beautiful origami crane. You can display it in your home or give it to a friend or loved one as a gift.
Congratulations! You have now successfully folded an origami crane. With practice, you will be able to fold cranes of different sizes and colors, and you can even learn to fold other origami models.
Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to relax, de-stress, and exercise your mind. So grab some paper and start folding!
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about origami:
Question 1: What is origami?
Answer 1: Origami is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. It is a fun and challenging hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Origami models can be simple or complex, and they can be used for decoration, gifts, or even as toys.
Question 2: What kind of paper is best for origami?
Answer 2: Origami paper is typically thin and lightweight, making it easy to fold and manipulate. You can use any type of paper for origami, but origami paper is specifically designed for this purpose and will produce the best results.
Question 3: How do I learn origami?
Answer 3: There are many resources available to help you learn origami. You can find books, DVDs, and online tutorials that will teach you the basic folds and techniques. You can also find origami classes at community centers, libraries, and craft stores.
Question 4: What are some popular origami models?
Answer 4: Some popular origami models include the crane, the butterfly, the fish, the frog, and the rose. These models are relatively easy to fold and are a great place to start for beginners.
Question 5: Can I make money from origami?
Answer 5: Yes, it is possible to make money from origami. You can sell your origami creations online, at craft fairs, or in your own store. You can also teach origami classes or workshops.
Question 6: What are the benefits of origami?
Answer 6: Origami has many benefits, including improving hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills. It can also help to reduce stress and improve focus.
Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little practice, you can learn to fold beautiful and intricate origami models.
Now that you know more about origami, you can start folding your own creations. 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.
There are many different origami folds, but it’s best to start with simple folds and work your way up to more complex ones. Some basic folds include the square fold, the triangle fold, and the bird base fold. Once you have mastered these basic folds, you can start to combine them to create more intricate models.
Tip 2: Use the right paper.
Origami paper is thin and lightweight, making it easy to fold and manipulate. You can use any type of paper for origami, but origami paper will produce the best results. Origami paper is available in a variety of colors and patterns, so you can choose the perfect paper for your project.
Tip 3: Be patient and persistent.
Origami can be challenging, but it’s important to be patient and persistent. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time. Keep practicing and you will eventually be able to fold beautiful and intricate models.
Tip 4: Have fun!
Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby. Enjoy the process of folding paper into beautiful creations. Share your origami models with your friends and family, and inspire them to learn origami too.
With a little practice, you can learn to fold amazing origami models. So grab some paper and start folding!
Origami is a versatile art form that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced folder, there is always something new to learn and create.
Conclusion
Origami is a fascinating and rewarding art form that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for centuries. It is a fun and challenging hobby that can be used to create beautiful and intricate models. Origami can also be used to teach children about geometry, math, and art.
In this article, we have learned how to fold an origami crane, one of the most popular origami models. We have also explored some of the basic folds and techniques used in origami. With a little practice, you can learn to fold a variety of origami models, from simple to complex.
Origami is a great way to relax and de-stress. It is also a great way to exercise your mind and improve your hand-eye coordination. So grab some paper and start folding! Who knows, you might just discover a new hobby that you love.
