Origami is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. It is a fun and creative way to make beautiful objects out of paper, and it is also a great way to relax and de-stress. One of the most popular origami figures is the crane. The crane is a symbol of peace and good luck, and it is often given as a gift or used in decoration.
If you’ve never done origami before, don’t worry! This tutorial will teach you how to make an easy origami crane in just a few steps. All you need is a piece of square paper. Let’s get started!
Now that you have a basic understanding of origami and the materials you need, let’s move on to the step-by-step instructions for making an easy origami crane.
How to Do an Easy Origami Crane
Follow these 7 steps to make a beautiful origami crane:
- Start with a square sheet
- Fold in half twice
- Unfold and squash-fold
- Fold in half diagonally
- Unfold and make bird base
- Fold wings and head
- Fold tail and fluff
Congratulations! You have now made an origami crane. Display it proudly or give it as a gift to a friend or loved one.
Start with a square sheet
To begin making your origami crane, you will need a square sheet of paper. You can use any type of paper, but origami paper is ideal because it is thin and easy to fold. If you don’t have origami paper, you can use a regular piece of paper and trim it into a square.
To make a square sheet of paper, follow these steps:
- Start with a rectangular piece of paper.
- Fold the top edge down to meet the bottom edge.
- Unfold the paper.
- Fold the right edge to meet the left edge.
- Unfold the paper.
- You should now have two creases in the paper, one horizontal and one vertical.
- Fold the paper along the diagonal crease from the top right corner to the bottom left corner.
- Unfold the paper.
- Fold the paper along the other diagonal crease from the top left corner to the bottom right corner.
- Unfold the paper.
- You should now have four creases in the paper, forming a square.
- Trim off the excess paper along the edges to create a perfect square.
Now that you have a square sheet of paper, you are ready to start folding your origami crane.
Once you have your square sheet of paper, you can begin folding your origami crane. The first step is to fold the paper in half twice, creating a small square.
Fold in half twice
Once you have your square sheet of paper, the next step is to fold it in half twice, creating a small square.
- Fold the paper in half horizontally.
To do this, bring the top edge of the paper down to meet the bottom edge. Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper.
- Fold the paper in half vertically.
To do this, bring the right edge of the paper to meet the left edge. Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper.
You should now have two creases in the paper, one horizontal and one vertical, intersecting in the center. These creases will help you to fold the paper accurately in the next steps.
Unfold and squash-fold
Once you have folded the paper in half twice, you will need to unfold it and then make a squash-fold.
- Unfold the paper completely.
- Squash-fold the paper.
To do this, place your hands on opposite corners of the paper and push them together, bringing the two edges of the paper together. Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper.
- You should now have a diamond shape.
The squash-fold helps to create the basic shape of the crane. In the next steps, you will fold the paper in different ways to create the wings, head, and tail of the crane.
Fold in half diagonally
Once you have made the squash-fold and unfolded the paper, you will need to fold the paper in half diagonally.
- Fold the paper in half from top right to bottom left.
To do this, bring the top right corner of the paper down to meet the bottom left corner. Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper.
- Fold the paper in half from top left to bottom right.
To do this, bring the top left corner of the paper down to meet the bottom right corner. Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper.
You should now have two diagonal creases in the paper, intersecting in the center. These creases will help you to fold the paper accurately in the next steps.
Unfold and make bird base
Once you have folded the paper in half diagonally twice and unfolded it, you will need to unfold the paper completely and then make the bird base.
To make the bird base, follow these steps:
- Hold the paper with the diamond shape facing you.
- Fold the top layer of the paper down to the center crease.
- Fold the bottom layer of the paper up to the center crease.
- Fold the right layer of the paper to the center crease.
- Fold the left layer of the paper to the center crease.
- You should now have a square with a small triangle sticking out from the bottom.
- Fold the triangle up to the top edge of the square.
- Fold the square in half horizontally.
- Unfold the last fold.
- You should now have a bird base.
The bird base is the foundation for many different origami figures, including the crane.
Once you have made the bird base, you are ready to fold the wings, head, and tail of the crane.
Fold wings and head
To fold the wings and head of the crane, follow these steps:
- Unfold the last fold you made in the previous step.
- Fold the top layer of the paper down to the center crease.
- Fold the bottom layer of the paper up to the center crease.
- Fold the right layer of the paper to the center crease.
- Fold the left layer of the paper to the center crease.
- You should now have a square with a small triangle sticking out from the bottom.
- Fold the triangle up to the top edge of the square.
- Fold the square in half horizontally.
- Unfold the last fold.
- You should now have a bird base.
- Fold the top layer of the paper down to the center crease.
- Fold the bottom layer of the paper up to the center crease.
- Fold the right layer of the paper to the center crease.
- Fold the left layer of the paper to the center crease.
- You should now have a square with a small triangle sticking out from the bottom.
- Fold the triangle up to the top edge of the square.
- Fold the square in half horizontally.
- Unfold the last fold.
- You should now have the wings and head of the crane.
Once you have folded the wings and head, you are ready to fold the tail of the crane.
Fold tail and fluff
To fold the tail and fluff the crane, follow these steps:
- Unfold the last fold you made in the previous step.
- Fold the bottom layer of the paper up to the center crease.
- Fold the top layer of the paper down to the center crease.
- Fold the right layer of the paper to the center crease.
- Fold the left layer of the paper to the center crease.
- You should now have a square with a small triangle sticking out from the bottom.
- Fold the triangle up to the top edge of the square.
- Fold the square in half horizontally.
- Unfold the last fold.
- You should now have the tail of the crane.
- To fluff the crane, gently pull on the wings and tail to make them spread out.
Your origami crane is now complete! You can display it proudly or give it as a gift to a friend or loved one.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about origami:
Question 1: What is origami?
Answer: Origami is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. It is a fun and creative way to make beautiful objects out of paper, and it is also a great way to relax and de-stress.
Question 2: What materials do I need to do origami?
Answer: All you need to do origami is a piece of paper. However, origami paper is specially designed for folding and is easier to work with than regular paper.
Question 3: What are some easy origami projects for beginners?
Answer: Some easy origami projects for beginners include the crane, the boat, and the airplane.
Question 4: Where can I learn how to do origami?
Answer: There are many resources available to learn how to do origami, including books, websites, and videos. You can also find origami classes at local community centers and libraries.
Question 5: What are some tips for doing origami?
Answer: Here are a few tips for doing origami:
Use good quality origami paper.
Follow the instructions carefully.
Be patient and don’t get discouraged if you make a mistake.
Practice regularly to improve your skills.
Question 6: Is origami difficult to learn?
Answer: Origami can be challenging at first, but with practice, anyone can learn to fold beautiful origami objects.
Question 7: What are some of the benefits of doing origami?
Answer: Origami has many benefits, including:
Improving hand-eye coordination
Developing spatial reasoning skills
Reducing stress and anxiety
Encouraging creativity and imagination
Origami is a fun and rewarding activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you are looking for a new hobby, origami is a great option.
Now that you know a little bit 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: Use good quality origami paper.
Origami paper is specially designed for folding and is easier to work with than regular paper. It is also more durable and holds creases better.
Tip 2: Follow the instructions carefully.
Origami instructions can be complex, so it is important to follow them carefully. If you make a mistake, don’t be afraid to start over.
Tip 3: Be patient and don’t get discouraged.
Origami can be challenging at first, but with practice, anyone can learn to fold beautiful origami objects. Don’t get discouraged if you make a mistake or if your first few attempts don’t turn out perfect.
Tip 4: Practice regularly to improve your skills.
The more you practice origami, the better you will become at it. Try to fold different origami objects regularly to improve your skills and learn new techniques.
Tip 5: Use your imagination.
Origami is a great way to express your creativity. Once you have mastered the basics, you can start to experiment with different folds and techniques to create your own unique origami objects.
Origami is a fun and rewarding activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little practice, you can learn to fold beautiful and intricate origami objects that will impress your friends and family.
Now that you have some tips to help you get started, it’s time to give origami a try! There are many different origami projects to choose from, so you’re sure to find something that you enjoy folding.
Conclusion
Origami is a fun and rewarding activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to relax and de-stress, and it can also help to improve hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning skills, and creativity.
In this article, we have provided you with a step-by-step guide on how to make an easy origami crane. We have also included a FAQ section and a tips section to help you get started with origami.
We encourage you to give origami a try. With a little practice, you can learn to fold beautiful and intricate origami objects that will impress your friends and family.
Origami is a lifelong skill that can be enjoyed for years to come. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
