The paper crane is a traditional Japanese origami figure that symbolizes peace, happiness, and longevity. It is often used as a symbol of hope in times of difficulty and is often given as a gift to wish someone well. Making a paper crane is a fun and rewarding activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little patience and practice, anyone can learn how to make a paper crane in 10 steps.
Paper cranes are made from a single square piece of paper. The paper can be any color or pattern, but traditional paper cranes are made from white or red paper. Once you have chosen your paper, follow the steps below to make your paper crane:
Step 1: Fold the paper in half diagonally in both directions, then unfold.
how to make a paper crane in 10 steps
With a little patience and practice, anyone can learn how to make a paper crane in 10 steps:
- Fold diagonally both ways
- Unfold and rotate 45 degrees
- Fold in half horizontally
- Unfold and fold bottom corners to center
- Flip over and repeat step 4
- Unfold and squash flat
- Fold in half vertically
- Unfold and fold top corners to center
- Fold bottom point to top
- Fold right and left sides to center
Your paper crane is now complete!
Fold diagonally both ways
The first step in making a paper crane is to fold the paper diagonally both ways. This will create two creases that intersect in the center of the paper.
- Start with a square piece of paper.
Traditional paper cranes are made from a 15 cm x 15 cm piece of paper, but you can use any size you like.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally from top left to bottom right.
Make sure the edges of the paper line up evenly.
- Unfold the paper and then fold it in half diagonally from top right to bottom left.
Again, make sure the edges of the paper line up evenly.
- Unfold the paper again.
You should now have two creases that intersect in the center of the paper.
These creases will serve as guides for the rest of the folds.
Unfold and rotate 45 degrees
Once you have folded the paper diagonally both ways, you need to unfold it and then rotate it 45 degrees.
- Unfold the paper completely.
The creases you made in the previous step should still be visible.
- Rotate the paper 45 degrees clockwise.
Make sure that the creases are still lined up evenly.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally from top left to bottom right again.
This time, the fold should go through the center of the square.
- Unfold the paper again.
You should now have a new crease that runs diagonally from top left to bottom right.
This new crease will be used as a guide for the next fold.
Fold in half horizontally
Once you have unfolded the paper and rotated it 45 degrees, you need to fold it in half horizontally.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Bring the top edge of the paper down to meet the bottom edge.
Make sure that the edges of the paper line up evenly. - Crease the fold firmly.
You can use your fingernail or a bone folder to make a sharp crease. - Unfold the paper again.
You should now have a horizontal crease running through the center of the paper.
This horizontal crease will be used as a guide for the next fold.
Now that you have folded the paper in half horizontally, you are ready to move on to the next step: unfolding and folding the bottom corners to the center.
Unfold and fold bottom corners to center
Once you have folded the paper in half horizontally, you need to unfold it and then fold the bottom corners to the center.
- Unfold the paper completely.
The horizontal crease you made in the previous step should still be visible.
- Fold the bottom left corner up to the center crease.
Make sure that the edge of the paper lines up evenly with the crease.
- Crease the fold firmly.
You can use your fingernail or a bone folder to make a sharp crease.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the bottom right corner.
The bottom corners of the paper should now be folded up to the center crease.
These folds will create the wings of the paper crane.
Flip over and repeat step 4
Once you have folded the bottom corners of the paper to the center, you need to flip the paper over and repeat step 4.
- Flip the paper over so that the folded side is facing down.
The horizontal crease you made in step 3 should still be visible.
- Fold the bottom left corner up to the center crease.
Make sure that the edge of the paper lines up evenly with the crease.
- Crease the fold firmly.
You can use your fingernail or a bone folder to make a sharp crease.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the bottom right corner.
The bottom corners of the paper should now be folded up to the center crease.
These folds will create the other wings of the paper crane.
Unfold and squash flat
Once you have folded the bottom corners of the paper to the center on both sides, you need to unfold the paper and squash it flat.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Unfold the paper completely.
You should now have a square piece of paper with two horizontal creases and four diagonal creases. - Place the paper on a flat surface.
Make sure that the creases are lined up evenly. - Use your hands to squash the paper flat.
Start from the center of the paper and work your way outwards. Apply gentle pressure until the paper is flat. - Turn the paper over and repeat steps 2 and 3.
This will ensure that the paper is flat on both sides.
Once you have squashed the paper flat, you are ready to move on to the next step: folding in half vertically.
Squashing the paper flat will help to create a crisp and defined crease along the diagonal folds. This crease will be used as a guide for the next fold.
Fold in half vertically
Once you have unfolded and squashed the paper flat, you need to fold it in half vertically.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Bring the right edge of the paper to meet the left edge.
Make sure that the edges of the paper line up evenly. - Crease the fold firmly.
You can use your fingernail or a bone folder to make a sharp crease. - Unfold the paper again.
You should now have a vertical crease running through the center of the paper.
This vertical crease will be used as a guide for the next fold.
Folding the paper in half vertically will help to create the body of the paper crane. The next step is to unfold the paper and fold the top corners to the center.
Unfold and fold top corners to center
Once you have folded the paper in half vertically, you need to unfold it and then fold the top corners to the center.
- Unfold the paper completely.
The vertical crease you made in the previous step should still be visible.
- Fold the top left corner down to the center crease.
Make sure that the edge of the paper lines up evenly with the crease.
- Crease the fold firmly.
You can use your fingernail or a bone folder to make a sharp crease.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the top right corner.
The top corners of the paper should now be folded down to the center crease.
These folds will create the head and tail of the paper crane.
Fold bottom point to top
Once you have folded the top corners of the paper to the center, you need to fold the bottom point to the top.
- Bring the bottom point of the paper up to meet the top point.
Make sure that the edges of the paper line up evenly.
- Crease the fold firmly.
You can use your fingernail or a bone folder to make a sharp crease.
- Unfold the paper slightly.
You should now have a small triangular flap at the bottom of the paper.
- Fold the triangular flap up into the pocket created by the top fold.
This will create the beak of the paper crane.
Your paper crane is now complete!
Fold right and left sides to center
Once you have folded the bottom point to the top and created the beak of the paper crane, you need to fold the right and left sides to the center.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Bring the right edge of the paper to meet the center crease.
Make sure that the edge of the paper lines up evenly with the crease. - Crease the fold firmly.
You can use your fingernail or a bone folder to make a sharp crease. - Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the left edge of the paper.
The right and left sides of the paper should now be folded to the center crease. - Unfold the paper slightly.
You should now have two triangular flaps on the sides of the paper. - Fold the triangular flaps up into the pockets created by the top fold.
This will help to secure the wings of the paper crane.
Your paper crane is now complete!
FAQ
Have questions about origami? Here are some frequently asked questions and answers:
Question 1: What is origami?
Answer: Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. It is a fun and challenging way to create beautiful and intricate shapes using only a single sheet of paper.
Question 2: What kind of paper is best for origami?
Answer: Origami paper is specially designed for folding and is available in a variety of colors and patterns. However, you can also use regular printer paper or any other thin, lightweight paper.
Question 3: What are some basic origami folds?
Answer: Some basic origami folds include the square fold, the triangle fold, the bird base, and the fish base. Once you have mastered these basic folds, you can use them to create more complex origami models.
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 YouTube videos. You can also find origami classes at local community centers or craft stores.
Question 5: What are some popular origami models?
Answer: Some popular origami models include the crane, the butterfly, the rose, and the dragon. These models are relatively easy to make and are a great way to practice your origami skills.
Question 6: What are some tips for making origami?
Answer: Here are a few tips for making origami:
– Start with simple models and work your way up to more complex ones.
– Use good quality paper that is easy to fold.
– Make sure your folds are precise and sharp.
– Be patient and don’t get discouraged if you make a mistake.
Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little practice, you can learn how to create beautiful and intricate origami models that will impress your friends and family.
Now that you know more about origami, here are some tips for making your own origami models:
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you make beautiful and intricate origami models:
Tip 1: Start with simple models.
Don’t try to start with a complex model if you’re new to origami. Start with simple models, such as the crane or the butterfly, to get the hang of the basic folds. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can move on to more challenging models.
Tip 2: Use good quality paper.
The type of paper you use can make a big difference in the final product. Origami paper is specially designed for folding and is easy to work with. However, you can also use regular printer paper or any other thin, lightweight paper. Just make sure that the paper is not too thick or stiff.
Tip 3: Make sure your folds are precise and sharp.
Precise and sharp folds are essential for creating beautiful origami models. Take your time and make sure that each fold is lined up properly. You can use a bone folder or your fingernail to make sharp creases.
Tip 4: Be patient and don’t get discouraged.
Origami can be challenging, but it’s also very rewarding. Don’t get discouraged if you make a mistake. Just keep practicing and you’ll eventually be able to create beautiful and intricate origami models.
With a little practice, you can learn how to create beautiful and intricate origami models that will impress your friends and family.
Now that you have some tips for making origami, it’s time to start folding!
Conclusion
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. With a little practice, you can learn how to create beautiful and intricate origami models that will impress your friends and family.
Here are a few of the main points we covered in this article:
- Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding.
- Origami can be made with any thin, lightweight paper, but origami paper is specially designed for folding.
- There are many different origami folds, but some of the most basic folds include the square fold, the triangle fold, the bird base, and the fish base.
- There are many resources available to learn how to do origami, including books, websites, and YouTube videos.
- Some popular origami models include the crane, the butterfly, the rose, and the dragon.
- With a little practice, you can learn how to create beautiful and intricate origami models that will impress your friends and family.
Origami is a great way to express your creativity and to create beautiful works of art. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
