Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, is a fascinating and rewarding craft that can create beautiful and intricate objects from a single sheet of paper. The origami crane is one of the most iconic and widely recognized origami models, symbolizing peace and good fortune in many cultures.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps of creating an origami crane with detailed instructions and illustrative pictures. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced folder, this guide will help you create a stunning origami crane that you can display or share with loved ones.
To begin, you will need a square sheet of paper. For a traditional look, use a sheet with a single color on one side and a different color on the other. This will create a striking visual effect when the crane is folded.
How to Make an Origami Crane: Step-By-Step with Pictures
Follow these 9 simple steps to create a beautiful origami crane:
- Prepare square paper
- Fold in half twice
- Unfold and squash-fold
- Fold in half diagonally
- Unfold and make bird base
- Form the head and tail
- Fold wings and shape
- Fold neck and fluff feathers
- Enjoy your origami crane
With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold an origami crane in no time. Share your creations with friends and family, or display them in your home as a symbol of peace and beauty.
Prepare Square Paper
The first step in making an origami crane is to prepare a square piece of paper. You can use any type of paper, but origami paper is ideal because it is thin and easy to fold. Origami paper also comes in a variety of colors and patterns, so you can create cranes with different looks.
- Choose your paper.
Origami paper is ideal, but you can use any thin, square paper.
- Cut a square.
If you don’t have square paper, you can cut a square from a rectangular piece of paper.
- Fold and unfold the paper diagonally.
This will mark the center of the paper.
- Fold and unfold the paper in half both ways.
This will create four crease lines that intersect in the center.
Once you have prepared your square paper, you are ready to begin folding your origami crane.
Fold in Half Twice
Once you have prepared your square paper, it’s time to start folding. The first step is to fold the paper in half twice, creating a smaller square.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Fold the paper in half diagonally.
- Unfold the paper.
- Fold the paper in half in the opposite direction.
- Unfold the paper again.
You should now have a square piece of paper with four crease lines intersecting in the center.
These crease lines will serve as guides for the rest of the origami crane folds.
With the paper folded in half twice, you are ready to proceed to the next step of making your origami crane.
Unfold and Squash-Fold
Once you have folded the paper in half twice, it’s time to unfold and make a squash-fold.
- Unfold the paper completely.
It should be a square again.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally, from one corner to the opposite corner.
This will create a triangle.
- Unfold the triangle.
You should now have a diamond shape.
- Fold the diamond in half vertically.
This will create a long, narrow rectangle.
The squash-fold is a technique used to create a flat, square shape from a rectangular shape. It is used in many origami models, including the crane.
To make a squash-fold, follow these steps:
- Hold the rectangle in front of you, with the long edge horizontal.
- Pinch the center of the rectangle with your thumb and forefinger.
- Push the center of the rectangle down and to the right, while simultaneously pushing the top and bottom edges of the rectangle up and to the left.
- Continue folding until the rectangle is flat and square.
Once you have made the squash-fold, you are ready to proceed to the next step of making your origami crane.
Fold in Half Diagonally
After unfolding the paper and making the squash-fold, you will need to fold the paper in half diagonally.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Hold the square piece of paper in front of you, with one corner pointing up.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally, from the top corner to the opposite bottom corner.
- Unfold the paper.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally again, from the other top corner to the opposite bottom corner.
You should now have a square piece of paper with two diagonal crease lines intersecting in the center.
These crease lines will be used to create the wings and tail of the origami crane.
With the paper folded in half diagonally, you are ready to proceed to the next step of making your origami crane.
Unfold and Make Bird Base
Once you have folded the paper in half diagonally twice, it’s time to unfold the paper and make the bird base.
The bird base is a fundamental origami fold that is used to create many different origami models, including the crane.
To make the bird base, follow these steps:
- Unfold the paper completely.
- Fold the paper in half vertically.
- Unfold the paper.
- Fold the top edge of the paper down to the center crease.
- Fold the bottom edge of the paper up to the center crease.
- Unfold the top and bottom folds.
- Fold the left and right edges of the paper to the center crease.
- Unfold the left and right folds.
- Fold the paper in half horizontally.
- Unfold the paper.
You should now have a square piece of paper with a bird base fold pattern.
This fold pattern will be used to create the body and wings of the origami crane.
With the bird base folded, you are ready to proceed to the next step of making your origami crane.
Form the Head and Tail
Once you have made the bird base, you can start to form the head and tail of the origami crane.
- Fold the top layer of the paper down to the center crease.
- Unfold the fold.
- Fold the left and right edges of the top layer of the paper to the center crease.
- Unfold the folds.
You should now have a square piece of paper with a bird base fold pattern and four creases radiating out from the center.
These creases will be used to form the head and tail of the crane.
- Fold the top flap of the paper down along the crease that you made in step 1.
- Unfold the fold.
- Fold the bottom flap of the paper up along the crease that you made in step 1.
- Unfold the fold.
You should now have a diamond shape with a crease running down the center.
This crease will be used to form the head and tail of the crane.
Fold Wings and Shape
Once you have formed the head and tail of the origami crane, you can start to fold the wings and shape the body.
To fold the wings, follow these steps:
- Fold the left and right edges of the diamond shape to the center crease.
- Unfold the folds.
- Fold the top layer of the paper down to the center crease.
- Unfold the fold.
- Fold the bottom layer of the paper up to the center crease.
- Unfold the fold.
You should now have a square piece of paper with a bird base fold pattern and four creases radiating out from the center.
These creases will be used to fold the wings of the crane.
To fold the wings, follow these steps:
- Fold the left and right flaps of the paper inward along the creases that you made in step 1.
- Unfold the folds.
- Fold the top and bottom flaps of the paper inward along the creases that you made in step 1.
- Unfold the folds.
You should now have a square piece of paper with a bird base fold pattern and four creases radiating out from the center.
These creases will be used to shape the body of the crane.
With the wings folded and the body shaped, you are ready to proceed to the next step of making your origami crane.
Fold Neck and Fluff Feathers
Once you have folded the wings and shaped the body of the origami crane, you can start to fold the neck and fluff the feathers.
- Fold the top layer of the paper down to the center crease.
- Unfold the fold.
- Fold the bottom layer of the paper up to the center crease.
- Unfold the fold.
You should now have a square piece of paper with a bird base fold pattern and four creases radiating out from the center.
These creases will be used to fold the neck of the crane.
- Fold the left and right edges of the paper inward along the creases that you made in step 1.
- Unfold the folds.
- Fold the top and bottom flaps of the paper inward along the creases that you made in step 1.
- Unfold the folds.
You should now have a diamond shape with a crease running down the center.
This crease will be used to fold the neck of the crane.
Enjoy Your Origami Crane
Once you have folded the neck and fluffed the feathers, your origami crane is complete!
- Admire your work.
Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of your origami crane.
- Display your crane.
Find a special place to display your crane, such as on a shelf, in a window, or hanging from a string.
- Share your crane with others.
Origami cranes are a wonderful gift to give to friends and family. They are also a great way to spread peace and goodwill.
- Make more cranes.
Once you have mastered the basic origami crane fold, you can try making different variations of the crane, such as a double crane or a modular crane.
Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little practice, you can create beautiful and intricate origami models that will impress your friends and family.
So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
FAQ
Have questions about origami? Here are some frequently asked questions and answers to help you get started:
Question 1: What is origami?
Answer: Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. It is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Question 2: What kind of paper is best for origami?
Answer: Origami paper is ideal, but you can use any thin, square paper.
Question 3: What are some basic origami folds?
Answer: Some basic origami folds include the square fold, the triangle fold, and the bird base fold.
Question 4: What are some popular origami models?
Answer: Some popular origami models include the crane, the frog, and the butterfly.
Question 5: How can I learn how to fold origami?
Answer: There are many resources available to help you learn how to fold origami, including books, websites, and videos.
Question 6: Where can I find origami paper and other supplies?
Answer: You can find origami paper and other supplies at craft stores, online retailers, and some bookstores.
Question 7: Can I sell origami models that I make?
Answer: In general, it is not advisable to sell origami models that you make without the permission of the original designer. However, there are some origami models that are considered to be in the public domain and can be sold.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ:
Origami is a beautiful and rewarding art form that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little practice, you can create stunning origami models that will impress your friends and family. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
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 practical 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. Begin with simple folds, such as the square fold, the triangle fold, and the bird base fold. Once you have mastered these basic folds, you can start to learn more complex models.
Tip 2: Use good quality paper.
Origami paper is ideal, but you can use any thin, square paper. Make sure the paper is not too thick or too thin. Thick paper will be difficult to fold, and thin paper will tear easily.
Tip 3: Be patient.
Origami can be challenging at first, but it is important to be patient. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time. Keep practicing and you will eventually be able to fold complex models with ease.
Tip 4: Have fun!
Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby. Enjoy the process of folding and creating beautiful origami models.
Closing Paragraph for Tips:
With a little practice, you can create stunning origami models that will impress your friends and family. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
Now that you have some tips to get you started, let’s talk about how you can use origami to create beautiful and unique decorations for your home.
Conclusion
Origami is a beautiful and rewarding art form that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little practice, you can create stunning origami models that will impress your friends and family.
In this article, we have provided you with a step-by-step guide on how to make an origami crane, as well as a FAQ section and some tips to help you get started.
We hope that you have found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
Closing Message:
Origami is a wonderful way to express your creativity and to create beautiful and unique decorations for your home. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
