Origami is the art of folding paper into intricate shapes, and it’s a fun and challenging activity for people of all ages. If you’re new to origami, starting with a simple project like an origami lily pad is a great way to learn the basics. This easy-to-follow tutorial will guide you through the steps of creating a beautiful origami lily pad that you can use to decorate your home or give as a gift.
Origami lily pads are a beautiful and versatile decoration. They can be used to decorate your home, office, or classroom. They can also be used as placemats or coasters. Origami lily pads are also a great way to teach children about geometry and folding. Origami lily pads can be made with any color or type of paper, and are relatively simple to make.
Before you begin, you’ll need a square piece of paper. The size of the paper will determine the size of your lily pad. For a small lily pad, you can use a 6-inch square of paper. For a larger lily pad, you can use an 8-inch or 10-inch square of paper.
How to Make an Origami Lily Pad
Follow these 5 simple steps to create a beautiful origami lily pad:
- Fold in Half
- Fold in Half Diagonally
- Unfold and Squash Fold
- Fold and Unfold to Create Creases
- Fold Into Lily Pad Shape
With a little practice, you’ll be able to make origami lily pads quickly and easily. You can use them to decorate your home, office, or classroom. You can also give them as gifts to friends and family.
Fold in Half
To begin making your origami lily pad, start with a square piece of paper. Hold the paper in front of you so that it is oriented like a diamond, with one point facing up and one point facing down. Then, fold the paper in half from top to bottom, aligning the top and bottom edges. Crease the fold well with your fingers or a bone folder.
Unfold the paper so that it is flat again. Then, fold the paper in half from left to right, aligning the left and right edges. Again, crease the fold well.
Unfold the paper again so that it is flat. You should now have two intersecting crease lines, dividing the paper into four equal quadrants.
Fold the paper in half diagonally from top left to bottom right, aligning the top left and bottom right corners. Crease the fold well.
Unfold the paper again so that it is flat. You should now have a total of five crease lines, dividing the paper into eight equal triangles.
The “Fold in Half” step is the foundation for creating the origami lily pad. These crease lines will help you fold the paper into the correct shape later on.
Fold in Half Diagonally
Take the square piece of paper that you have folded in half twice already. Orient the paper so that it is a diamond shape, with one point facing up and one point facing down. The two existing crease lines should intersect in the center of the diamond.
Fold the paper in half diagonally from top left to bottom right, aligning the top left and bottom right corners. Crease the fold well with your fingers or a bone folder.
Unfold the paper so that it is flat again. You should now have a total of five crease lines, dividing the paper into eight equal triangles.
Repeat the diagonal fold in the opposite direction, from top right to bottom left. Crease the fold well.
Unfold the paper again so that it is flat. You should now have a total of nine crease lines, dividing the paper into sixteen equal triangles.
The “Fold in Half Diagonally” step helps to create the basic shape of the origami lily pad. The crease lines that you have made will allow you to fold the paper into the correct shape in the next steps.
Unfold and Squash Fold
Once you have folded the paper in half diagonally in both directions, you need to unfold the paper and make some squash folds.
- Unfold the paper completely.
- Locate the center crease line. This is the crease line that runs vertically down the middle of the paper.
- Make a squash fold on the left side of the center crease line. To do this, fold the left edge of the paper in towards the center crease line, aligning the edges. Crease the fold well.
- Make a squash fold on the right side of the center crease line. To do this, fold the right edge of the paper in towards the center crease line, aligning the edges. Crease the fold well.
The squash folds will help to create the shape of the lily pad. They will also make the paper easier to fold in the next steps.
Fold and Unfold to Create Creases
After making the squash folds, you need to fold and unfold the paper in certain ways to create additional creases. These creases will help you to fold the paper into the correct shape in the next steps.
- Fold the paper in half from top to bottom. Align the top and bottom edges of the paper, and crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper so that it is flat again.
- Fold the paper in half from left to right. Align the left and right edges of the paper, and crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper so that it is flat again.
You should now have a total of eleven crease lines on your paper. These crease lines will make it easier to fold the paper into the shape of a lily pad in the next steps.
Fold Into Lily Pad Shape
Once you have folded and unfolded the paper to create the necessary creases, you can start to fold the paper into the shape of a lily pad.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Fold the paper in half from top to bottom. Align the top and bottom edges of the paper, and crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper so that it is flat again.
- Fold the paper in half from left to right. Align the left and right edges of the paper, and crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper so that it is flat again.
- Locate the center crease line. This is the crease line that runs vertically down the middle of the paper.
- Fold the left edge of the paper in towards the center crease line. Align the edges, and crease the fold well.
- Fold the right edge of the paper in towards the center crease line. Align the edges, and crease the fold well.
- Fold the top edge of the paper down towards the bottom edge. Align the edges, and crease the fold well.
- Unfold all of the folds that you just made.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally from top left to bottom right. Align the top left and bottom right corners, and crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper so that it is flat again.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally from top right to bottom left. Align the top right and bottom left corners, and crease the fold well.
- Unfold the paper so that it is flat again.
- Push up the center of the paper to form a lily pad shape. The creases that you made earlier will help the paper to fold into the correct shape.
- Adjust the shape of the lily pad as needed. You can make the lily pad more or less open by adjusting the angles of the folds.
Once you are satisfied with the shape of your lily pad, you can crease the folds well to help it hold its shape.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about origami, along with their answers:
Question 1: What is origami?
Answer: Origami is the art of folding paper into intricate 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: Origami paper is specially designed for folding. It is thin and strong, and it comes in a variety of colors and patterns. You can also use regular printer paper for origami, but it is not as ideal.
Question 3: What are some easy origami projects for beginners?
Answer: Some easy origami projects for beginners include the paper airplane, the boat, the jumping frog, and the origami lily pad. These projects are simple to fold and do not require any special skills or materials.
Question 4: Where can I learn how to fold origami?
Answer: There are many resources available to help you learn how to fold origami. You can find origami books and magazines at your local library or bookstore. You can also find many free origami tutorials online.
Question 5: What are some tips for folding origami?
Answer: Here are some tips for folding origami:
- Start with simple projects and work your way up to more complex ones.
- Use good quality paper that is easy to fold.
- Follow the instructions carefully and crease the folds well.
- Be patient and don’t get discouraged if you make a mistake. Just start over and try again.
Question 6: What are some fun things to do with origami?
Answer: You can use origami to make decorations, gifts, toys, and even furniture. You can also use origami to teach children about geometry and math.
Origami is a versatile and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little practice, you can create beautiful and intricate origami creations.
Now that you know a little bit more about origami, you can start folding your own origami creations.
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you improve your origami skills and create beautiful origami creations:
Tip 1: Start with simple projects.
If you are new to origami, it is best to start with simple projects that do not require a lot of复杂的步骤. This will help you to learn the basic folds and techniques of origami. Once you have mastered the basics, you can then move on to more challenging projects.
Tip 2: Use good quality paper.
The type of paper that you use can make a big difference in the quality of your origami creations. Origami paper is specially designed for folding, and it is thin and strong. It also comes in a variety of colors and patterns. If you are using regular printer paper, make sure that it is thin and easy to fold.
Tip 3: Follow the instructions carefully.
When you are folding origami, it is important to follow the instructions carefully. Even a small mistake can ruin the final product. If you are having trouble following the instructions, there are many resources available to help you, such as origami books, magazines, and online tutorials.
Tip 4: Be patient and don’t get discouraged.
Origami can be a challenging hobby, and it takes time and practice to master. Don’t get discouraged if you make a mistake or if your first few projects don’t turn out perfectly. Just keep practicing and you will eventually be able to create beautiful and intricate origami creations.
With a little practice, you can use origami to create beautiful decorations, gifts, toys, and even furniture. You can also use origami to teach children about geometry and math.
Origami is a rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
Conclusion
Origami is a fun and challenging hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to learn about geometry and math, and it can also be used to create beautiful decorations, gifts, and toys.
In this article, we have provided you with a step-by-step guide on how to make an origami lily pad. We have also included a FAQ section and a tips section to help you learn more about origami and improve your skills.
We hope that you have enjoyed this article and that you will continue to explore the world of origami. With a little practice, you can create beautiful and intricate origami creations that will impress your friends and family.
Origami is a rewarding hobby that can bring you years of enjoyment. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
