Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, is a fun and creative way to express yourself. With just a piece of paper, you can create beautiful and intricate objects, from simple cranes to complex modular pieces. One of the most popular origami models is the swan, a majestic bird that symbolizes beauty and grace.
In this article, we’ll provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to make an origami swan using notebook paper. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced folder, this guide will help you create a beautiful origami swan that you can display in your home or give as a gift.
Before you start folding, gather your materials. You’ll need a single square piece of paper. You can use regular printer paper, origami paper, or even notebook paper. If you’re using notebook paper, make sure to tear it so that you have a square piece.
How to Make an Origami Swan with Notebook Paper
Follow these simple steps to create a beautiful origami swan.
- Prepare square paper.
- Fold in half twice.
- Unfold and fold diagonally.
- Fold in half again.
- Make preliminary folds.
- Fold to create the body.
- Fold wings and neck.
With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold an origami swan in no time!
Prepare square paper.
To begin making your origami swan, you’ll need a single square piece of paper. You can use regular printer paper, origami paper, or even notebook paper. If you’re using notebook paper, follow these steps to prepare a square piece:
1. Tear a rectangular piece of paper from the notebook. Make sure the length of the rectangle is longer than the width.
2. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise. Crease the fold well.
3. Unfold the rectangle.
4. Fold the rectangle in half widthwise. Crease the fold well.
5. Unfold the rectangle.
6. Fold the rectangle diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner. Crease the fold well.
7. Unfold the rectangle.
8. Fold the rectangle diagonally from the other corner to the opposite corner. Crease the fold well.
9. Unfold the rectangle.
You should now have a square piece of paper with several crease lines. This square piece of paper is ready to be used for folding the origami swan.
Once you have your square piece of paper, you can begin folding the origami swan by following the steps in the next section.
Fold in half twice.
Once you have your square piece of paper, follow these steps to fold it in half twice:
- Fold the square in half diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.
Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the square.
You should now have a diamond shape.
- Fold the diamond in half vertically.
Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the diamond.
You should now have a square again, with two crease lines.
Folding the square in half twice creates the basic creases that you will use to fold the origami swan in the next steps.
Unfold and fold diagonally.
After you have folded the square in half twice, unfold it so that you have a square again with two crease lines.
Next, fold the square diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner. Crease the fold well.
Unfold the square again.
Now, fold the square diagonally from the other corner to the opposite corner. Crease the fold well.
Unfold the square again.
You should now have a square with four crease lines, two diagonal and two vertical. These crease lines will help you to fold the origami swan in the next steps.
Once you have unfolded and folded diagonally, you are ready to move on to the next step, which is to fold in half again.
Fold in half again.
After you have unfolded and folded diagonally, you should have a square with four crease lines, two diagonal and two vertical.
Next, fold the square in half again, but this time fold it vertically. Crease the fold well.
Unfold the square.
You should now have a square with five crease lines, two diagonal, two vertical, and one horizontal. These crease lines will help you to fold the origami swan in the next steps.
Once you have folded in half again, you are ready to move on to the next step, which is to make preliminary folds.
Make preliminary folds.
After you have folded in half again, you should have a square with five crease lines, two diagonal, two vertical, and one horizontal.
- Fold the square in half diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.
Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the square.
You should now have a diamond shape.
- Fold the diamond in half vertically.
Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the diamond.
You should now have a square again, with two diagonal crease lines and one vertical crease line.
These preliminary folds will help you to fold the origami swan in the next steps.
Fold to create the body.
After you have made the preliminary folds, you are ready to fold the body of the origami swan.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Fold the square in half diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.
- Unfold the square.
- Fold the square in half diagonally from the other corner to the opposite corner.
- Unfold the square.
- Fold the square in half vertically.
- Unfold the square.
- Fold the square in half horizontally.
- Unfold the square.
- Fold the square in half diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner, but this time only fold the top layer.
- Unfold the square.
- Fold the square in half diagonally from the other corner to the opposite corner, but this time only fold the top layer.
- Unfold the square.
- Fold the square in half vertically, but this time only fold the top layer.
- Unfold the square.
- Fold the square in half horizontally, but this time only fold the top layer.
- Unfold the square.
- You should now have a square with a lot of crease lines.
These crease lines will help you to fold the origami swan in the next steps.
Fold wings and neck.
After you have folded the body of the origami swan, you are ready to fold the wings and neck.
- Fold the top right corner of the square down to the bottom left corner.
Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the square.
You should now have a diagonal crease line.
- Fold the top left corner of the square down to the bottom right corner.
Crease the fold well.
- Unfold the square.
You should now have two diagonal crease lines.
These crease lines will help you to fold the wings and neck in the next steps.
FAQ
Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, is a fun and creative way to express yourself. With just a piece of paper, you can create beautiful and intricate objects, from simple cranes to complex modular pieces.
If you’re new to origami, you may have some questions. Here are some frequently asked questions about origami, along with their answers:
Question 1: What kind of paper is best for origami?
Answer: Origami paper is specially designed for folding, but you can also use regular printer paper or even notebook paper.
Question 2: What are some easy origami projects for beginners?
Answer: Some easy origami projects for beginners include the paper crane, the jumping frog, and the flapping bird.
Question 3: How can I learn how to fold origami?
Answer: There are many resources available to learn how to fold origami, including books, websites, and videos.
Question 4: What are some tips for folding origami?
Answer: Some tips for folding origami include using sharp creases, being patient, and practicing regularly.
Question 5: What are some creative ways to display origami?
Answer: Some creative ways to display origami include hanging it from a string, using it as a centerpiece, or framing it.
Question 6: Where can I find origami supplies?
Answer: You can find origami supplies at craft stores, online retailers, and some bookstores.
Origami is a great way to relax, be creative, and challenge yourself. With a little practice, you’ll be able to fold beautiful and intricate origami pieces that you can enjoy for years to come.
If you’re looking for more ways to improve your origami skills, check out the tips section below.
Tips
Here are some practical tips to help you improve your origami skills:
Tip 1: Use sharp creases.
When you fold origami, it’s important to make sharp creases. This will help your folds to hold their shape and give your origami piece a clean, finished look.
Tip 2: Be patient.
Origami can be challenging, especially at first. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right away. Just keep practicing and you’ll eventually get better.
Tip 3: Practice regularly.
The more you practice origami, the better you’ll become. Try to fold origami regularly, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day.
Tip 4: Use quality paper.
The type of paper you use can also affect the quality of your origami. Origami paper is specially designed for folding, but you can also use regular printer paper or even notebook paper. However, using high-quality paper will make your origami pieces look better and last longer.
With a little practice and patience, you’ll be able to fold beautiful and intricate origami pieces that you can enjoy for years to come.
Now that you have some tips to help you improve your origami skills, it’s time to start folding! Check out the conclusion section below for some final thoughts.
Conclusion
Origami is a fun and creative way to express yourself and challenge your mind. With just a piece of paper, you can create beautiful and intricate objects that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
In this article, we’ve provided you with step-by-step instructions on how to make an origami swan using notebook paper. We’ve also included a FAQ section to answer some common questions about origami, as well as a tips section to help you improve your origami skills.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced folder, we hope you’ve found this article helpful and informative. Origami is a lifelong skill that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. So grab a piece of paper and start folding today!
