How to Coat Origami to Stiffen

Stiffen and weatherproof your origami projects with spray acrylic sealer.

Origami is a form of traditional Japanese art that involves folding sheets of decorative paper into the shapes of objects. Common origami designs include boats, pinwheels and airplanes. After you've folded your origami designs, stiffen and weatherproof them by spraying them with clear acrylic sealant. Sold in spray cans, acrylic sealant comes in matte and glossy varieties. Use spray acrylic sealant in the same way you use colored spray paint. Give your origami a longer life by coating it with sealant after folding.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• Spray acrylic sealant

Instructions

1. Fold a paper square into the origami design of your choice.

2. Spread a sheet of newspaper on a flat surface, preferably outdoors. Set the origami on the newspaper.

3. Shake the can of acrylic sealant for 30 seconds to mix the contents.

4. Hold the sealant can 10 inches away from the origami. Depress the button on top and spray the origami with a slow, side-to-side motion. Coat all surfaces of the paper evenly.

5. Allow the origami to dry for 30 minutes. Apply additional coats of sealant as necessary.

References

• All About Origami: Weatherproof Origami
• "Origami for the First Time"; Soonboke Smith; 2004
• I Love to Create: How to use Aleene's Spray Acrylic Sealer

Resources

• Origami Instructions: Simple Origami