How to Make an Origami Brooch

Use colorful paper to make a bold fashion statement.

An origami brooch with bold angles is the little black dress of your jewelry cabinet. From funerals to first dates, a well-made brooch can help jazz up a casual shirt, hide a stain on a jacket or show your support for a charitable cause. However, to achieve this versatility, the brooch must coordinate with a wide variety of fabrics and colors. The best way to maximize the usefulness of the brooch is to select a neutral-toned paper, such as tan, black or beige, and opt for a bold, straightforward design, such as the origami fan.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Scissors
• Thin wire
• Pin backing
• Hot glue
• Sealer or fiberglass resin

Instructions

1. Lay the paper with the decorative side facing down. Fold one side of the paper up 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Crease the fold with your fingernail or the side of a pencil.

2. Flip the paper over. Fold the edge of the paper up the same distance as in Step 1.

3. Repeat Step 2 until the entire page is folded.

4. Turn the page so it is vertical. Mark the paper 1/2 inch from the bottom lightly in pencil. Place a second mark 1 1/2 inches above the first. Cut the paper at this second mark using scissors; you can cut straight across the page or follow an arch for a scalloped edge.

5. Wrap a 2-inch length of wire around the 1/2-inch mark. Position the cut ends of the wire near the undecorated side of the paper.

6. Spread the top and bottom of the paper open slightly to form the fan.

7. Place the fan on the table, decorated-side down.

8. Spread a line of hot glue across the pin back. Press the pin back onto the back of the fan. Flip the fan over before the glue dries, and spread the fan open as desired. Hold the fan in position until the glue dries.

9. Spray the pin with a clear, matte-finish, acrylic sealer to make it water-resistant and easier to clean. Alternately, paint a thin coat of fiberglass resin over the folded fan. Wait for the resin to dry, and then repeat the procedure to apply two to three more coats.

Tips & Warnings

• Beginner's projects have fewer folds and expose a larger portion of the decorative paper.

References

• "Origami Jewelry: More Than 40 Exquisite Designs to Fold and Wear"; Ayako Brodek; 2007
• "Modern Origami"; James Minoru Sakoda; 1997