How to Fold an Origami Heart Note

The more you practice an origami, the easier learning a new one will be.

Folding basic origami shapes is relatively simple, but more complex shapes require a bit more work. Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding, and folding a heart is just one of many possible origami options. A heart origami can be used to express love and friendship. This origami in particular will have a pocket when you're finished, inside which you can conceal another note or a piece of candy, if you like.

Things You'll Need

• Square piece of paper
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Write your note on your square paper with the pencil. Lay the paper in front of you, with one of the edges facing you. Match the bottom left point with the upper right point, fold and crease. This will create a diagonal line. Do the same with the other two corners- match the bottom right with the upper left, and crease.

2. Pull the top edge down to meet the bottom edge, and make a sharp crease. While still folded, pull the left edge over to the right edge, and make another sharp crease. Unfold both folds, and lay the paper with one edge facing you. Flip the piece of paper, and repeat all of the folds that you made up until now.

3. Pull two corners towards each other. Place your forefingers on the corners. Place your thumbs under the corner near your and your middle fingers under the corner away, and pull them up, on either side of the corners you have folded. Pull your forefingers off the corners as you fold upwards. You will have a diamond-shaped piece of paper, with the "open" end facing up.

4. Fold the tip of the front face down towards you by about one-third. You'll have the front flap folded down, and you'll be able to see the the two tips you folded inside of the diamond. Flip your diamond over, and fold the "back" tip down by the same amount. This will leave the two internal tips.

5. Take the left tip and fold it down and to the left. The fold will be at a 45-degree angle from the split between the left and the right tip. Fold the right tip down and to the right, in the same manner. The edge that was along the split will match up with the top of a horizontal fold.

6. Fold the very tips of the two uppermost points down, and fold the point on the right and the left side in by a small amount. You just want to fold in a very little, so that the corners are now flat edges. You will have a heart shape.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use paper that is a different color on it's front and back, which will create a two-toned look.

• Decorate the outside of your heart with crayons or stickers if the situation calls for it.

• If you fold and pull too much on a piece of paper, it will tear. If you are having trouble, use a practice paper first before you do it on the note paper.

References

• DLTK's Growing Together: Origami Heart with Pocket