How to Make 3D Origami Triangles
Origami 3D triangles provide a way for a beginning paper crafter to practice her folding and creasing skills. Use larger origami sheets to begin, and use small squares for a challenge. Always press your finger along each creased fold for sharp lines and the best finished shape.
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Instructions
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Lay out a flat, square piece of origami paper.
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Fold the paper on a diagonal, unfold it, then fold it on the opposite diagonal. Unfold the square. Lay it out so the creases sit at diagonals, creating three triangular sections on the square.
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Hold the square on either side, at the center point of each side. Pull the sides gently in toward each other, meeting in the center of the bottom triangular section. Don't let the paper crease, but lay the two ends flat on the underlayer to form a sort of triangular funnel.
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Crease the sides downward, forming a triangle, but keep the "funnel" intact. Slowly flatten the funnel forward and down toward the paper below to form a triangle. Press the creases to make the shape.
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Lift the right bottom triangle edge — just the top layer — and bring the point to the top center point, pressing down to crease. Repeat on the left side. Turn the triangle over, and repeat the step. You should have a diamond when finished.
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Fold the right diamond corner in toward the center. Press down to crease, and repeat on the right side. Turn the diamond over, and repeat the step. You should have a tiny kite shape when finished.
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Unfold the right flap, then unfold it once more. Fold down the triangular tip on the end of the right flap. Press down to crease. Refold the flap twice to get the kite shape back. Repeat on the left flap. Turn the kite shape over. Repeat the previous step on the left and right flaps.
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Hold the kite shape up in front of you. Separate the front and back paper layers with your fingers without unfolding anything, turning the flaps 45 degrees so they spread out with points facing you.
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Press the flaps toward the center of the shape to crease them. Hold the kite shape so it has the four flaps, or panels, sticking directly out to the sides. The shape should look like a four-point star from overhead.
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Pull two flaps on opposite sides extremely gently, slightly opening the shape. Turn the shape, then do the same with the adjacent flap and its opposite partner, opening up the shape a bit more. The bottom of the pyramid should appear and expand. Pull at its corners to smooth it out.
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Turn the 3D triangle over, sit it on its base and gently pull and press to shape it.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
