How to Make an Origami Disco Ball
Origami disco balls can be made by learning a few basic folds. A waterbomb base is used in much of origami and is the easiest way of folding a flat sheet of paper into an approximate sphere. Disco balls were invented long before the nightclub dance craze of later years. One features in the 1942 film "Casablanca," starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. More complex origami sphere shapes can be used to make a disco ball.
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Instructions
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Take a sheet of silver craft paper and cut it with scissors so that it forms an exact square. The paper need only be silver on one side. Place the paper silver side up in front of you. Fold the paper diagonally from corner to corner and unfold it. Fold it between the other two corners and unfold it. Position the square so one corner is closest to you.
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Hold the paper square in each hand at opposite corners; left and right. Push your hands toward each other a little so the middle of the paper rises at the point where the two creases intersect.
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Work your thumb and forefinger in each hand toward the middle of each of the edges of the paper. Your thumbs should be on the two sides nearest you and your forefingers should be on the sides furthest from you. Bring them all together to meet in the middle, creating four new creases running from the middle of the paper to the middle of each edge. Look at the paper from above to see it forms a cross shape.
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Fold the left side of the cross shape up to meet the top part. Fold the right side of the cross down to meet the bottom part. Now lay the paper down flat again. It should make a right triangle. Place the right angle at the top with the longest side closest to you.
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Take hold of the left corner. Ensure you only grab the top section of paper. Leave the bottom one. Fold the left corner so it meets the top of the triangle. Make the corresponding fold from the right corner to the top to create a mirror image. If you have only folded the top sections of paper the overall right triangle shape should remain.
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Flip the sheet of paper over. As before, fold the left corner up to the top of the triangle and then the right. You should no longer have a triangle, but a square with one corner positioned closest to you.
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Keep the square in the same orientation. Fold the left side over so the corner meets the middle of the square. Only fold the top flap of paper. Leave the bottom one. Make the corresponding fold from the right to form a mirror image. Flip the square of paper over and make two similar folds from the right and left corners to the middle. You should have made four flaps which each have a pocket of paper in them facing away from you. The origami ball should now be an irregular six-sided flat shape.
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Work a new fold from the corner of the shape that is furthest from you. Only grab the top section of paper on the left side. Fold it down and push it into the pocket on the left side. Now grab the right hand flap and push it into the corresponding pocket on the right. Flip the whole thing over and tuck the two remaining top flaps of paper into their pockets on either side.
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Pick the paper up and look at it end on. Manipulate it back into the cross shape. One apex of the cross shape will be closed and one will have a small hole, depending on which way you are looking. Bring the hole up to your lips and blow gently. The origami ball should inflate.
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Uncurl a paperclip leaving a small hook at either end. Carefully push one hook into the origami disco ball’s hole and pull back so the hook catches on the inside of the ball without tearing it. Tie some thread to the other end of the paperclip and hang the disco ball up in a suitable location.
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Tips & Warnings
Decorate your origami disco ball with reflective stickers.
Shine a torch on to one side of the ball and spine it to create a shimmering lighting effect.
Practice your origami skills on some cheap paper before using the craft paper.
Do not allow your ball to become hot under lights.
References
Resources
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