How to Make Paper Steamboats

An origami steamboat is better used as a decoration than a seafaring vessel.

You can learn how to create your own paper steamboat by utilizing the Japanese art of origami. While this paper steamboat was not intended to float -- the paper absorbs the water and causes it to sink -- the steamboat can make for a lovely decoration. You can also make is as a gift for someone with a fondness for steamboats or the history of the Mississippi River.

Things You'll Need

• Paper

Instructions

1. Fold the paper in half twice by bringing the two short sides of the paper together. Repeat the same fold on the folded piece of paper. This creates four square quadrants on the paper. Unfold the paper when finished.

2. Bring the point of each paper toward the middle of the paper. The points touch the center crease where all four quadrants meet. You want to fold each of the four squares in half by folding the outer corners inward. This series of four folds creates a small square out of the piece of paper.

3. Take each point of the small square and fold it toward the center of the square. This creates an even smaller square.

4. Flip the paper around and once again, fold the corners of the square toward the center. This creates the same fold design on both sides.

5. Flip the paper around and choose two opposite side corners to work with. Next, pull up the flaps at the center of the square and bring them up over the corner. This creates a flat top-like corner. This flat top serves as the smoke stack.

6. Fold both flat top ends toward each other. This naturally causes the sides of the rest of the paper to extend outward, creating a long boat shape.

7. Push both ends of the boat together to open the middle up slightly to create some width to the paper steamboat. Keep the paper steamboat on your desk of shelves for decoration, or try to float on water.

References

• Origami Kids: The Steamboat