How to Make a Japanese Paper Crane

Origami is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding: creating intricate characters from a single sheet of paper via the use of deliberate folds. Origami (which actually began in China) is derived from the words “oru,” which means “folding,” and “kami,” meaning “paper.” Though there are many elaborate and intricate designs in origami, one of the easiest and possibly the most well known is the Japanese paper crane, or flying bird. Though paper birds can be difficult to master on the first try, it should only take you a few practice rounds to perfect your design.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Scissors

Instructions

1. 

   Either find a square piece of paper or cut a standard-shaped piece into the correct shape. Fold the paper into a triangle and cut off the excess.

2. 

   Fold the edges of your flat paper into a triangle. Take the bottom right corner and fold it to the top left-hand corner. Open and then repeat with the other corner, taking the bottom left-hand corner and folding it to meet the top right-hand corner.

3. 

   Turn the paper over so that the center point sticks slightly up. Now create two center creases by folding the top and bottom of the left side to the top and bottom of the right side (like a book).

4. 

   Repeat this step to make a lengthwise crease, bringing the bottom left and right corners to the top left and right corners (like a newspaper).

5. 

   Open the sheet. You should now have eight creases. Take the points of each corner and gather them to the center.

6. 

   Hold the edges in the center with your left hand; with your right hand, flatten the paper so that it makes a square.

7. 

   Hold the square so that the open edges are pointing up and fold the outside points to the center, making what looks like a kite. Do this on both sides.

8. 

   Gently unfold the four kite corners you just made and, using these crease marks as a guide, tuck them in the opposite direction. Repeat on the other side to create another, slightly longer, kite or diamond shape.

9. 

   With the split ends of your kite pointing to the right, take the bottom split and pull the point down and under into the left bottom fold, so that it is parallel to the left point.

10. 

    Repeat with the tail end, so that you have what looks like a crown. Both the tail and head should be at identical angles.

11. 

    Using your thumb and pointer finger, crimp the front point a few times until you have what looks like a small head and beak.

12. 

    Make the wings by pulling the point of the middle wings down and slightly back. You may crimp them according to your preference and what looks best to your eye.

Tips & Warnings

• Be deliberate with your creases. Each crease serves a distinct purpose, so make sure that they are sharp.

• Don’t get frustrated if your bird looks strange on the first few tries. With practice, you’ll eventually get the perfect shape.