How to Make Origami Flower

The lotus symbolizes purity in many cultures.

The lotus is a water plant whose roots are buried in the mud underneath still water while the flower rests on a slender stalk at or above the water's surface. This blossom opens each morning with the sun and closes each night when the sun sets. In many cultures the lotus flower symbolizes purity. However, the exact meaning of the lotus blossom symbol changes depending upon the color of the lotus flower.

Things You'll Need

• Origami paper

Instructions

1. Place the origami paper on a flat surface with the colored side facing upward.

2. Make four separate creases in the paper by folding, and then unfolding, the paper in half both diagonally and along the mid-lines of the square.

3. Fold each corner of the large paper square inward so that the point of the corner touches the middle of the original square. You have essentially just created a smaller square.

4. Repeat Step 3 again, this time using the newly formed corners in order to form an even smaller square.

5. Fold the newly formed corners into the center of the square yet again in order to make an even smaller square.

6. Flip the square over on its back and fold the newly formed corners of the square into the center of the square one last time.

7. Grasp one of the corners that was most recently folded into the middle of the square on the original "front" side of the paper (the side now resting against the flat surface). Gently pull that folded corner outward and upward until it forms a pointed concave "petal" on the "back" side of the paper. Perform the same action with the other three folded corners so that you have four "petals" in all.

8. Create four additional concave "petals" by pulling outward and upward on the next layer of folded corners located on the "front" side of the paper. Your lotus blossom will be complete once these "petals" are formed.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the largest sheet of paper you can find when leaning this origami pattern. A larger paper will mitigate the difficulties associated with repeatedly folding a paper in on itself to create increasingly smaller squares.

• Always use smooth and gentle movements when creating origami flowers in order to avoid ripping the paper and destroying your creation.

References

• News Finder: Lotus, the Flower, the Symbol
• Origami Instructions: Origami Lotus Flower Folding Instructions