How to Fold a Kusudama
The Kusudama is a form of Japanese paper origami and means "medicine ball". The ball model is usually formed by sewing individual pyramid-shaped pieces together, but there are also methods that include simply gluing pieces together. These origami balls have been used for potpourri and incense in Japanese culture. In modern Japanese cultures and throughout the world, these crafts are also given as decorative gifts. Kusudama is still considered origami, even if purists of the art form criticize the techniques of sewing or using glue, which is not traditionally common in the paper-folding techniques of origami.
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Instructions
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1
Fold a piece of paper in half diagonally. Take the two bottom points of the triangle and fold them to the top point, creating two flaps.
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2
Fold half of each flap backwards, carefully creating a crease. Unfold the flaps to make the triangle you started with and then open the two flaps by pressing firmly into the creases you've already made.
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3
Flip over the piece one of the newly made triangle flaps inward. Do the same with the other triangle flap and then flip over the piece again. Fold the triangle flaps on the other side into the crease between them.
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4
Glue together the two flaps and then wait for the glue to dry. You know have your first petal.
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5
Repeat steps 1 through 4 to make 5 more petals. Glue all 6 pieces together to make one symmetrical piece. You now have the flower of your kusudama ball.
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6
Repeat steps 1 through 5 enough times to make 9 more flowers. When you're finished you should have 10 kusudama flowers. Carefully glue all of the pieces together to form your kusudama ball.
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Tips & Warnings
Use different colors and types of paper for your kusudama. Tie a string on one end to hang the kusudama as a decoration. Make a smaller kusudama ball by using 30 sheets of paper instead of 60.
