How to Make a Three-Dimensional Figure From Paper

Let your fingers take flight on a paper crane.

One of the most interesting things about origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, is how a flat sheet of paper can expand and blossom into a three-dimensional shape. The art has the simplicity of an easy puzzle, but challenges both the memory and the fingertips. The paper crane is a popular origami project because of its relative simplicity and beauty. The so-called "bird base," a simply-folded square, is the standard starting point for several folded-paper creations including the crane, eight-pointed star and popular "flapping bird."

Things You'll Need

• 1 square sheet of paper, 6-by-6 inches (15-by-15 centimeters)

Instructions

Crease the Bird Base

1. Position the paper like a diamond, with one corner pointing toward you. Pull both outer corners to the lowest corner. This will essentially create a new square of several layers, one-fourth the size of the original square. Drawing in the two outer corners creates a top and a lower sheet and two inner folds that meet and can open, vertically, in the center.

2. Draw the outer corners of the topmost layer in and up. The corners will meet to create a horizontal line. The fold resembles the first step in making a paper airplane. The goal is to make creases that will guide future steps.

3. Fold the topmost corner down over the horizontal line. Make a firm crease, and then release the folds made in the last two steps.

Petal Fold

1. Gently lift up the bottom corner of the topmost layer until it looks like a yawning mouth.

2. Fold the bottom and then upper "gums" inward, until they meet in the middle. The petal fold resembles a kite.

3. Turn the piece over, lift the bottom corner and repeat the petal fold. The completed bird base looks like a flat kite with a vertical opening.

Crane

1. Fold the outer corners inward, so that the lower outer edges of the diamond meet in the center, in a straight, vertical line. The fold resembles the start of an upside down paper airplane.

2. Turn the piece over and repeat the fold.

3. The diamond's lower half should be made up of two long, leg-like triangles. The piece will remain flat, but fold each "leg" backwards at a 45-degree angle. A house-like shape will remain at the forefront.

4. Fold the right leg down one-third from the top to form the crane's head. Gently pull the front of the house shape forward to open up the wings.

5. Gently push down on the crane's back to flatten it a little bit. The crane is finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Craft stores sell several types of paper specifically for origami in varying textures, colors and thickness. Try the same creation using different types of paper to see how the various types affect the finished product.

• The word origami comes from the Japanese words "Oru," which means "to fold," and "kami," which means "paper." According to legend, if someone with a wish folds 1,000 paper cranes, the wish will come true.

References

• Origami-Instructions homepage
• Origami-Instructions: Origami Bird Base
• Origami-Instructions: Origami Crane