Step by Step Origami Folding

Origami cranes require many of the basic origami folds.

Origami, or Japanese paper folding, uses small, square pieces of decorative paper. This decorative paper is available in a wide variety of colors, designs and textures. Creating origami, from basic shapes like frogs to more complicated designs like cranes, requires a number of specific paper folds. Learning how to make mountain, valley and squash folds will help you to fold origami shapes with greater ease.

Things You'll Need

• Origami paper

Instructions

Mountain Fold

1. Lay a piece of origami paper down in front of you, colored side up.

2. Pull the origami paper up and fold the paper in half, behind itself. The crease in the paper will be sitting at the top.

3. Unfold the paper. The paper looks like a mountain, with the crease forming the peak.

Valley Fold

1. Making a valley fold in origami is the opposite of a mountain fold. To begin, lay a piece of origami paper down in front of you.

2. Fold the paper from left to right or right to left. You can also fold it diagonally, from corner to corner.

3. Unfold the origami paper. The paper forms a "V", with the crease at the bottom and the paper folding in, towards itself.

Squash Fold

1. Lay a piece of origami paper down in front of you. Follow the origami folding instructions, such as for an origami robin or bird, up until the squash fold is required.

2. Open the flap that is specified in the instructions for the origami shape you are making.

3. Press the paper inwards. Squash, or flatten, the paper until it is laying flat against the origami paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with using these basic origami folds to create beginner's shapes, such as a frog, star and boat.

References

• Origami Instructions: Origami Valley and Mountain Folds
• Origami Instructions: Origami Squash Fold

Resources

• Origami Instructions