Easy Butterfly Origami

My new book, Easy Butterfly Origami features 30 bold full-color patterns designed to accurately portray the dorsal and ventral sides of some of the most beautiful butterflies from around the world!

Origami Folding Tips

Origami, from the Japanese ori (to fold) and kami (paper), began in the 6th century when Buddhist monks introduced paper to Japan. The print-and-fold crafts and easy diagrams are designed to help children with fine motor skills, directions and hand eye coordination. Some basic origami folding tips:
  • Print and cut out patterns carefully.
  • Fold with clean, dry hands.
  • Follow the instructions. Study the diagrams and be patient.
  • Be precise: fold each crease well, flattening the creases by running your fingertip over the fold.
  • Folding the paper away from you is easier than folding towards you.
  • Be creative...use your origami on greeting cards, holiday decorations, table place cards and bookmarks.

Iris Origami

The iris is the official state flower for Tennessee, and the official state wildflower for Louisiana (Louisiana iris) and Michigan (dwarf lake iris).

In Japan, the Iris Festival (Shobu no Sekku) is held each May in honor of this symbolic flower, the long leaves of which resemble the sharp blades of a sword.  For centuries it was customary to place iris leaves in a boy's bath to give him a martial spirit.

There more than 200 species of iris around the world, and although we often think of irises as brilliant purple flowers, they in fact come in a variety of colors. In fact, the name "iris" comes from the Greek word for rainbow.



Iris Origami




Difficulty: Easy to Moderate


Directions:

1a. Print and cut out iris origami along outer solid lines.
1b. Fold along diagonal line A as shown.
1c. Fold in half again, along vertical line marked in red.






2a. Note diagonal line, marked in red.
2b. Fold up along diagonal line.
2c. Unfold.









3a, b & c. Carefully open upper "flap" along creases to form a diamond, as shown.











4a. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the reverse side, so that both sides resemble diamonds.
4b & c. Fold along the red lines so that the corners meet at the center, as shown.







5a. Fold along red lines,
5b. toward the center so that your origami appears as shown. Repeat on the reverse side.







6. Fold right side of origami over so that the picture of the large flower petals is showing. Repeat on reverse side.









7. Fold inner petals down as shown.








©2010 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.



Copyright ©2009 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved. No portion of this web site may be reproduced without prior written consent.