Origami n' Stuff 4 Kids: July 2009

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.

Origami: Goldfish

Difficulty: Easy

Directions:

1. Print and cut out Origami Fish along outer solid lines.

2. With printed side facing up, fold vertically in half along center line.

3. Unfold and turn over, so that the printed side is facing down.
4. Fold diagonally as shown.
5. Repeat diagonal fold on the other side.

6. Your Fish Origami should be creased as illustrated.

7. Turn your paper over. With printed side down, fold along creases, forming a "tent" as illustrated.

8. Fold the dorsal (top) fin back, then up along solid lines.
Repeat with ventral (bottom) fin.

9. Turn your fish over. Fold top tail fin down, then up along solid lines as shown.
Repeat with bottom tail fin.

10. Turn your fish over and you're pau (done)!

Origami Swallowtail Butterfly

Difficulty: Easy

Directions:

1. Print and cut out origami swallowtail butterfly.

For the next few steps, follow instructions to Monarch Butterfly Origami:
2a. With printed side facing down,
2b. Fold in half diagonally along B.
2c. Unfold and repeat the diagonal fold along C.

3a. With printed side facing up,
3b. Fold in half horizontally along A.
3c. Unfold. Your origami should be creased as illustrated.

4. Carefully fold along creases, forming a "tent" as illustrated.

5a. Fold the right "tent" corner up along D, as illustrated.
5b. Fold the left "tent" corner up along E, as illustrated.

6. Your Origami Swallowtail Butterfly should look like this:

7. Turn butterfly origami over, printed side down.

8a. Fold up along F. Note that corners will pull in to either side.
8b. Crease corners flat, as indicated by arrows.

9. Turn your origami butterfly over.

10a. Fold butterfly in half vertically, so wings are together.
10b. Crease one wing down, diagonally, to form body.
10b. Fold down the other wing, diagonally, as shown.