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.
Showing posts with label butterfly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label butterfly. Show all posts

Diana Fritillary Butterfly Origami

The Diana fritillary butterfly is the official state butterfly of Arkansas. Found in wooded areas along southern and eastern North America, in the Arkansas River Valley and along the Appalachian mountains, this beautiful butterfly is noted for the dramatic differences between males and females. Males appear brown with bright orange markings, while females are dark blue with bright blue markings.

Diana fritillary caterpillars feed on violet leaves. As adults, they feed on flower nectar and dung.



Print and fold an origami Diana Fritillary Butterfly. For folding instructions, follow the same directions as the Tiger Swallowtail Origami.



©2010 Tammy Yee

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

The Western Tiger Swallowtail is a commonly found in western North America, from British Columbia to North Dakota in the north to Baja California and New Mexico in the South.

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, found throughout the Eastern United States as far north as southern Vermont and west to Eastern Colorado, is the official state butterfly of Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.

Butterflies emerge from their chrysalis in February to May, gathering near pools and streams where they drink and replenish minerals.


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 Western Tiger 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.


11. Open wings up. Your butterfly is done!


©2010 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.

Origami Butterflies

Print and fold Origami Butterflies!

Diana Fritillary Butterfly
Print and fold the official state butterfly of Arkansas.
Diana Fritillary Butterfly Origami
Add caption


Two-Tailed Swallowtail Butterfly

Arizona's official state butterfly, the two-tailed swallowtail, can be found
Two-Tailed Swallowtail Butterfly Origami


Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly
This black swallowtail butterfly can be found in the eastern United States, and occasionally as far north as southern Ontario and south to Cuba. Caterpillars feed on spicebush or sassafras, while adults feed on nectar from azaleas, milkweed and thistle flowers. The spicebush swallowtail is the official state butterfly of Mississippi.




Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
The Western Tiger Swallowtail is a commonly found in western North America, from British Columbia to North Dakota in the north to Baja California and New Mexico in the South.

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, found throughout the Eastern United States as far north as southern Vermont and west to Eastern Colorado, is the official state butterfly of Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia.




Monarch Butterfly Origami
With its distinctive orange and black markings, the monarch butterfly is the most famous of North American butterflies, best known for its long migrations.
Monarch Butterfly Origami




Kamehameha Butterfly Origami (Pulelehua)
The pulelehua, or Kamehameha butterfly, is one of only two butterflies native to Hawai'i. With its bright red wings, bold black borders, and 2 1/2 inch wingspan, pulelehua are often seen fluttering near koa trees, where adults feed on the sweet sap oozing from broken branches.



©2010 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved

More Origami Coming Soon!

Here are the latest origami projects that I am working on...

High resolution Vampire Bat origami, front and back views
High resolution, accurate butterflies. Painted Lady butterfly and Malachite butterfly, dorsal and ventral views.

Origami: Kamehameha Butterfly, Hawaii's State Insect

Print and Fold Hawaii's State Butterfly, the Pulelehua




Difficulty: Easy


Directions:



1. Print and cut out origami butterfly.






2a. With printed side facing down,
2b. Fold in half along diagonal line.
2c. Unfold and repeat the diagonal fold on other side.






3a. With printed side facing up,
3b. Fold in half along horizontal line.
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 line A, as illustrated.
5b. Fold the left "tent" corner up along line B, as illustrated.






6a. Turn butterfly origami over, printed side down.
6b. Fold down along line C.
6c. Pinch or crease in center as illustrated.






Your butterfly origami is ready to fly!

Pulelehua (Kamehameha Butterfly) Origami



©2009 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.

Coloring: Kamehameha Butterfly, State Insect of Hawaii



Pulelehua (Kamehameha Butterfly)

Scientific name: Vanessa tameamea

The pulelehua, or Kamehameha butterfly, is one of only two butterflies that are native to Hawai'i. With its bright red wings, bold black borders, and 2 1/2 inch wingspan, pulelehua are often seen fluttering near koa trees, where adults feed on the sweet sap oozing from broken branches.

The Kamehameha butterfly lays its eggs on the mamaki plant, a native shrub that was sometimes used by Hawaiians to make a coarse tapa (the leaves are also used to make an herbal tea). Young caterpillars protect themselves by cutting a flap of leaf, pulling it over themselves, and securing it with silk to make a shelter. As they grow older, the caterpillars sit motionless on the branches, waiting for nightfall. Once the sun has set and the forest birds have gone to sleep, it is safe for the caterpillars to venture onto the leaves to eat. Even their chrysalis is well-camouflaged, looking like a withered leaf. In a little over two weeks, the chrysalis splits open, and out pops a beautiful pulelehua! 



©2011 Tammy Yee

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.





11. Open wings up. Your butterfly is done!





©2009 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.