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 new year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new year. Show all posts

Chinese Lion Paper Bag Puppet

Kung Hee Fat Choy is the Chinese greeting for the New Year. Cut and past a festive Chinese Lion paper bag puppet to celebrate the new year!

Find objects in this illustration beginning with the letter "C." From the children's book, Island Style Alphabet, written and illustrated by Tammy Yee.

 

Materials:



Instructions:

1. Print and cut Chinese Lion puppet along solid lines. Color.




2. Lift "flap" of paper bag and glue mouth as shown.




3. Glue Chinese Lion head onto top of closed flap as shown. If you slip your hand into the paper bag, you should be able to open and close your puppet's mouth.


Happy New Year!
©2010 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.

Happy New Year! Origami Dragon Puppet



Print and fold an Origami Dragon Puppet for Chinese New Year!















Difficulty: Easy to Moderate





Directions:

1a. Print Dragon Puppet.
1b. Cut out strips of dragon's body along outer solid line.
Cut out dragon's head and tail along outer solid line. Be sure to snip near head and tail "puppet handles" as indicated with arrows.





2. Use tape or glue to secure areas labeled "A" on dragon body strips as shown. Your strips should be perpendicular (at a right angle).

 




3a & b. Fold "tail" strip backward as shown.
3c. Fold "head" strip back and up as shown.
3d. Your dragon body should appear as shown.






5a. Fold dragon's head back along center line.
5b,c &d. Fold puppet handle as shown and secure with tape or glue.











6a. Fold dragon's tail back along center line.
6b,c &d. Fold puppet handle as shown and secure with tape or glue.





7. Glue or tape dragon's head and tail to body. Your dragon puppet is pau (finished)!





©2010 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.

Dragon Fortune Teller

What does the New Year have in store for you? Here's an Origami Dragon Fortune Teller to help you out.


Difficulty: Easy


Directions:


1. Print your Dragon Fortune Teller. Cut out image along outer solid lines.



2. With printed side facing up, fold in half along vertical line. 
3. Unfold, then fold in half along horizontal line.










4. Unfold, turn over so that printed side faces down. Fold each corner over to center, as illustrated.



5. Turn your folded origami over, with the "fortune" text side facing up. Fold each corner over to center, as illustrated.

 








6. Crease in half along horizontal, then vertical lines.  










7. Turn over so that the dragon printed side is facing up. Carefully "open" each corner as illustrated. Your fingers should be able to fit into the pockets formed, so that you can manipulate your Dragon Fortuneteller like a puppet.

 








8. Turn your dragon over and you're pau (done)!










How to Play the Fortuneteller Game:
1. Place your fingers into the pockets (index and thumb of both hands) so that you can move the Dragon's mouth, like a puppet, in and out.

2. Have a person choose one of the four colors, Red, Blue, Green or Purple. Moving the fortuneteller in and out, spell out the chosen color.

3. Have the person choose one of the numbers showing. Count out the chosen number while moving the fortuneteller in and out.

4. Again, have the person choose on of the numbers showing. Lift the flap and read the fortune under the chosen number.

5. If you need help with the directions, ask mom or dad...they will probably remember how to play the game!


©2010 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2012 is the Year of the Dragon







1928 January 23 to February 09 1929
1940 February 08 to January 26 1941
1952 January 27 to February 13 1953
1964 February 13 to February 01 1965
1976 January 31 to February 17 1977
1988 February 17 to February 05 1989
2000 February 05 to January 23 2001
2012 January 23 to February 09 2013




PERSONALITY
You are the most eccentric of the cycle. Born with a natural charisma, it is unlikely that you will escape unnoticed at a social gathering. You are lively company and interested in the world around you. You are full of energy and enthusiasm. You also have a brave and charitable side to your character. If a friend has a problem, you will offer help, and when others retreat, you will step forward to resolve the problem with diplomacy and authority. 
At times you become frustrated with others because they do not have your stamina or skills. You border on being a perfectionist and will always try to maintain the high standards you set for yourself. Often you will work long hours in order to achieve what you want. However, if ever your trust has been abused or your dignity wounded, you can become very bitter and will take a long time to forgive and forget.
Be careful that you do not run the risk of being overly-confident because it may cause you to make errors of judgment. However if this occurs, you have the ability to recover and pick up the pieces again.
Your strong will-power and assertive personality will lead you to be successful in your chosen profession. Your leadership qualities are at its peak when you can put your own ideas and policies into action.
You have many friends and will often be the center of attention. You have so much confidence in yourself that you can often become a source of inspiration for others. In China, a Dragon person is always selected to be the head of a carnival and he is also blessed with luck.
MARRIAGE
Good for matrimony with rat, snake, monkey or rooster year people.
Avoid mating with ox, rabbit or dog year people. .
COLOR: YELLOW
The dragon is linked to the color yellow, the imperial color of China, that was once reserved for the emperor. Yellow symbolizes progress, fame and achievement. It also represents earth, since the fertile soils in parts of China has a yellow hue.
Learn about the other signs of the Chinese zodiac:

Boar
Rat
Ox 
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
Horse
Ram
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
You might enjoy:
Text ©1998 Mildred Chun. Illustrations ©1998 by Tammy Yee. All rights reserved.

2011, Year of the Rabbit: Happy New Year!

Activities to celebrate the New Year:

According to Chinese astrology, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, and the New Year will be celebrated on February 3--so usher in the new year with these fun paper crafts and origami activities!

Chinese Zodiac Year of the Rabbit: Learn about your animal zodiac sign!

2011 Year of the Rabbit: Origami Bunnies 
 2011 Year of the Rabbit: Origami Bunny Face 


Origami Chinese Dragon Puppet:


Chinese Lion Paper Bag Puppet:
Dragon Fortuneteller:


What's your Chinese Zodiac Animal? 
Celebrating 2010, the Year of the Tiger



New Years Celebrations Around the World: Images from Boston.com

Welcoming 2010 - The Big Picture - Boston.com

How did you celebrate the New Year? See all 38 photos of celebrations around the world at: Welcoming 2010 - The Big Picture - Boston.com


Russia: New Year on Red Square in Moscow, with the Kremlin in the background, right, and St. Basil's cathedral in background. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)



Spain: San Fermin Festival bull runners celebrate the New Year in Coin, near the southern Spanish town of Malaga. (REUTERS/Jon Nazca)





China: Releasing a wishing lantern to usher in the new year in Chengdu in southwestern China's Sichuan province. (AP Photo)


More New Year photos from around the world at: Welcoming 2010 - The Big Picture - Boston.com



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