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.

Christmas: Snowflake Ornament

Assemble this geometric Christmas Ornament using pre-printed pentagons and hexagons. 

Photo courtesy Steve Bondy, http://stevespaper.com/



Difficulty: Moderate 


Directions:

1. Print out Snowflake Ornament pattern sheet, preferable on heavy weight or cardstock paper.












2. Cut out hexagons and pentagons along solid, outer circle.





3a. Prepare your pentagons by folding the white "tabs" forward as shown. Repeat on all five sides of the pentagon.  
3b. Prepare your hexagons in the same manner, creating tabs by folding the white edges forward along all six sides (not shown).





4. Assemble your Christmas ornament by gluing the white tabs together, or taping the shapes together on the underside. Each pentagon should be surrounded by five hexagons. Refer to illustration of completed ornament at the top of page as needed.





©2009 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved. 

Christmas: Holiday Graphics for Websites

Here are some Hawaiian Christmas greetings to post on websites or email to friends.



 


 



Mele Kalikimaka! (Merry Christmas)


©2009 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.

Christmas: Star Ornament Ball

Assemble this geometric Christmas Ornament using pre-printed pentagons.




Difficulty: Moderate 

Materials:
12 (1 copy) Star Pentagons
Tape or glue

Directions:



1. Print 1 copy of Star Pentagons, for a total of 12 pentagons.





2. Cut out pentagons along solid, outer circle.




3. Prepare your pentagons by folding the white "tabs" forward as shown. Repeat on all five sides of the pentagon.




4a. Assemble your Christmas ornament by gluing the white tabs together, or taping the shapes together on the underside, so that you have half an ornament with a pentagon in the center, surrounded by five pentagons.
4b.  Repeat, to make the second half of the ornament, with a pentagon in the center surrounded by five pentagons.
4c. Glue or tape the two halves together to create your Christmas Star Ornament. Refer to photo of completed ornament at the top of the page as needed.




©2009 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.  


Thanksgiving: Pilgrim Boy and Girl Origami

Print and fold an Origami Pilgrim Boy or Girl. Craft idea: Glue onto folded card stock to create your own Thanksgiving cards.






Difficulty: Easy


Directions: Follow the same directions used for the Cinco De Mayo Boy Origami:

1a. Print and cut out doll face along outer solid line.
1b. Cut out Pilgrim doll body along outer solid line.
1c. Turn doll body over so that the printed side is facing down.





2a. Crease along diagonal line as shown. Unfold.
2b. Repeat crease along diagonal line on other side, as shown. Unfold.
2c. Turn origami over so that the printed side faces up.
2d. Crease down along horizontal line as shown. Unfold.






3a. With printed side facing down, carefully "tent" fold upper body forward, as shown.
3b. Fold doll's legs forward, as shown.
3c. Repeat on other side.





4a. Glue head onto body.
4b. Your Pilgrim Origami is finished!





Happy Thanksgiving!


©2009 Tammy Yee. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or altered without consent.

Thanksgiving Origami Turkey Card


Fold an Origami Thanksgiving Turkey and make a card to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to a loved one.



Difficulty: Easy to Moderate



Directions:


1a. Print Turkey Origami.


1b. Print Happy Thanksgiving Card, preferably on card stock or heavy paper.




2a. Cut out Turkey Origami.
2b. Cut along bold red lines, as shown by red arrows.
2c. Fold turkey tail feather back, as shown by blue arrow.



 3. Accordion fold tail feathers, back and forth, as shown.




4. Repeat accordion folds on other side.




5. Fold body up as shown.




6a. Fold turkey body forward to center, as shown.
6b. Repeat on other side.


7. Fold turkey's head down, as shown.




8a. Fold corners of turkey body back, as shown.
8b. Fold top of tail back, as shown.




9a. Grasping tip of tail, pull down to open accordion pleats, as shown.
9b. Repeat on other side.



10. Fold bottom of body back, as shown, then glue onto Happy Thanksgiving Day card.
 


Happy Thanksgiving!


©2009 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving: "Giving Thanks" Paper Bag Turkey Craft

A fun and easy centerpiece children can make with a few supplies and these printable designs. Parental guidance needed.


Supplies: 
1 small paper bag
scissors
glue or tape
marker
printed turkey template

Directions:

1. Stuff small paper bag with tissue paper or paper towels. Twist and seal end.

2. Print and cut out "Giving Thanks" Paper Bag Turkey Craft sheets (2 pages).



3. Assemble head by taping or gluing tabs, then cover sealed end of paper bag with paper turkey head and secure with tape or glue. (I cut a slit in the back of the head so that it fits more snugly against the paper bag body.)

4. Glue or tape turkey wings and tail to body.

5. Write down things that your children are thankful for--friends, family, health, etc.--on each feather and glue or tape onto turkey tail.

Happy Thanksgiving!



©2010 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving Turkey Projects

Here's a Thanksgiving Turkey to print for place cards, napkin rings and greeting cards. For place cards, use a 3"x5" blank index card, folded in half. For napkin rings, use a cardboard paper towel roll cut into 1" lengths, OR use the printed pattern. For Thanksgiving greeting cards, fold a blank letter-sized paper in half and decorate.





©2011 Tammy Yee
All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving Turkey Gift Bag

Print and fold a Thanksgiving Turkey Gift Bag.


Directions:

Print on hard card stock. Cut out on outer lines, fold on dashed lines and secure with glue or tape. Punch holes in top and add ribbon.


Happy Thanksgiving!

©2013 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.