Origami is an ancient Japanese art of paper folding that has been enjoyed by people around the world for centuries. It's a fun and relaxing way to exercise your creativity, focus, and patience. If you're new to origami, it may seem intimidating at first, but creating basic shapes is easy and requires only a few folds. In this step-by-step guide, we'll walk you through the process of creating four basic origami shapes: a crane, a boat, a box, and a heart.

Materials Needed

Before we get started, here are the materials you'll need:

  • Square sheets of paper (6x6 inches or larger) in the color of your choice
  • A flat surface to work on

Basic Folds

Before we dive into creating our shapes, let's review the basic folds used in origami:

Reading more:

  • Mountain Fold: Fold the paper away from you, creating a mountain-like ridge.
  • Valley Fold: Fold the paper towards you, creating a valley-like indentation.
  • Diagonal Fold: Fold the paper along a diagonal axis.

Creating a Crane

The crane is one of the most popular and recognizable origami shapes. It's a symbol of peace and good fortune in Japanese culture. Here's how to create a crane:

  1. Start with a square sheet of paper, white side up. Fold the paper in half diagonally, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  2. Fold the paper in half diagonally in the opposite direction, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  3. Fold the paper in half vertically, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  4. Fold the paper in half horizontally, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  5. Fold the paper in half diagonally, bringing the top point down to the bottom point. Crease it well and then unfold it.

  6. Bring the left and right points of the paper towards the center, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  7. Fold the top layer of the left and right sides of the paper up to the top point, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  8. Fold the left and right sides of the paper inwards along the crease lines, and then push the top of the paper downwards to form a diamond shape.

  9. Fold the top point of the paper down to the bottom point, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  10. Fold the left and right sides of the paper inwards along the crease lines, and then push the top of the paper downwards.

  11. Tuck the top flaps of the paper inside the model to form the head of the crane.

  12. Fold the top of the model downwards to form the beak of the crane.

  13. Fold the wings of the crane down and shape them as desired.

Congratulations! You've created a paper crane.

Creating a Boat

The boat is a simple and classic origami shape. Here's how to create a boat:

Reading more:

  1. Start with a square sheet of paper, white side up. Fold the paper in half diagonally, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  2. Fold the paper in half diagonally in the opposite direction, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  3. Fold the paper in half horizontally, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  4. Fold the top layer of the left and right sides of the paper up to the top point, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  5. Fold the left and right sides of the paper inwards along the crease lines, and then push the top of the paper downwards.

  6. Fold the top point of the paper downwards to form the bow of the boat.

  7. Fold the sides of the paper upwards to form the hull of the boat.

  8. Gently pull the sides of the hull outwards to give the boat its shape.

Well done! You've created a paper boat.

Creating a Box

The box is a useful and versatile origami shape that can be used to hold small objects. Here's how to create a box:

  1. Start with a square sheet of paper, white side up. Fold the paper in half vertically, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  2. Fold the paper in half horizontally, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  3. Fold the paper diagonally in both directions, crease it well each time, and then unfold it.

  4. Fold the top and bottom edges of the paper towards the center crease line, crease them well, and then unfold them.

  5. Fold the left and right edges of the paper towards the center crease line, crease them well, and then unfold them.

  6. Push the top and bottom edges of the paper towards the center crease line, and then push the left and right edges of the paper towards the center crease line. This will cause the paper to collapse into a square shape.

    Reading more:

  7. Tuck the flaps of the paper inside the model to form the sides of the box.

  8. Fold the top and bottom edges of the box upwards to form the lid.

You've created a paper box. Well done!

Creating a Heart

The heart is a lovely origami shape that can be used for decoration or as a gift. Here's how to create a heart:

  1. Start with a square sheet of paper, colored side up. Fold the paper in half diagonally, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  2. Fold the paper in half diagonally in the opposite direction, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  3. Fold the top layer of the left and right sides of the paper up to the center crease line, crease them well, and then unfold them.

  4. Fold the top layer of the paper down along the center crease line, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  5. Fold the left and right edges of the paper towards the center crease line, crease them well, and then unfold them.

  6. Fold the top layer of the paper up along the bottom edge of the model, crease it well, and then unfold it.

  7. Fold the left and right edges of the paper towards the center crease line, crease them well, and then unfold them.

  8. Using the diagonal crease lines as a guide, push the top and bottom edges of the paper towards the center crease line. This will cause the paper to collapse into a heart shape.

  9. Tuck the flaps of the paper inside the model to form the sides of the heart.

Congratulations! You've created a paper heart.

Conclusion

Creating basic origami shapes is a fun and easy way to get started with this beautiful art form. By following these step-by-step instructions, you've learned how to create four classic shapes: a crane, a boat, a box, and a heart. With practice and patience, you can continue to build your skills and create more complex designs. Remember to have fun and enjoy the process!

Similar Articles: