Origami is the art of paper folding that originated in Japan. It's a fun and creative way to make beautiful 3D paper structures using just a single sheet of paper. Origami has been shown to have several benefits, including improving concentration, reducing stress, and increasing manual dexterity. If you're new to origami, don't worry -- it's easy to get started with some simple folds. In this article, we'll provide step-by-step instructions for some simple origami folds that are perfect for beginners.

Basic Folds

Before we get started on specific designs, let's review the basic folds used in origami:

  1. Valley Fold: A valley fold is a fold that creates a "V" shape with the paper. To make a valley fold, fold the paper away from you along the centerline.

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  2. Mountain Fold: A mountain fold is the opposite of a valley fold and creates an upside-down "V" shape with the paper. To make a mountain fold, fold the paper towards you along the centerline.

  3. Reverse Fold: A reverse fold is when you fold the paper back on itself after making a valley or mountain fold. This creates a "Z" shape with the paper.

Now that we know the basic folds, let's move on to some simple designs.

Origami Crane

The origami crane is a classic design and a great place to start for beginners.

  1. Start with a square sheet of paper, colored side facing down.

  2. Fold the paper in half diagonally, creating a triangle. Make a strong crease along the fold, then unfold.

  3. Fold the paper in half diagonally in the other direction, creating another triangle. Again, make a strong crease and unfold.

  4. Fold each corner of the paper up to the center point where the two diagonal folds intersect. Make sure to keep the colored side facing up.

  5. Flip the paper over and fold each corner up to the center again.

  6. Fold the paper in half along the horizontal axis, bringing the top down to the bottom. The folded corners should now be on the outside.

  7. Fold the top layer of each corner down to the center crease, creating a diamond shape.

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  8. Fold the top layer of each diamond up and towards the center crease, creating a smaller diamond shape.

  9. Pull the flaps of the smaller diamonds down and flatten them, creating the wings of the crane.

  10. Fold the neck of the crane down and then back up again to create the head.

  11. Finally, pull the tail of the crane down and shape as desired.

Congratulations -- you've made an origami crane!

Origami Box

An origami box is another simple design that can be used for storing small items.

  1. Start with a square sheet of paper, colored side facing down.

  2. Fold the paper in half diagonally both ways, creating four triangles. Make strong creases along the folds and unfold.

  3. Fold each corner of the paper up to the center point where the two diagonal folds intersect. Make sure to keep the colored side facing up.

  4. Flip the paper over and repeat step 3 on the other side.

  5. Fold each corner of the paper up to the second intersection point, about ¾ of the way up from the center. This will create small triangles at the corners.

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  6. Fold the top layer of each triangle down and tuck it into the pocket created by the previous step. Repeat this on all four corners.

  7. Fold the sides of the paper inwards, bringing the edges to the center. Crease well.

  8. Open up the sides of the paper, creating a square shape with flaps on each side.

  9. Fold the sides of the paper back inwards along the creases made in step 7, creating two triangles on each side.

  10. Fold the top layer of each triangle upwards, tucking it into the pocket created in step 9.

  11. Fold the remaining flaps up and tuck them into the pockets created in step 9.

Congratulations -- you've made an origami box!

Conclusion

Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby that anyone can enjoy. These simple designs are a great way to get started and practice basic folds. As you become more comfortable with origami, you can move on to more complex designs and even create your own. Remember to take your time, make strong creases, and most importantly -- have fun!

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