How to Make an Easy Oragami Link

Have you always wanted to learn origami, the art of paper folding, but didn't know where to begin?

We have basic origami with step by step instructions to get you started in this ancient art form.  There is just a small number of basic origami folds, and these folds can be combined in many ways to make very intricate designs.

And the most amazing thing is that these intricate designs begin with a simple square sheet of paper!

Origami paper or "kami" (the Japanese word for paper) is sold in prepackaged cut squares.  Usually one side of the paper is colored and the other side is white.  The colored or printed side can range from solid colors to a variety of patterns and designs.

For easy origami using simple folds like the ones used to make the boat or hat, normal copy paper will work just fine.  Be sure to cut it into a square first!

To make detailed origami, it is important to use the special origami paper that is less heavy than regular copy paper.  This thinner paper makes the tinier folds possible.

Another type of paper to use is……..MONEY!!!  It's popular to use money as the foundation for origami and is a great way to give money as a gift.  There is actually a name for origami from money; it is called Orikane!

Sadako and the Paper Crane

There are many sculptures that you can make using origami, but the most popular of all is the Japanese paper crane.

The paper crane is the origami figure in the famous and true story of a girl named Sadako Sasaki.  Sadako lived in Hiroshima, a city in Japan, when the atomic bomb was dropped there during WWII in 1945.  When Sadako was 11, she was diagnosed with leukemia which is a type of cancer that was caused by the atomic bomb.

There is a Japanese belief that if you fold 1000 paper cranes, your wish will come true. While Sadako was in the hospital being treated for the cancer, she started folding paper cranes. Her wish was that she would get well and that peace and healing would come to people in the world who were hurting.

She spent 14 months in the hospital and folded the cranes with any piece of paper she was able to get her hands on. Paper was scarce at the time, so she often used candy wrappers, paper from medicine bottles, and the paper that was used to wrap gifts that were given to her.

Sadako died on October 25, 1955 when she was 12 years old.  She had folded over 1300 paper cranes.

Sadako's friends and classmates worked to raise money so that a memorial could be built to honor Sadako and the other atomic bomb victims.

In 1958, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial was finished with a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane. In 1990, in Seattle, Washington, USA, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Dr. Floyd Schmoe, built a life-size statue of Sadako.

The statue was unveiled on August 6, 1990, 45 years after the bombing of Hiroshima. The statue can be found in the Seattle Peace Park.

Visitors bring paper cranes to set by or drape over the statue. Sadako will never be forgotten.  The paper crane is the most recognized piece of origami and is a symbol for peace.

You can learn how to fold a paper crane with our easy directions. Spread some peace and love!!!

Other Common Origami Shapes

When you are just beginning your origami journey, you will probably want to start with some basic shapes; paper hats, boats, airplanes, cootie catchers, jumping frogs, or an origami dog.

Check out all of the links below that will help you find beginner origami step-by-step instructions. There are also great books listed that will help you get started and guide you as you make progress.

You could move on to the fun exploration of money origami!  This is a great way to pass the time waiting at a restaurant or an interesting trick to show your friends.

Who doesn't love to watch the mystery of money being folded into an amazing design?  And when you don't have square origami paper on hand, you can almost certainly find a dollar bill!

History

To be honest the exact history of origami is under debate. Because paper degrades quickly, there are little to no artifacts that archaeologists and historians can use to determine where it originated or who invented it.

Most school textbooks report that paper itself was first invented in China by Ts'ai Lun in 105 AD.  So we can guess that if there was paper, there was paper folding!!  And it most likely began in China.

However, many cultures used paper folding to some degree either in ceremonies or recreation. Origami is mostly regarded as a Japanese art.

In traditional Chinese funerals, there is the practice of burning folded paper that represents gold nuggets (yuanboa).

It was during the Song Dynasty (905-1125 CE) that these paper representations began to be burned instead of the wood or clay replicas of the gold nuggets that had been used in the past. The "paper nuggets" are still used today.

In Japan, the earliest true reference to a paper model is dated in 1680 in a poem by Ihara Saikaku.  The poem mentions the ceremonial use of the folded butterfly design used during Shinto weddings.

During the Edo period (1603-1867) of Japanese culture, folding was mostly ceremonial.  However, folding soon became more of a form of entertainment.  For example, there is evidence that a folded paper noshi (envelope) was often attached to gifts like a card would be today.

Currently, origami is being used in engineering applications!  You will find it in packaging, the medical use of stents to keep passageways in the body open, such as a heart stent, and car safety in folding airbags!

 Back to Origami Fun!

This page has many links to fantastic origami books that have many sculptures to create.  We also have links to pages with tutorials, videos, and directions to make specific origami shapes.

Take a look below and get started on this entertaining art!

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Easy Origami #ad A collection of 32 projects for novice origami hobbyists. - Paperback - Published 1992 Affiliate Link to Amazon
The Joy of Origami #ad 57 amazing models from classic to cool plus 100 sheets of paper. by Margaret Van Sicklen - Paperback - Published 2005 Affiliate Link to Amazon
Amazing Origami Boxes #ad Beautiful, full-color photographs accompany step-by-step instructions and diagrams for a splendid variety of completely functional boxes. They range from conventional square and rectangular shapes to those in the form of a bird, a basket, a cat's head, a flower, and other shapes. by Tomoko Fuse - Paperback - Published 2018
Basic Paper Airplane Learn how to fold a basic paper airplane with this video or photo tutorial. By Needlepointers.com

Best Origami Butterfly Ever Step by Step tutorial of a 3-D variation of the classic butterfly Go Origami
Blow-Up Origami Bunny Ideal as a fun Easter activity. Origami USA
Boat Learn how to make an origami paper boat with our video or photo tutorial. By Needlepointers.com Staff
Bunny Face Origami This video will show you how to make a cute origami bunny face. This is a fun, easy project which kids can make any time of the year but especially for Easter. Needlepointers.com

Butterfly Origami Print either a colorful monarch or pulelehua butterfly, fold and watch the butterfly fly. Tammy Yee
Crane Origami This video tutorial will show how to make an origami peace crane. Tim Rosanelli YouTuber
Dinosaur Origami Children love dinosaurs and they love paper folding too. Put them together and you get paper dinosaurs! Origami Resource Center
DNA Origami Print and fold an origami DNA model Instructables

DNA Origami Print and fold an origami DNA model Yourgenome
DNA Origami Print and fold an origami DNA model National Human Genome Research Institute
Dog Printable Origami This origami dog printable is easy enough for preschoolers. Just print the origami design. Activity Village
Dollar Origami Butterfly Step-by-step origami instructions for folding a butterfly. Homemade Gifts Made Easy

Easter Bunny Basket Learn how to make these Easter Origami Bunny Baskets with this free tutorial. Gathering Beauty
Easy Lotus Flower - Video Tutorial Make this very simple and easy lotus flower Ornella Origami
Easy Origami Lotus Flower Make this easy origami lotus flower from one sheet of paper. Origami Guide
Easy Origami Rose This beginner origami rose tutorial is perfect for beginners and kids. The Craftaholic Witch

Eeyore Origami Diagram Do you like Winnie the Pooh? Fold an Eeyore with these instructions. This is an advanced origamist. Folds.net
Flower Origami Fold many different origami flowers: 5 & 8 Petal flowers, Dahlia, Cherry Blossom, Lily, Lotus, Rose and others. Origami Instructions
Fold an Easy Origami Butterfly in 3 Minutes Simple way to fold an origami butterfly.
Four-Leaf Clover Fold a paper four-leaf clover for St. Patrick's day with these free origami step-by-step instructions. Origami Instructions

How to make an Easy Origami Butterfly Making an origami butterfly is simple and good for adults and kids. Gathering Beauty
How to make Origami Flowers Several easy origami flower tutorials. Including Sunflower, Tulip & Iris Origami Way
Jumping Frog Origami Tutorial Learn how to make an easy and quick jumping frog with paper. These frogs are quick and easy to fold and are a fun activity for kids.
Ladybug Corner Bookmark This blog by ConservaMom is an easy origami tutorial that will teach you step-by-step directions on how to make a ladybug corner bookmark. Conserva Mom

Ninja Star or Shuriken - Origami (Video) How to fold a paper Ninja Star. Tim Rosanelli YouTube Channel
Origami Basics This page covers origami basics such as folds, bases and diagrams by paperfolding.com
Origami Bento Bag This tutorial will show you how to sew an origami tote bag with lining and boxed corners, in easy-to-follow steps. Hello Sewing
Origami Blow-Up Bunny Tutorial Learn to make an origami blow-up bunny which you inflate by blowing air into a hole. Origami Resource Center

Origami Fold - Cupboard Fold Here is a diagram and instruction for the cupboard fold. Jasper's Home Page
Origami Fold - Mountain Fold What is a mountain fold? This site has a diagram with instructions. Jasper's Home Page
Origami Fold - Outside Reverse Fold Instructions and diagram for outside reverse fold. Jasper's Home Page
Origami Fold - Prayer Fold Diagrams and instructions for the above referenced origami fold. Jasper's Home Page

Origami Fold - Valley What is a valley fold? This link has instructions and diagram. Jasper's Home Page
Origami Folds Diagrams of the different types of origami folds. Print as a reference. Peter Budai
Origami Inflatable Rabbit This cute inflatable rabbit will be fun during the Easter holiday. Origami Instructions
Origami Newspaper Pots How to make newspaper seed starter pots. Tim Rosanelli YouTube Channel

Origami Paper Tank A step-by-step tutorial on how to fold an easy paper tank or origami tank. Origami folding is an excellent pastime for kids and can keep them entertained for hours. By Needlepointers.com Staff
Origami Symbols An explanation of origami symbols used in diagrams. Peter Budai
Origami Thinking Cap How to make a thinking cap by folding a sheet of newspaper. Professor Solomon
Paper Boat Free origami instructions are given here for making simple paper boats. Highhopes.com

Paper Boat Origami An easy to learn origami boat. Mathematische Basteleien
Paper Hat Making paper hats was always a favorite with kids. This is an easy basic origami tutorial for making a hat. The Parent Site
Paper Wallet (Origami Wallet) How to make a super simple paper wallet.
Samurai Hat Origami To make a Samurai hat wearable by a child, you'll need a piece of paper about the size of a piece of newspaper. Enchanted Learning

Simple Origami Heart This tutorial will demonstrate how to fold a simple origami heart. Needlepointers.com
Star Wars Folded Flyers Make 30 Paper Starfighters Six-Starfighter designs look as great as they fly because they're made from full-color custom-designed paper. With five copies of each design, kids can have a fleet of Y-wings and X-wings at their command. This book is a great learning and activity resource which will keep kid's busy for hours. Affiliate Link at Amazon
Swan Origami Tutorial Learn how to fold an easy origami swan with step-by-step instructions with photos and YouTube video. Needlepointers.com
Throwing Star This is the traditional origami throwing star. Learn how to make with the origami step-by-step instructions. Jasper's Home Page
Traditional Origami Hat A basic origami tutorial for making a hat. Hans Bodlaender.
Whale (Origami) A simple origami project for young kids. Crafty-Crafted

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