How To Make An Origami Box and Lid - (Tutorial)

The origami box or Masu Box is a simple piece of origami which is purposeful as well as fun to make. It comes in three parts, a box, a lid and a divider. In this post I will show you how to make the box and the lid because they are very similar. Basically, the lid is made to be slightly larger but not as tall, meaning it slides nicely on top of the box.

How To Make An Origami Box - Video

To make the box you have to first make a blintz base. This involves folding both horizontals and then folding all of the corners to the point where the lines bisect. Now you have to fold all the edges into the center. Now unfold this. Now unfold two opposite corner folds and then fold the other edges back into the center. When bringing up the corner folds again, you should create an edge of the box. Bring the edge over the top and press down on both sides to create the box.

How To Make An Origami Box Lid - Video

To make the lid, follow the instructions on the video above. The only difference being is when you have to fold the edges into the center, don't fold them into the center but just outside the center.

The way that the box is made means that the the lid is slightly larger and will fit over the box nicely. The box can be used for various purposes. 

How To Make An Origami Turban - (Tutorial)

The turban is based on the very simple paper hat design but elaborates on it to make it look nicer. It uses small folds to make it seem like the fabric that a real turban would be made out of. 

How To Make An Origami Turban - Video

To make the turban, you must start with a size of printer paper (A1,2,3,4,5) etc. Fold in in half length ways and then fold over about another 1cm (1/2 In) on the hinge part of the first fold. Then, fold in half the other way and fold the top edges along that crease. then fold up the bottom flaps on both sides so they meet the next part of the shape. Now fold them again in the same direction over the top. Now, fold the bottom left and right corners into the center and then tuck under the flaps. Turn over and then tuck the top into the bottom flap. 

You have now completed your turban. Using an A4 piece of paper makes a relatively small turban. A3 produces the best one. 

How To Make An Origami Winged Heart - (Tutorial)

The winged heart is a lovely gift to give to a loved one. It is a relatively simple design but can be confusing as there is a lot of peeling and pulling quite delicately. In the description for how to make it, I will describe what is required but please look the video for the instructions on pre-creasing

How To Make An Origami Winged Heart - Video

To make this, you will first need to fold your piece of paper in half horizontally and then fold one edge along this line. Then, flip the paper in half and fold in half, the other direction. and fold the edges diagonally along the crease you just made. Flip it over once again, fold the edges inwards and then unfold. Then, peel the bottom upwards so it lays on top of the initial triangle. You should press down all of this to create a rectangle shape. In the center at the bottom of the rectangle, there should be two corners, peel them up and pull them outwards and crease down. The flap that you have now created should look like a Rhomboid. Now, flip over and you can see the rough shape. Flip back over and we can start to round of the corners of the heart. On the two square parts at the top of the heart shape, fold each of the top corners into the center of the square. This should create a new point at the top. Then fold this also into the center of the square. Now, all that is left to do is to fold the wing part in such a way that it makes it crinkled. You can do this by folding it one way completely, then folding all of it apart from a small part back the other way. Repeat this until all the paper is used up. You should try to crinkle it evenly and thinly to give the best effect.

If you are struggling with this model, I would advise watching the video carefully as well as choosing to use a larger piece of paper as this will come in helpful when it comes to crinkling the wing.

You should now hopefully have completed your origami winged heart, After the beginning few steps, it doesn't have to be done in the same order, it doesn't even have to be done in the same way! So feel free to customize the design as suits you best.

How To Make An Origami Lily - (Tutorial)

The origami lily is an ancient origami model, and has various different meanings, including peace and forgiveness, If made well it shows the subtle elegance of origami and is a brilliant example of just what origami can achieve.

How To Make An Origami Lily - Video

To make your lily, the first thing you will need to do is to make a square base. You can find out how to do this by scrolling down on the tips and stories post. To make a square base, you will have to fold both horizontals and then flip over and fold one of the diagonals. Then push the two corners that the diagonal joins up together whilst also pinching the other two corners together. This should create a square shape, fold this and then crease to help keep its shape. With the closed side facing away from you, fold the bottom left edge of the diamond along the central line. Unfold this, then peel it open and flatten down to make another Isosceles triangle in the center. Pull one side over and repeat this there. Continue doing this until you have done it 4 times. Now go back to each one, and fold the bottom left and bottom right flaps along the central line again. Then on each of them, peel up the flap in the center to make a diamond shape.  Now, on every side where it is plain paper, fold the top left and top right flaps along the center. Now peel out all of the petals which are loose at the bottom. To make it look nicer, you can curl it by wrapping them round a pencil or some other similar object.

Now that you have made your lily, it can be used as a small token or as decorations for an event or gathering.

How To Make An Origami Ninja Star (Shuriken) - (Tutorial)

The Ninja Star is the famous four pointed throwing star. When made out of paper it performs in the same way, it will throw through the air. This however does seem to work better when you use larger pieces of paper.


Tip: Remember when the two parts are separated to fold in different directions else you will end up with two of the same piece.

How To Make An Origami Ninja Star (Shuriken) - Video

To make a ninja star you will have to start with a square piece of paper and then cut it in half. Fold both of these rectangles in half widthways. Then fold each one lengthways and then unfold. lay them out so that the original crease you made is in the middle of each. Now, fold the top edge of each piece along the crease you just made so that they each face outwards, Do the same with the bottom piece now but so they face inwards. You should now have two "s" or "2" shaped pieces. Flip them both over. On each of the squares, fold them diagonally to make a triangle. This triangle should not make the whole shape a straight line, if it does then fold it along the other diagonal. Now fold each of the triangles along the line where it meets the rest of the shape. This should create a parallelogram. Now unfold those triangles. Place one part on top of the other so that the flat edges are touching and the sides with a line going diagonally across them are on the outside.Now tuck each triangle under the line on the outside side. If you do this carefully, the points on the star should be nice and sharp. You have now completed your Ninja Star!

This can now be thrown, although mind out when throwing at people or animals as it can be harmful if a point goes into someone's or something's eye.

How To Make An Origami Water Bomb (Paper Balloon) - (Tutorial)

The Water Bomb literally is as it name suggests, a water bomb. If you fill it with water, it is water tight (until the paper breaks) and an be thrown at an enemy. I did make one out of plastic, didn't leak and was re-usable, besides the fact that it is most definitely NOT bio-degradable. As well as this, it can be inflated with a sharp blow into the hole whilst holding the edges. This creates a rather nice paper balloon, almost cube like in shape.

How To Make An Origami Water Bomb (Paper Balloon) - Video

To make a waterbomb, the first thing you need to do is to create the waterbomb base (hence the name of the base) If you are struggling to do this, then click on the link to waterbomb base above: If you scroll down a bit then you can find a video and instructions. To make the waterbomb base, you must fold both diagonals and then flip over and fold one horizontal. Pinch the edges that the horizontal line joins up together and then squish to make a triangular shape this should then be creased. Then you need to fold the bottom left and bottom right corners up to the tip at the top to create a square shape. Repeat this on the other side. Remember to only fold up the top flap on each side. Then hold the square so that it makes a diamond shape and fold the top flap's left and right corners into the center. Repeat this on the other side. There should be a flappy triangle at the top of the shape now, fold this along the edge of the triangle at the side and then tuck it into the pocket that is in this triangle. Repeat on the other edge and then repeat on both edges on the other side. Now, take the top flap from the left and fold it over to the right, turn the shape over and repeat. Hold the edges securely and then blow into the hole at the top to inflate the waterbomb.

Now you have your finished waterbomb and can create all sorts of mischief with it. You can now fill it up with water and throw it. Or you could deflate it put it in your pocket and blow it up at any time that you want.

How To Make An Origami Flapping Bird (Crane) - (Tutorial)

This is going to be the first guide to making an origami model so I decided to start with a classic, where I started. The simple flapping bird. This is probably the most well known form of origami, providing you with some of the basic folds and combining them. You will learn how to make a square base, how to make a bird base and then how to turn that into your desired flapping bird.

How To Make An Origami Flapping Bird (Crane) - Video

The way to make a flapping bird is to start with the square base. If  you are stuck on this post, click on the waterbomb base link and scroll down to find a video on how to make the square base. To make the square base, you will need to fold one diagonal, flip the paper over and fold both horizontals. Then pinch the corners which the diagonal joins up together whilst pinching the other two corners together. This should create a square shape which should be creased to maintain its shape. Then with the closed side of the square base pointing towards you, fold the whole shape in half and unfold to create a crease down the center. Then fold the top right and top left edges along this line. Repeat on the other side of the shape and then unfold them all. Fold over the bottom closed triangle. Then on that side, peel the top flap down, and press down to create a diamond shape. Repeat on the other side. On this diamond shape, there should be two free flaps at the bottom, fold each of these outwards at 45 degrees. Then unfold this and pull it through the gap between the front and the back so that it is concealed and repeat on the other edge. Choose which edge you want to be the head and fold down that tip of the sticking out flap Tuck it between the front and back of the flap so that it is concealed. Then fold the wing along itself on the edge closest to the head, making sure it is folded down as far as it is allowed and repeat on the other side. 

Now simply hold the bird's chest and pull the tail to make it flap, simple. It might not flap at first but giving it a careful tug normally frees it up a it.

The flapping bird is brilliant for entertaining small children and also for making quickly on the spot at a social gathering. The video, the pictures and the diagrams are all of my creation. This is the first origami tutorial I have posted and hopefully all others will be posted in a similar format.