Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, is a fun and creative hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Not only is it a relaxing and meditative activity, but it can also be used to create beautiful and intricate works of art. One popular origami project is the butterfly. With just a few folds and creases, you can transform a simple piece of paper into a delicate and lifelike butterfly.
In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll take you through the steps of how to make a butterfly from origami paper. Whether you’re new to origami or just looking to try something new, this project is perfect for you. So gather your materials and let’s get started!
Now that you have a basic understanding of the steps involved, let’s move on to the detailed instructions. Follow each step carefully, and you’ll be able to create your own beautiful origami butterfly in no time.
How to Make a Butterfly from Origami Paper
Follow these simple steps to create a beautiful origami butterfly:
- Start with a square piece of paper.
- Fold in half diagonally both ways.
- Unfold and fold in half horizontally.
- Unfold and fold in half vertically.
- Fold top corners to the center crease.
- Fold bottom corners to the center crease.
- Fold the top flap down.
- Fold the bottom flap up.
- Unfold the top flap and squash fold.
- Unfold the bottom flap and squash fold.
Your origami butterfly is now complete! You can use it to decorate your home or give it as a gift.
Start with a square piece of paper.
The first step to making an origami butterfly is to start with a square piece of paper. This can be any color or pattern you like. If you don’t have any square paper, you can easily make your own by cutting a rectangular piece of paper in half. Just be sure that the two sides of the square are equal in length.
Once you have your square piece of paper, you need to fold it in half diagonally both ways. To do this, simply fold the paper in half from top to bottom, then unfold it. Then, fold the paper in half from left to right, and unfold it again. This will create two diagonal crease lines.
Next, you need to unfold the paper and fold it in half horizontally. To do this, fold the top edge of the paper down to the bottom edge, and then unfold it. This will create a horizontal crease line in the center of the paper.
Finally, you need to unfold the paper and fold it in half vertically. To do this, fold the left edge of the paper to the right edge, and then unfold it. This will create a vertical crease line in the center of the paper.
Now that you have folded the paper in all four directions, you are ready to start shaping your origami butterfly.
Fold in half diagonally both ways.
Once you have your square piece of paper, you need to fold it in half diagonally both ways. This will create two diagonal crease lines that will help you shape the wings of your butterfly.
- Fold from top left to bottom right.
To do this, simply place your finger on the top left corner of the paper and your other finger on the bottom right corner. Then, bring the two corners together and fold the paper in half. Crease the fold sharply.
- Unfold the paper.
Once you have folded the paper in half diagonally from top left to bottom right, unfold it so that it is flat again.
- Fold from top right to bottom left.
Now, fold the paper in half diagonally from top right to bottom left. To do this, place your finger on the top right corner of the paper and your other finger on the bottom left corner. Then, bring the two corners together and fold the paper in half. Crease the fold sharply.
- Unfold the paper again.
Once you have folded the paper in half diagonally from top right to bottom left, unfold it so that it is flat again.
Now that you have folded the paper in half diagonally both ways, you will have two diagonal crease lines. These crease lines will help you shape the wings of your butterfly in the next steps.
Unfold and fold in half horizontally.
After you have folded the paper in half diagonally both ways and unfolded it, you need to unfold the paper and fold it in half horizontally. This will create a horizontal crease line in the center of the paper that will help you shape the body of your butterfly.
- Unfold the paper completely.
If the paper is still folded in half diagonally, unfold it so that it is flat again.
- Fold the paper in half from top to bottom.
To do this, place your finger on the top edge of the paper and your other finger on the bottom edge. Then, bring the two edges together and fold the paper in half. Crease the fold sharply.
- Unfold the paper again.
Once you have folded the paper in half horizontally, unfold it so that it is flat again.
Now that you have folded the paper in half horizontally, you will have a horizontal crease line in the center of the paper. This crease line will help you shape the body of your butterfly in the next steps.
Unfold and fold in half vertically.
After you have folded the paper in half horizontally and unfolded it, you need to unfold the paper and fold it in half vertically. This will create a vertical crease line in the center of the paper that will help you shape the body of your butterfly.
- Unfold the paper completely.
If the paper is still folded in half horizontally, unfold it so that it is flat again.
- Fold the paper in half from left to right.
To do this, place your finger on the left edge of the paper and your other finger on the right edge. Then, bring the two edges together and fold the paper in half. Crease the fold sharply.
- Unfold the paper again.
Once you have folded the paper in half vertically, unfold it so that it is flat again.
Now that you have folded the paper in half vertically, you will have a vertical crease line in the center of the paper. This crease line will help you shape the body of your butterfly in the next steps.
Fold top corners to the center crease.
Now that you have folded the paper in half diagonally both ways, horizontally, and vertically, you are ready to start shaping the wings of your butterfly. The first step is to fold the top corners of the paper to the center crease.
- Fold the top left corner to the center crease.
To do this, place your finger on the top left corner of the paper and your other finger on the center crease. Then, bring the top left corner down to the center crease and crease the fold sharply.
- Fold the top right corner to the center crease.
To do this, place your finger on the top right corner of the paper and your other finger on the center crease. Then, bring the top right corner down to the center crease and crease the fold sharply.
Now that you have folded the top corners to the center crease, you will have two triangular flaps. These flaps will form the wings of your butterfly in the next steps.
Fold bottom corners to the center crease.
Now that you have folded the top corners of the paper to the center crease, you need to fold the bottom corners of the paper to the center crease. This will complete the shape of the wings of your butterfly.
- Fold the bottom left corner to the center crease.
To do this, place your finger on the bottom left corner of the paper and your other finger on the center crease. Then, bring the bottom left corner up to the center crease and crease the fold sharply.
- Fold the bottom right corner to the center crease.
To do this, place your finger on the bottom right corner of the paper and your other finger on the center crease. Then, bring the bottom right corner up to the center crease and crease the fold sharply.
Now that you have folded the bottom corners to the center crease, you will have a diamond shape. This diamond shape is the body of your butterfly.
Fold the top flap down.
Once you have folded the bottom corners to the center crease, you will have a diamond shape. The top flap of the diamond shape is the head of your butterfly. To fold the top flap down, follow these steps:
1. Locate the top flap of the diamond shape. It is the flap that is opposite the bottom flap.
2. Fold the top flap down to the center crease. To do this, place your finger on the top edge of the flap and your other finger on the center crease. Then, bring the top flap down to the center crease and crease the fold sharply.
3. Unfold the top flap.
4. Squash fold the top flap. To do this, place your finger on the center crease and your other finger on the top edge of the flap. Then, push the flap down and crease it sharply.
Now that you have folded the top flap down and squash folded it, you will have the head of your butterfly.
Fold the bottom flap up.
After you have folded the top flap down and squash folded it, you need to fold the bottom flap up. This will complete the body of your butterfly.
- Locate the bottom flap of the diamond shape.
It is the flap that is opposite the top flap.
- Fold the bottom flap up to the center crease.
To do this, place your finger on the bottom edge of the flap and your other finger on the center crease. Then, bring the bottom flap up to the center crease and crease the fold sharply.
- Unfold the bottom flap.
- Squash fold the bottom flap.
To do this, place your finger on the center crease and your other finger on the bottom edge of the flap. Then, push the flap up and crease it sharply.
Now that you have folded the bottom flap up and squash folded it, you will have the body of your butterfly.
Unfold the top flap and squash fold.
After you have folded the bottom flap up and squash folded it, you need to unfold the top flap and squash fold it. This will complete the head of your butterfly.
- Unfold the top flap.
The top flap is the flap that you folded down and squash folded earlier.
- Squash fold the top flap.
To do this, place your finger on the center crease and your other finger on the top edge of the flap. Then, push the flap down and crease it sharply.
Now that you have unfolded the top flap and squash folded it, you will have the head of your butterfly.
Unfold the bottom flap and squash fold.
After you have unfolded the top flap and squash folded it, you need to unfold the bottom flap and squash fold it. This will complete the body of your butterfly.
- Unfold the bottom flap.
The bottom flap is the flap that you folded up and squash folded earlier.
- Squash fold the bottom flap.
To do this, place your finger on the center crease and your other finger on the bottom edge of the flap. Then, push the flap up and crease it sharply.
Now that you have unfolded the bottom flap and squash folded it, you will have the body of your butterfly.
FAQ
Have some questions about origami? Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
Question 1: What is origami?
Origami is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. It is a fun and creative hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Origami can be used to create beautiful and intricate works of art, from simple animals to complex geometric shapes.
Question 2: What kind of paper is best for origami?
The best paper for origami is thin and strong, with a smooth surface. Some popular types of origami paper include kami, Tant, and mulberry paper. However, you can also use regular printer paper or construction paper if you are just starting out.
Question 3: What are some basic origami folds?
There are many different origami folds, but some of the most basic ones include the square fold, the triangle fold, and the bird base. These folds can be used to create a variety of different origami projects.
Question 4: How can I learn how to do origami?
There are many resources available to help you learn how to do origami. You can find books, DVDs, and online tutorials that teach you the basics of origami. You can also find origami classes at your local community center or art studio.
Question 5: What are some popular origami projects?
Some popular origami projects include animals, flowers, birds, and geometric shapes. You can also find more challenging projects, such as modular origami, which involves folding multiple pieces of paper together to create a larger structure.
Question 6: Is origami difficult to learn?
Origami can be challenging at first, but with practice, you will be able to master the basic folds and start creating your own origami projects. The more you practice, the better you will become at origami.
Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little practice, you can learn how to create beautiful and intricate origami projects. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
Now that you know a little bit more about origami, here are some tips to help you get started:
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you get started with origami:
Tip 1: Start with simple projects.
When you are first starting out, it is best to start with simple origami projects. This will help you to learn the basic folds and techniques without getting discouraged. There are many books and websites that have instructions for simple origami projects.
Tip 2: Use the right paper.
The type of paper you use can make a big difference in the outcome of your origami project. For most projects, it is best to use thin and strong paper with a smooth surface. Some popular types of origami paper include kami, Tant, and mulberry paper.
Tip 3: Be patient.
Origami can be challenging at first, but with practice, you will be able to master the basic folds and start creating your own origami projects. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time. Just keep practicing and you will eventually get the hang of it.
Tip 4: Have fun!
Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby. So relax, enjoy the process, and let your creativity flow.
With a little practice, you can learn how to create beautiful and intricate origami projects. So what are you waiting for? Start folding today!
Now that you have some tips to help you get started, you are ready to begin your origami journey. Remember to be patient, have fun, and let your creativity shine through.
Conclusion
Origami is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
In this article, we have covered the basics of origami, from the different types of paper that can be used to the basic folds that are used to create origami projects. We have also provided some tips to help you get started with origami, such as starting with simple projects, using the right paper, and being patient.
Now that you have the basics of origami down, it is time to start folding! There are many different origami projects that you can try, from simple animals to complex geometric shapes. The more you practice, the better you will become at origami.
So what are you waiting for? Start folding today and see what you can create!
