Valentine's Day Hearts - New Origami Models

Using the same base as the one used for the Kissing Cranes Heart, I folded smaller heart variations that can be used as presents or to decorate a Valentine's Day card or a scrapbook page.

The models in the picture are folded from 4" (100 mm) squares of origami paper that is the same color on both sides.

To fold the hearts, start folding steps 1 through 15 of the Kissing Cranes Heart (see the Diagrams page), skip step 16, and then shape the corners, at the top of the model, as shown in step 17.
You will end up with a plain heart that has four center flaps, as shown in the picture below.

The center flaps can then be folded in different ways to create many patterns.

In the next post, I will explain how to connect the hearts into groups of four (with no glue) to create modular flowers with beautiful patterns, like the one in the picture below:

Till next week!

Kissing Cranes Heart Picture Frame - New Origami Model for Valentine's Day

I was trying to decide what to fold for Valentine's Day, and this was what I came up with.
I modified the design of my model Kissing Cranes Picture Frame and obtained a heart shaped model that is more suitable for Valentine's Day. The model is called Kissing Cranes Heart and this is what it looks like:

If you insert a picture or a note in the center of the model, it can be used as a picture frame or as a Valentine's Day card.

You can find the diagram here. Although the diagram was drawn with two color paper for clarity purposes, I like to fold the model with paper that is the same color on both sides. It's better to use a thin paper.
The model in the picture was folded using a 12" (300 mm) square of thin washi paper. The final model is approximately 6" x 6" (150 mm x 150 mm). The note in the center is 3" x 3" (75 mm x 75 mm).

Please don't forget to leave me your comments.

Happy Valentine! (in advance).

Pimpernels Ball - New Origami Modular

The Pimpernels Ball was constructed by joining twelve pimpernels with thirty connectors, obtaining a sort of "rounded dodecahedron". No glue was required.

Each pimpernel was folded from a pentagon that was cut from a 6" (150 mm) square of Tant paper, in three different shades of red (Tant 15x15cm - 48 sheets - 12 coordinating shades of red).
Each connector was folded from a 3" (75 mm) x 1 1/2" (38mm) rectangle, cut from a 6"(150 mm) square of tant paper, in two different shades of blue (Tant 15x15cm - 48 sheets - 12 coordinating shades of blue).

Both pimpernels and connectors are my designs. I haven't drawn the diagrams yet, but in case you want to give pimpernels a try, here is a hint: they were folded using a similar folding sequence as the model Wildflower (see the Diagrams page), but starting from a pentagon instead of a square.

Enjoy your foldings!

Butterfly Tato - New Origami Model

Happy New Year! In this first post of 2011, I would like to thank you all for all the nice comments I received in my blog. I always appreciate your feedback, so please leave me your comments and let me know if you fold the models described in my posts.
And thank you for keep coming back to my blog! Remember that you can subscribe to the blog and be notified when I post something new (usually once a week).

This is the first new model of the year: a butterfly tato or Japanese purse.

The butterfly tatos in the picture were folded using regular origami paper, from 6" (150 mm) squares. You can find the diagram here.

Tatos can contain a message or small flat items inside, so they can be used as envelopes to hold party favors, invitations, thank you notes or cards. In this case, you can fold the model from a bigger square, 10" (250 mm) or 12" (350 mm). The butterfly wings are locking the tato, so it will stay closed by itself.

The butterfly tato will be a nice idea for sending a thank you note to Santa or to start preparing your Valentine's Day cards.

Please leave me a comment to let me know if you like it and thank you again for keep coming back!