Fold the paper in half side to side so the flat edges meet evenly.
Rotate the paper 90º and repeat the side to side fold.
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Paper Bird
Folding Directions |
How To Make An Origami Bird |
To make a paper bird, begin with a
square sheet of paper.
Fold the paper in half diagonally so the opposite corners meet evenly.
Rotate the paper 90º and repeat the diagonal fold. Now your paper looks like the upper left picture with these fold lines:
The next sequence of folds consists of eight folds, two from each
corner. Fold each side of the paper so it is even with the
diagonal center line and the corner forms a sharp point.
Repeat these two folds from each corner.
After you complete those eight folds, two from each tip, flip the paper
over and fold all of the folds again in the opposite direction to make
the paper easier to work with for the next steps.
Find the fold lines that make a four pointed star and fold them to get
your paper to look like this:
Begin at one corner, and fold the star so the diagonal center lines all
meet in the middle.
You'll be able to turn the flaps like pages of a book when you have it
right, and it the paper will be shaped like a kite, or a diamond.
This diamond fold is the hardest part of folding a paper bird. It can be
done, and gets easier with practice.
Pull out the head tail of the bird:
Open one of the ends, fold up the flap, pull it out at an angle as shown, then flatten it.
When you pull out the head and tail, pull the bottom down on both sides of the base to get a tidy point, otherwise it might wrinkle. Put your finger between the wing and the neck/tail and gently push down.
Flip up one wing.
Turn the paper over.
Flip up the other wing.
Hold the paper so the fattest part of the diamond shape is at the top,
and you can open each side.
After you get both the neck and tail of the bird pulled out and
flat,
open up the top of the neck, and fold the tip down to make the head.
Curl the wings forward toward the head of the bird.
Hold the bird firmly at the base of the neck.
Gently pull the tail in the direction that it points. It's not up, and it's not back - it's in up AND back at the same time. The wings will flap. After a lot of flapping, the base of the wings will tear, and it's time to exercise your origami skills and make another origami bird.
Here's how to: Make a paper nest for your paper bird.
Here's how to: Make an egg for your paper bird to sit on, or to put a small paper bird inside of.