March 2017: Bird Origami

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Caitlin’s Corner! This month I have been looking forward to for a while because the topic of this article is bird origami! I love being able to shape a sheet of paper into a fun little animal or flower by only folding it. So, here are some birds that you can make origami figures out of:

1. Crane: This bird is probably the most famous to make an origami figure out of because of the idea that if you make 1,000 of these, your wish will come true! Here are the steps to follow along with the picture:

a. Take a square sheet of paper, turn it like a diamond, and fold the top corner toward the one that is closest to you.

b. After that is folded down, fold the triangle in half so that it makes a smaller triangle.

c. Now, there should be a pocket that you can open and fold flat down into a square shape to look like step 4 of the picture.

d. Turn over the square-triangle figure and fold so in the picture, B is on A and C folds inside and down to touch D.

e. Now you should have image 6! Now, take the left and right corners so they fold into the center to form another triangle when they meet, also folding down the top on an imaginary line into the center.

f. Your paper should resemble step 7 of the picture. Unfold what you just did in the last step, as that was to make creases for the future.

g. This is my favorite part! From here, you pull up the bottom corner to the top so that it resembles the figure in step 9.

h. Flip the figure over and do the last three steps again but on this side.

i. Fold in those pesky little flaps so that it looks like figure 10. Now, fold in the outsides toward the middle along a diagonal-dotted line. Then, you guessed it, do it on the other side

j. Take one of the thin, leg-like parts (preferably start on the left) and move it out, up, and in so that it looks like a head sticking out of the wings in step 15.

k. Do the same on the other side for the tail.

l. Bend the head part at the end so it sticks straight out and fold down the wings.

m. Hopefully it looks like the ending product!

n. If the steps and picture did not work out for you, here is a video that may help with visuals:

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2. Swan: This origami figure is probably my favorite out of these four! Here are the instructions:

a. Take your square piece of paper and face it like a diamond instead of a square like the crane. Then fold it from right to left and back out again to make that crease.

b. Fold the outsides in step 2 of the picture inward toward the center to look like step 3.

c. Fold over the paper and bring the outsides in toward the center again.

d. Draw an imaginary straight line about halfway from the top to bottom to fold the longer, pointer part upward and over to look like part 6.

e. Fold the end of the pointy part down again to make the head.

f. In step 7, you are folding it backward in half so it looks like 8, pulling out the head to complete your swan!

g. Here is a video for a better visual. It has slightly different steps toward the middle of the process but with the same, cool end result:

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3. Chick: This origami is a bit easier than the others but is just as fun and cute! Be sure to pull out your yellow paper for these steps:

a. First, you have your square piece of paper in that diamond shape I’ve been talking about. Then, you fold it at the corners over twice like the picture. These are for the creases.

b. Then, fold the left corner in towards the center but only about 1/3 of the way there. Fold the majority of what you just folded in back out again on top of the last fold.

c. Fold the top over the bottom so that it shows a bit of what will be a triangular beak at the top.

d. Take the bottom corner and fold it inside along the lines shown in step 5.

e. Draw a little eye on it for a cute effect. J

f. Here is a video with different instructions for a better visual:

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4. Pigeon: Here are the instructions for a very neat pigeon:

a. Take that diamond shape and fold it down and back up for a crease. Then, fold it sideways so it forms a triangle.

b. The point of the triangle should be folded like in step 3 in the picture over a good amount, taking one flap instead of two to fold it back again so that a smaller diamond is showing in the center.

c. Fold this downward in half. After, fold what will be the wings that are sticking down upward on both sides.

d. Take what will be the beak and make a crease by folding inward a bit. When the crease is made, make a pocket fold by tucking part of the paper down so it forms a sharper beak.

e. Spread the wings are you are finished!

f. For a better visual, here is a good video to fold along to:

For more bird origami, make sure to check out http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-birds.html. See you next month on Caitlin’s Corner!