Easy Origami

Starting out

Origami is an art of paper folding, therefore all you should need is a piece of paper and you can start folding away without any problems, right? Well, almost. You might need a few other things that we will talk about in this chapter.

Aside from the materials, we are also going to show you some of the basic folds, and how to read the directions of many of the patterns that you can find.

Materials

In origami, you might not just need paper ? it always depends on how far you want to take your creations. Here are some of the tools in you should have in the toolbox:

Paper

Foil Backing

Scissors or blades

Glues and paints and other craft goods

Paper

You can almost use any type of paper in any color that you want. But, in order to make your origami fun and not frustrating, it might be best to use standard printer paper. If you use thinner paper, you might tear or wear out the sheets. If you use heavier paper, it might not be the easiest to work with, and the folds get more difficult to make as the paper folds over itself.

Some of the different kinds of paper you might want to use are:

Colored bond paper (standard printer paper in a color)

Colored construction paper

Newspaper

Plain white paper

Commercial origami paper

Colored and plain white bond paper can be bought inexpensively for just a few dollars and most of your basic origami creations can be made with this paper. You can also use construction paper, but it is heavier, and you won't have a lot of luck doing wet folding.

Many experienced origami enthusiasts will use commercial origami paper. This kind of paper is slightly lighter than standard bond paper, but it is actually more durable than its bond counterpart.

One of the other advantages of using commercial origami paper is the fact that it is only colored on one side. The opposite side of this origami paper is white. This is extremely helpful if you are designing or building dual-colored pieces like a zebra, for instance.

Foil backing

This isn't a major item in origami, until you get into more intricate designs. Many experienced origami artists use foil back paper for certain items that you aren't going to be able to fold with regular paper. These items might include: antennae on insect designs, and possibly small legs on any of the other creatures that tickle your fancy.

You can usually find foil backed paper in a craft store and it can quite expensive. Some people make their own (quite inexpensively) but it can be messy, as it involves using craft glue and aluminum foil wrap along with tissue paper to give you the same kind of look.

Scissors and blades

Although traditionalists might have a problem with using scissors and blades to help cut paper, it does have to happen sometimes. With that said, it rarely has to happen when you are doing the actual design of the origami piece.

Many of the origami patterns call for a square piece of paper, and unless you get commercial origami paper, you might have to cut your own to size. A good pair of scissors or an artist's blade and a straight edge will do the trick.

Jeremy Hansen is a recognized expert on everything Origami and author of the book "Origami Secrets Revealed: Everything You Need To Know And More". For more great information like this you can check out his website at http://www.m5info.com/origamisecrets.html

---

Halloween Arts & Crafts Fun

Scary Halloween Crafts Looking for some great Halloween crafts for your Halloween party, haunted house, or just for trick-or-treaters?A fun craft is something that can keep you occupied... Read More

Origami Instructions

Origami is a fantastic art form that guarantees hours of fun and enjoyment, not to mention a great way to challenge yourself and build your creativity. However... Read More

Picture Frame Crafts For Your Kids Party

One of the most popular party favors is a framed picture of the party guest taken at your kids party. He or she could be showing off... Read More

An Introduction to Lanyards

Lanyards are pieces of rope, wire, or cloth specifically designed to attach to objects. They are typically used to secure small items such as a work badge,... Read More

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

The song says it all, "Hot Fun in the Summertime." Our summer was certainly full of fun: outdoor barbeques, neighborhood cookouts, making ice cream, 4th of July... Read More

A Look at Cloisonné Lapel Pins

Cloisonné lapel pins are the most traditional, if not the most collectible of the lapel pin types. Most of the older lapel pins are either die-cast metal... Read More

A Brief History of Candles

For centuries man's progress has been lighted by candles. However, people know only very few things about the origin of candles. It has been written that the... Read More

How To Create A Collage Journal

Creating a collage journal is a unique and fun way to personalize and enrich your journal. Making a collage journal is something that everyone can enjoy. If... Read More

Sell Hobby Items by Mail

You can, if you are ambitious, start a Mail Order Business selling collectables to hobbiest by mail. To begin, you must first find a hobby that appeals... Read More

Easy Crafts for Kids - Help with Learning

According to the research on child cognitive development, making use of basic easy crafts for kids can stimulate their mental growth and enhance the learning process. Since... Read More

How to Create a Reverse Painting on Glass

Introduction:Glass is a non-absorbant painting support which does not allow paint to easily adhere to it - apart from through the paint's own drying process.For this reason... Read More

Marking Tools and Laser Marking Machines for Marking on Metals

Marking tools are used for marking metals and non-metal surfaces. Mark can be a company logo designed with alphabets, numeric pattern or any graphical shape. It distinguishes... Read More

Diecast Collectibles: The Collectors? Guide to Making a Profit

Millions of people have made a hobby of collecting items of one sort or another, but some take it to a higher level. These collectors view their... Read More

Family Album In The Digital Age

Back then it was simple - you take the picture, you print it and put it in your family album. But now you have a digital camera.... Read More

Molding Leather Armor

In order to mould leather armor, soak it in water until it becomes pliable and soft. Then place it in the mould until it dries and hardens.Cuir... Read More

Treasure Hunting - The Unusual Ways

When you think of treasure hunting, maybe gold coins and precious stones come to mind, but it doesn't end there. You can start in your own attic... Read More

Woodworking Tools: Right Selection And Care Will Save You Money, Part 4

Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 4 - Tools For ShapingA civilization's maturity and intelligence is judged, in part, by the diversity and sophistication of its tools.... Read More

Handmade Quilts are Made with Love and Make Great Family Heirlooms!

Today's handmade quilts are more like a work of art than a bed cover. With all the wonderfully artistic quilt patterns available to quilters today, we are... Read More

Leather Work Tips

For leather work, consider the basics: an awl and spare point, a retractable X-acto knife and spare blades, a retractable knife with a break-off blade and a... Read More

Kona Cotton: The Quilters & Embroiderers Dream Fabric

What, Exactly, Is Kona Cotton? Kona(R) cotton is a premium, 100% cotton broadcloth from Robert Kaufman Fabrics in Los Angeles. The company introduced the fabric in the... Read More

Money Making Hobbies - Which Ones?

Which ones can be money making hobbies? A friend made a life-sized cow out of plywood once. He painted it, put it in the yard, and people... Read More

Gourd Enthusiasm Growing Around the World

Gourds played an essential role in the daily life of early cultures. Commonly used as containers and vessels, they were also used for musical instruments. Some cultures... Read More

Create A Gift Basket For A Dog Lover!

The choice of what gift to give your family and friends can often be a difficult one. One of the best gifts that you can give is... Read More

Depression Glass Companies

Just before the advent of the Great Depression, more than a hundred companies manufactured glassware in the United States. At the end of the Depression, fewer than... Read More

An Easy Way to Understand Your Collectibles

What kind of gifts you often receive? Is it toy dolls, animal figurine, antique, pottery, game, memorabilia or something you consider as a collectables? Well, what ever... Read More

How To Make Your Own Gift Baskets

Haven't you always wanted to give someone a beautiful gift basket, but didn't have a clue how to put one together? Gift baskets are such a wonderful... Read More