Origami Paper Flowers

Being a teacher can be quite challenging as one needs to keep coming up with something or the other good enough to keep the children interested in class. One such interesting activity to be carried out in class is origami. Origami paper flowers are easy and quite interesting to make as well. Children love to flaunt their paper flowers before their families and friends. The best part about origami is its versatility. Its complexity can be altered, thus, for older kids one can use the same origami flowers and make lovely bouquets, wall hangings, etc. It's an activity that lures all.

What you need...

To make an origami paper flower, you only need a square piece of paper. The color will depend on which color flower you want. To teach children of your class how to make origami paper flowers, you can keep a cardboard box full of different color papers and ask the kids to come and pick one of their choice.

Procedure:

Step 1
We need to start off with a square piece of paper. If you don't have square pieces, it doesn't matter. You could also take an A4 size paper and fold the top right end, towards your left such that it meets the other edge of the paper. The remaining piece of paper left under the fold needs to be torn off. You will end up with a square piece of paper.

Step 2
Take the colored paper, (color side up) and place it in front of you in diamond position. Next, take fold the two ends of the diamond, so that a central fold is made. Now, unfold the paper. You will have only a fold or midrib in the middle.

Step 3
Take the right and left horizontal ends and fold them to the midrib. You will have a kite like figure, with a little of the unfolded triangle seen on top. It looks like an ice-cream cone with the ice-cream in the shape of a triangle.

Step 4
This is where things begin to get complicated, so stay with me. Take the left edge of the upper portion of the cone like part and fold it downwards. Do the same with the right edge and now you will have a cone with folds that looks like the shirt collar.

Step 5
Flip the paper over. You will have something that looks like the kite you prepared in step 3, except there will be no folds seen on the kite other than the midrib. Fold the tapering bottom portion of the kite upwards, such that the bottom tip of the kite meets the uppermost tip of the ice-cream. The edges of flaps from the other side will be seen, however, it does not matter.

Step 6
Now concentrate on this folded portion; it is triangular in shape. Place one of your fingers horizontally on the triangular part such that the finger is parallel to the base of the triangle. Using a pencil, draw a dotted line horizontally across the triangle, using the finger as a ruler.

Step 7
Take the tip of this triangle and bend it downwards, such that another new base is formed. The new base is where the dotted line has been marked. So put some pressure on the dotted region and make the fold. So, the tip will now be facing downwards.

Step 8
Things get a little more complex now. If you look carefully, you will find that just adjacent to the new base are two tiny triangles on either side. Take your scale and place it at a 30 degree angle from the right edge of the little triangle. You will see that the line divides this triangle into half. Extend the dotted line to form upward into the bigger triangle and keep marking till you reach its edge. Do the same for the other end. Fold along these dotted lines to have something like doggy ears.

Step 9
You will find the tip beginning to open at the edges of the tiny triangles. Place your finger under it and fluff it. Take the tip of the ice-cream cone which is at the extreme end (bottom) of the whole paper and fold it towards the right. You will have the tiny triangle and the folded tip looking like an inverted ladle. Do the same with the other end.

Step 10
Now look at the tip of the ice-cream. Place your finger horizontally again and draw a dotted line. Fold the tip inwards toward you, such that the tip now becomes a table land. Flip the paper over. Your flower with its stalk is complete. Take two green obtuse triangles made from green paper. Place one triangle at the base of the stalk and stick it. Place the other triangle overlapping it and stick it. Your flower with its leaf and stalk is ready!

Learning how to make origami paper flowers by reading only the description is not easy, as one's visualization is put to test. If you've been intimidated by the ten steps, don't worry! It's not as complicated as it sounds. Practically doing it will be easier. Once you get the hang of this paper folding art, you can try making different interesting things like birds, boats, balls, etc. Have fun!