Origami Paper crafts - Elementary Course

Origami is a paper craft. Folding fighter plane as a paper craft is not a big deal. Pretty simple. What is important is flying airplane raise interest of kids in Origami. That is why I take folding airplane as a starter. When you start to teach origami to kids, this is probably the best one.

A very important message is shown in the lecture. That is " Keep center line position accurate!" This is true whatever object you fold in the future.

In this lecture, you will find slide show first, then supplement video. The most of lectures in this course have the same structure. A slide show is good to see the detail of each actions, and the video is good to see the flow and Grandpa Tsukada's hand actions.

A Squid Bomber is called a squid airplane in Japanes traditional origami. Again I am highly focusing on a object which will lure kids to have interest on Origami. The folding is basically easy. If you are going to teach Origami, you will find this squid bomber is a very much beginner-friendly object.

The structure of Lecture 6 is Slide Show and VIdeo combined one.

I would like you to remind that you need to take a scientific memorization approach. These contents shown here, if you only watch materials, you will forget 70% of contents after 24 hours. So, key is to strengthen your memory. How?

Do it by yourself repeatedly. That is the only way to make your memory strong.

Airplane has numerous variety of folding. In Lecture 7, introducing unique folding. This may inspire you to fold your original airplane in the future. Enjoy folding various type of airplanes as your kids/friends do. One important message is you got to have an originality. Someone who invented this cessna, he had gotten an idea to fold back the small traiangle in the center.  Thus, there will be a numerous opportunities for you to create your own airplane, or any other objects.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined.

Folding a Swallow Glider, a very unique figure, requires to use scissors. The other important technique used here is the marking lines to help folding smoothly. Actually when you fold origami, marking lines are frequently used skills.  As for "Mountain Folding" and "Valley Folding",  you will learn in Lecture 9. When you see the folding combination of mountain folding and valley folding, you will be surprised. It is just like a magic.

I picked up this Swallo Glider as a sample or originality. I would like you to develop yourself to create your own during/after this course. Although the course name is "Elementary", you are building the base right now.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

When you buy Origami book, Mountain Folding pattern and Vally Folding pattern will be the first vocabruary to find. It is very simple, but difficult to find what those are when you read book only. When you look at this lecture, you will find it very easy. And you will understand why these two terminology come out so often during the entire Origami Elementary Course.

The key is to combine "mountain folding for vertical and horizontal directions", and then unfold it and "fold big triangle by valley folding", you can fold a small square instantly and  naturally. Probably you would not understand what I am saying here, but when you watch the supplement video, you find it so easy and smooth.

This creating square by combining mountain folding and valley folding are important folding technique to many other objects. Particularly when you fold crane, or kissing cranes. So, I advise you practicing a lot.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

From this lecture, students will learn typical traditional Japanese origami patterns. Folding a boat requires students to work neatly. If students do a rough job, such as ignoring center line, or handle roughly, the shape of boat will be distorted, or even torn apart. It is a great exercise for students to learn neatness.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

The sailing boat (1) has a dynamic shape as a sailing boat. Compared with other two sailing boat, this one is easier and less processes, means good one for young children to make this yacht.

One important thing you have to follow is to handle gently when you reverse the paper for the body side.Very similar to the boat you learnt in lecture 10.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Sailing boat (2) requires more folding processes compared to any other objects you learned so far. You will find marking lines are important skill. In this lecture, there be rotating papers 90 degrees twice, and then the shape converts to a  very different shape. This is a fun part of origami, as after one or two motions unexpected figure will appearall of a sudden.  So, please enjoy.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

In Lecture 13, you will actually learn two types of boat. One is called Nisoubune, two connected boats, and the other is a sailing boat. You will need some practice to convert Nisoubune to a sailing boat (3). It is not difficult to do it, but difficult to show by photo or video.  Actually supplement video is more comprehensive for conversion of Nisoubune to Sailing Boat.

One other thing which is notable is the importance of marking lines. You will be surprised to see many lines created during the process, and all of a sudden to form the Nisoubune.  Marking lines are preparation of creating figure.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Flowers of Morning Glory is not complicated. You will need scissers to create flower. Although I call this morning glory, I can imagine that in each country you have a flower looks like this morning glory, and you name it by yourself. By that way, your friends or kids will have more familiar feeling to this flower. For example, trumpet flower, or scurvy grass. You can name it!

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Tulip is a global flower, known to everybody.  You need to prepare two square papers when you fold tulip. One smaller and light colored (orange, pink, white, red) square paper which will be a flower, and the other is larger and green colored square paper, which will be leaves and stem. Flower part paper needs to be smaller than the stem part paper.

Here you will first learn the technique called Nakaware-Ori, which will be taught in Lecture 18. Nakaware-Ori is a very useful and frequently rerquired technique. It might be a good idea to see Lecture 18 now if you want to learn more in detail.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Folding Iris needs a long process. Iris and Frog will be the longest folding processes. I think this is a good timing for you to learn this kind of complicated and time consuming one at this stage. Although the process is long, it has many repetition, so actual difficulty is not that much. You feel great after you complete Iris as you can really feel that 2D paper convert into the 3D object.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Folding a Frog needs a long process like Iris. Iris and Frog will be the longest folding processes. I think this is a good timing for you to learn this kind of complicated and time consuming one at this stage. Although the process is long, it has many repetition, so actual difficulty is not that much. You feel great after you complete Frognn as you can really feel that 2D paper convert into the 3D object.

Here you are required to do Nakaware-Ori for folding frog legs. You have already learnt Nakaware-Ori when you fold Tulip stem. Unfortunately frog legs are so thin, and very difficult to capture how Grandpa Tsukada is folding legs by using Nakaware-Ori technique. Please refer to Lecture 18 for more detailed explanation of Nakaware-Ori.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Nakaware-Ori is a technique required in many objects. So far you learnt folding stem and frog legs. The most important application for Nakaware-Ori is crane and kissing cranes. As the final objective of this elementary course is for you to fold kissing cranes, that is why I have chosen many Nakaware-Ori objects. Do you remember that I take scientific memorization approach when designed this course.

Nakaware-Ori is a Japanese word. Naka means inside, ware is divide, and Ori is fold. Thus Nakaware-Ori means Towards inside divide part of objects and fold. Divide does not mean using scissors. It is a magic like folding pattern.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

The technique of Kasane-Ori is the opposite of Nakaware-Ori. Kasane means overlap in Japanese and Ori is to fold. So, direct translation is Overlap and fold. Nakaware-Ori is divide and fold towards inside, since it is the opposite of Nakaware-Ori, Kasane-Ori is fold towards outside.

Once you master both Nakaware-Ori and Kasane-Ori, you can really fold anything. Most of objects are combination of these technique. In this course, application of Kasane-Ori is only folding swan. More emphasys on Nakaware-Ori, as your final objective is Kissing Cranes which requires Nakaware-Ori a lot.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Folding a dog is very easy. It is very similar to the flower part of tulip.

What makes difficult is to draw a face. In the supplement, you can find how to draw face expression. This kind of drawing face expression is not able to find in any other lessons. Once you master this technique, by learning from Lecture20-25, you have special weapons to make people admire you, Drawing expressions on the face will differntiate your skills as an art instructor from other instructors or teacher.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Folding a cat is also very simple, and the process is very much same as folding dog.

What makes difficult is to draw a face. In the supplement, you can find how to draw face expression. This kind of drawing face expression is not able to find in any other lessons. Once you master this technique, by learning from Lecture20-25, your kids, students, friends will admire you. Drawing expressions on the face will differntiate your skills as an art instructor from other instructors or teacher.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Folding a rabbit is also very simple, and the process is very much same as folding dog.

What makes difficult is to draw a face. In the supplement, you can find how to draw face expression. This kind of drawing face expression is not able to find in any other lessons. Once you master this technique, by learning from Lecture20-25, you have special tools to get attention of students, or kids, Drawing expressions on the face will differntiate your skills as an art instructor from other instructors or teacher.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

From Lecture 23-25 is summarizing how to draw face expression. Lecture 23 is draw happy face, smiling face. When you watch the instructor's work, you will be just amazing the quality of professional here.

 1. Set the Nose Position,

2. Direction of Mouth/Lips,

3. The shape of Eyes,

4  Special tip to draw an extra line, and

5. small lines on cheeks. You will see three examples, all in video, no slide show for this lecture.  Enjoy!

In case of drawing happy face, remember followings. The end of mouth is higher than the midpoint of mouth position. The shape of eyes are like mountain, or inverse U-shape.  Extra eyeline will make a vivid expression as well as small lines on cheeks.

From Lecture 23-25 is summarizing how to draw face expression. Lecture 24 is draw sad face, crying face. When you watch the instructor's work, you will be just amazing the high quality of our  instructor here.

1. Set the Nose Position,

2. Direction of Mouth/Lips,

3. The shape of Eyes,

4 Special tip to draw an extra line, and

5. Tears on cheeks.

You will see three examples, all in video, no slide show for this lecture. 

Sad face is basically opposite of happy face. Positions of end of mouth and shape of eyes are exactly opposite.Tears will make a difference, too.

From Lecture 23-25 is summarizing how to draw face expression. Lecture 25 is an angry face. When you watch the instructor's work, you will be just amazing high quality of our instructor.

1. Set the Nose Position,

2. Direction of Mouth/Lips,

3. The shape of Eyes,

4 Special tip to draw an extra line, and

5. small lines on forehead.

You will see three examples, all in video, no slide show for this lecture. 

Angry face is similar to sad face. Positions of end of mouth is almost same. The difference is the shape of eyes, which looks like a crescent.  Instead of tears, draw some lines on the forehead.  

Box (1) is a typical traditional box which can be used in your living room or kitchen. You can put small coins, or candies in it. Kids will love to see their works are going to be used in real life. That is very important. As an origami instructor, or you to become a teacher, the important thing is to attract students to keep interest in Origami. This origami elementary course starts from airplane, and many other interesting objects those kids will love to use.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Box (2) is completely different folding pattern from Box (1). Actually all boxes here in Week 5 are different. And that is very good for you to expose yourself learning new things. After you complete this course, you can really teach kids, or help senior people, or open your craft shop, then you want to have originality. In order to be an explorer, you need to know many different patterns. Boxes are not related to the final object of kissing cranes, but it is worthwhile to brush up your skills by learning different things.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Box (3) is another different pattern which will broaden your origami folding skills. All boxes here in Week 5 are different. And that is very good for you to expose yourself learning new things. After you complete this course, you can really teach kids, or help senior people, or open your craft shop, then you want to have originality. In order to be an explorer, you need to know many different patterns. Boxes are not related to the final object of kissing cranes, but it is worthwhile to brush up your skills by learning different things.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

All the Week 5 and Week 6 objects are relatively easy one. Easy does not mean boring one. For example, piano is a derivative of house. You will be surprised to see the house converts to piano in two motions.  It has much less processes compared to frog or iris, but make you, kids, friends, and students to keep interest.

 A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Folding glass is probably most simple one in this course. Then why I put this one here? The reason is simple. Because the use of glass after folding excites audience from our long experience. More importantly even small kids can fold the glass. When they pour water inside, they look very happy.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Folding a Cap is relatively simple, not as simple as folding glass. If you fold the cap by small paper, it has no thrilling.

Please watch our supplement video and find why the cap is good to teach.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Folding pattern of Cicada is relatively simple. In most of the case, when you fold origami, the final object of one side is colored and the other side is white. Folding cicada is different. It will have white and colors on the same surface. This technique can be explored by you and can create your own origami object.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Folding Goldfish is very unique. I mean, you need to use scissors, partial reverse, so white and colored side is on the same surface, enough room to draw a face expression, so many technique you learned so far can be applied. Needless to say, the object itself is very cute.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Folding fish is also an interesting object to present your skills. And the figure we present here can be modified a lot. By that way you can creat your own aquarium. If you cannot create the shape of fish by yourself, then change the size, colors, and background. That kind of creativity will help you and your students to keep interest in Origami crafting.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

A turtle is considered a long live creature in Japan. It is said that turtle can live 10,000 years while crane can live (only) 1,000 years. So, crane and turtle as a set is considered happy long life. Folding turtle is not that difficult.

Collectiton of these water creatures including fish, or birds, you can create wild island. This is one way of enjoying origami craft. There you can create real 3-D world!!!

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Did not realize Ninja is a popular thing outside of Japan. When we are kids, we used to make Shruiken, and jump off from fense or wall. So a kind of nostalgic image for me. Nowadays, many foreign visitors are touring Ninja's home in Mie Prefecture, central Japan.

As an origami object, it has two interesting characteristic. One is to combine two objects into one. And the other is color cordinations when you combine two. You can enjoy that too.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Again, Nakaware-Ori is very important technique to fold the final lecture of Kissing Cranes. In addition, for Week 8, there are two objects which use Nakaware-Ori and Kasane-Ori. This is the best time to review.these techniques at this stage.

Lecture 37 is onlly video, no slide show.

As you can see Week 8 is all related to birds. Among those birds, Seagull is the easiest object.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

A duck is an interesting object, as it has 4 Nakaware-Ori. Teaching duck will be a good tool for your students to get more familiarized with Nakaware-Ori.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

A swan is good example to learn Kasane-Ori. It has 2 Kasane-Ori.

COmared with Nakaware-Ori, Kasane-Ori is not frequently used. However, it is a good technique to form an object, so this is good opportunity to get this skill for you.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

Crying Craw will be a funny object. It attracts audience. When you are going to open your Origami school, or teach at school, the more you equipped with attractive one, the more chance that you will be successful. In this elementary course, I tried to list those take attention of audience as many as possible.  For example, airplanes, sailing boats, flowers, glass, cap, goldfish, etc. Among those, this crying craw is one of the funniest one.

A slide-show video and supplement video is combined in this lecture.

A crane is a large migarating bird.  A crane is very popular bird in Japan. It is a symbol of Peace, Long Life, and Health.

A crane as an origami object, because of its stylish figure, many people loves to fold crane. However, there are many folding methods, and many of the folding are not refined as I teach here.

Folding crane requires comprehensive ability of all origami basics. Combination of Mountain & Valley Folding, accurate center line position, effective marking, neat and dicipline folding, Nakaware-Ori, and final neat finishing. All the elements you learnt in this course will be tested. That is why I take folding Crane in the last session. This is the last stop before you complete the course. Once you can fold crane, you can challenge to fold Kissing Crane in Lecture 43.

Congratulation!, You finally come to the end of course. This is the last lecture, Kissing Cranes. In fact, folding Kissing Cranes should not be considered as an elementary course project. As I said in Lecture 42, folding crane requires comprehensive ability of all origami basics. Combination of Mountain & Valley Folding, accurate center line position, effective marking, neat and dicipline folding, Nakaware-Ori, and final neat finishing. All the elements you learnt in this course will be tested. That is why I take folding Crane in the last session.

Kissing Crane requires much higher level of skills, as it will produce two cranes from one piece of paper. And during folding one, you always carry a risk that it will break separate. Therefore you need to pay attention to be more neat and more precise.

Once you understand this Kissing Cranes, you can explore to fold more different type of connected cranes, such as wing to wing, tail to tail, etc.

Well, again congratulations for completing this course. You have done well, and hope to see you again!  Good Luck!   From Grandpa Tuskada and Yoshi