How to Make an Origami Crane

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Wow your friends, then teach them!

by Trula R

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Step 1 of 35

Fold the paper in half.

Step 2 of 35

Unfold the paper, and fold in half the other way.

Step 3 of 35

Unfold the paper, then fold it in half again into a triangle.

Step 4 of 35

Unfold the paper, then fold it the other triangular way.

Step 5 of 35

When you are done, it should look like this.

Step 6 of 35

Hold it in half in a rectangular fashion. Either way is fine.

Step 7 of 35

Grab the paper where the signs indicate.

Step 8 of 35

Push the paper in and it will start to fold.

Step 9 of 35

Keep going.......

Step 10 of 35

This is what it should look like from the top

Step 11 of 35

Grab two of the wings in each hand and pinch them together. When you do this, you should be able to press it down into a flat diamond.

Step 12 of 35

Fold the top layer of the wings inward Tap on the photo to enlarge it. Make sure that you can open the bottom, but not the top. More in the next photo.

Step 13 of 35

The bottom can open. The top cannot.

Step 14 of 35

Flip it over, and do the same thing on the other side. You should end up with this.

Step 15 of 35

Take the triangle in the top, and fold it down just to where it meets the folded flaps. Unfold. Do the same thing on the other side. Unfold.

Step 16 of 35

Open up the two wings on one side.

Step 17 of 35

Now lift up the flap on the bottom, only coming up to the crease you made in step 15.

Step 18 of 35

Bring the flap up over the top, and press flat. The sides should start to curve inward.

Step 19 of 35

Fold the sides inward on the creases that are already there.

Step 20 of 35

Flip it over, and do the same thing on the other side. You should end up with this.

Step 21 of 35

Fold the top layer of the sides inward. This is similar to step 12. Make sure that you can still open the bottom. Also make sure that your pointy end has a split down the middle, as illustrated next.

Step 22 of 35

The split.

Step 23 of 35

Flip it over, and do the same thing on the other side. We're going for symmetry here.

Step 24 of 35

Pick it up and look at its side.

Step 25 of 35

Open up the side and notice the crease about 2/3 of the way up.

Step 26 of 35

Fold your open paper up to that 2/3 crease.

Step 27 of 35

No fold it in half vertically. This should be fairly easy.

Step 28 of 35

Do the same thing for the other side.

Step 29 of 35

Gently pull one of your long strips outward. Then, push firmly where my finger is to crease it in place.

Step 30 of 35

Do the same thing for the other side.

Step 31 of 35

Pick up your crane and fold the top of one of the thin strips in on itself. Tuck it in so it lays flat against the strip that it's part of.

Step 32 of 35

Pinch the strip flat.

Step 33 of 35

Pull the small bit out, creasing it by putting your finger where mine is when you're done.

Step 34 of 35

Fold the wings out and admire your beautiful work of genius! Bonus: if you fold it flat again and fold the tail and head in, it fits great inside a decorated Altoid box that I have a tutorial for!

Step 35 of 35

Yay! If you have any questions about any of the steps, or any ideas of tutorials I should make, let me know in the comments, and I'll try to write you back!

You're Done!

Start over