How to Make an Origami Peace Crane

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A simple step by step guide. Great to give instead of Birthday cards or a flat bank note. You'll need to practice a few times.

by Kaitlin Heather

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1.2k Views

Step 1 of 64

Take a square piece of paper, whatever size you want. Mine is a piece of A4 with the bottom cut off (and crumpled because I'm reusing it).

Step 2 of 64

Fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle. I flipped mine over so the white side was face up before I folded it.

Step 3 of 64

And again. The top corner from the previous photo is now on top of the bottom right corner.

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There should be a gap between two pieces.

Step 5 of 64

Fold it in half again...

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...and unfold it back to where you were. This gives you a fold line down the middle of the triangle.

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Take the bottom corner on the top right hand side and fold it over to the left hand corner. Hope that makes sense.

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It should look like this.

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Unfold it again. Your crease for the next step has now been made.

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This step is a little tricky. Lift the right top half and fold it down on itself to create a square joined onto a small triangle.

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It should look like this.

Step 12 of 64

Turn it over.

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Place your finger on the crease down the middle of the square side.

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Pinch the left bottom corner of the triangle side...

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...and lift it up. Your finger should be behind the upright triangle, holding the square down but I only had one hand free.

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This is a little hard to get your head round. Once the triangle is upright you need to open it up and flatten it. Hope the video helps.

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You should now have a square.

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Take the bottom left corner and fold it so it lines up with the crease down the middle of the square.

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Make sure to score it with your finger.

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Do the same with the top right corner, so you get a kite shape.

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Now take the top, previously the top left corner of the square, and fold on top of both pieces you've just folded.

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It should look like this. Remember to score along the lines.

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Now unfold it all and you'll be left with good crease lines to help you out for the next part.

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Separate the bottom left corner from the corner underneath it.

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Fold it and score.

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Do the same on the other side.

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Unfold it (mine is now even more creased because I was trying to remember the next steps).

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Peel back the very top layer from the bottom right corner.

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Lift it up...

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...get it to this point...

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...and then flatten it. This is called a petal fold.

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Turn it over. Now you have a square with a weird pointy head?

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Fold in the top and bottom corner like before to create a kite... with a head.

Step 34 of 64

Once it's creased well, unfold it. Again.

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Like last time, peel back the bottom right corner.

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Lift it up...

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This is where your previous folds come in handy. You need to fold it back on itself.

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And flatten. You've now made your bird base. Not much left!

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This bit is important. One end of the diamond will split like can-can legs.

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If you open the other side it's just a piece of paper. You want be working with the can-can side - it'll be the side to the right in the next photo.

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Fold the side into the middle, like this:

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And do the same with the other side.

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Turn it over...

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...and do the same.

Step 45 of 64

I'm now going to start making inside reverse folds, but first I need to crease the can-can legs.

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You don't want it to fold straight up, follow the angle of lines above where you will make the crease.

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Do the same on the other side...

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...and unfold.

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My phone memory stopped me making me videos at this point so I've took pictures as simply as I can.

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Turn it to the side.

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Open it up.

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Pull the part up and away from the other can-can leg.

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And fold.

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Do the same on the other side.

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Turn it to what was the front.

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And open it out.

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Do the same on the opposite side.

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Then just pull out the long bits from inside the bigger outside pieces.

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Bend a tiny part at the top and flatten it to make a beak.

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Fold down one wing...

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...and the other.

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Then, if you want a puffed up body, you need to blow through the tiny hole in the base of the bird. Then gently pull the wings apart and it should 'pop up'.

Step 63 of 64

Here is the finished crane. Sorry for all the steps, I just know how difficult it can be when you know nothing about paper folding.

Step 64 of 64

Have fun! // Find me on Instagram @kaitlin_heather

You're Done!

Start over

This guide was made by:

Kaitlin Heather

London

Following

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