An origami heart is a cute way to decorate something or to show your love to someone special. Most hearts are easy to make, but some can be more complex than others. If you're interested in making your own, here are some techniques to try.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Simple Heart
Step 1. Fold a square sheet of paper in half
Turn the paper so that it looks like a diamond. Fold the top tip down until it covers the bottom tip. Go over the fold well before reopening the sheet.
- A standard origami sheet (15 x 15 cm) is perfect, but any size will do as long as it's square.
- When you start, the paper should look like a diamond rather than a square. The reference is the tips, instead of the sides.
- You must open the slip to restore it to its original shape before continuing.
Step 2. Fold the square in half in the opposite direction
The left tip must meet the right one. Go over the fold well before returning the sheet to its original shape.
Once this is done you should have a diamond that has two perpendicular marks. One should go from tip to base and the other from side to side. Both marks should meet in the center of the sheet
Step 3. Fold the top tip back towards the center
- The center of the slip should be where the previously created marks meet.
- Fold the top portion of the paper and leave it like that.
Step 4. Now fold the bottom of the paper back so that the tip touches the edge of the top
- Fold well without opening.
- The lower tip should completely cover the already folded top one. It should also meet the top edge in the middle of the fold.
- Note that there should be six points in total: three on the left and three on the right.
Step 5. Fold the sides
Fold the bottom right corner up so that it meets the center of the top edge. Repeat with the lower left one joining it to the crease made previously.
- The top edge created earlier should now be folded into two distinct parts that meet in the center of the sheet.
- Fold both sides well and don't let it unfold.
Step 6. Turn the heart
The remaining folds will be done on this side.
- This side should already look like the back.
- Note that you should have five corners at this point: two top, two side, and one bottom.
Step 7. Fold the tips towards the center
Doing so will smooth the edges.
- For the two sides, fold the tips so that each new crease makes an angle with the horizontal line just below the two top tips of the heart.
- For the tops, fold them to match the side folds.
Step 8. Turn the heart again
Your origami is complete.
Method 2 of 3: Heart of Fortune
Step 1. Use a thin strip of paper
It should be approximately 2.5 x 28cm.
- The dimensions don't have to be exact so shorter or wider is fine too. However, the length should at least be 7 to 8 times the width.
- Place the paper strip so that the long side becomes the length and the short side becomes the height.
Step 2. Fold the bottom corner to the top edge (valley fold)
This creates a triangle with an angle of 45 °.
Fold well and do not open
Step 3. Make a series of valley folds along the strip
You should get from 5 to 7. Each should start from the triangle you created first.
The length of the strip should decrease significantly
Step 4. Trim the extra edge
Use scissors to cut the excess paper. Leave a portion of it about half the width of the triangle.
Step 5. Make another small fold on the opposite corner
The lower right corner should be folded up and meet the right edge of the folded triangle
Step 6. Slip the extra section inside the paper layers
Bring the top right corner down, inserting it into one of the layers of the folded triangle. Hide it completely.
At the end of this step you should be left with only one triangular shape
Step 7. Cut the top corners
With a pair of scissors, after turning the triangle around, smooth out the longer corners facing up.
- Note: The paper is thick at this point so it may be difficult to cut.
- The longest side should not be the portion of the triangle with the paper shown inside.
Step 8. With your thumb, indent the paper in the middle of the top edge
This step concludes your heart of luck.
If you can't push the paper back in with your thumb, use a narrow, stiff object like the tip of a pen or scissors
Method 3 of 3: Two-dimensional Heart
Step 1. Fold a square sheet in half
Bring the bottom edge to meet the top. After engraving open it again.
- A standard origami sheet (15 x 15 cm) is perfect but any size will do as long as it is square.
- When you start, the paper should look like a diamond instead of a square. The corners should face up and down.
Step 2. Fold in half lengthwise
Bring the right side to the left by bending well. Open it.
You should now have a square with two perpendicular marks. These marks should intersect in the center of the square
Step 3. Make two diagonal folds
Bring the top left corner to the bottom right. Go over the fold and open. Repeat by bending the upper right side towards the lower left.
The resulting square should have four cross marks in the center
Step 4. Join the top and bottom sides
Valley fold the top edge so that it rests on the horizontal mark in the center of the paper. Do the same with the bottom edge.
- Remember that the two edges must meet in the center.
- Once both are marked, reopen the folded parts.
Step 5. Join the left and right sides
Valley fold the left and right edges to meet vertically in the center of the paper.
- The left and right sides should touch along the center.
- Fold well and unfold.
Step 6. Valley fold the top and bottom corners
Flip the square into a diamond, with one corner at the top and one at the bottom instead of the flat edge. Fold the top and bottom corners so that both tips are in the center of the paper.
- Note: The exact center should be the intersection point of the original marks.
- Fold well, but don't open.
Step 7. Make four valley folds
Fold along the outer marks diagonally, leaving those that go towards the center of the paper.
- Fold along the upper right mark diagonally and the lower left mark. Leave the creases intact.
- Refold along the upper right and left diagonal marks. Leave the creases intact.
Step 8. Make an uphill fold along the middle part
Fold the paper horizontally in half so that the outer tip is facing you.
The top and bottom edges shouldn't be facing you
Step 9. Flatten the model
Once this is done, you should get three diamonds linked together.
Note: The three diamonds should be connected to loosely create a heart shape with pointed sides
Step 10. Fold the left corner
Make a valley fold. Then, fold the tip in the opposite direction using the same sign.
From this point on, you will focus on the new side to the left of the heart
Step 11. Turn the heart sideways to the left
Basically you should have the last fold made in front of you. The side that used to be the front should now look to the right and the back to the left
Step 12. Unfold the model
Start opening it until you see a square mark in the center.
Note: You don't have to open it completely. Carefully unfold each fold in the reverse order you made them, pausing as soon as you notice the marks forming the square in the center
Step 13. Fold along the square mark
Make four folds upstream along the four sides in the center.
The square portion of paper shouldn't be large
Step 14. Create a vertical mountain fold
The rest of the model should not be touched
Step 15. Make two valley folds diagonally
Create an indented "x" shape in the center of the square by folding the upper right corner towards the lower left and the upper left corner towards the lower right.
- These folds do not affect the rest of the model.
- You should be left with one corner folded inward at the end of everything. Turn the heart in front again and you will find the rounded edge.
Step 16. Smooth the edge according to your wishes
Use a series of small upstream creases to round out the rest of the corners on the left side.
Fold the tips in and out towards the center of the origami. They should be hidden from the outside of the card
Step 17. Repeat the folding process with the right corner
Follow the same steps you observed for the left side.
