Would you like to learn how to make a bird with wings that really flap? With just one square of origami paper you can make this beautiful work of art. The Bird That Flaps Its Wings is an intermediate difficulty project that will impress everyone who sees it.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Doing the Initial Folds
Step 1. Start with a square piece of paper
Real origami paper always has the shape of a colored square. If you only have rectangular printer paper, fold one of the corners diagonally to make a square, then cut off the excess paper rectangle.
Choose the paper of the color you prefer. Multicolored sheets are also suitable for this project, because the moving wings of the bird will make the different shades dance
Step 2. Create a diagonal crease
Start with the bottom corner of the square facing your chest. Fold the top corner until it overlaps the bottom corner.
Step 3. Make a second diagonal crease
Rotate the square and fold it again, always letting the corners meet. Go over the fold with your finger. You should see an "X" in the center of the sheet.
Step 4. Fold the paper in half
Bring the bottom side of the square parallel to your chest. Fold the paper in half, bringing the top and bottom sides together. Go over the fold with your finger.
Step 5. Fold the square in half again
Turn the paper 90 degrees and fold it again, then go over the fold with your finger. You should now see four folds that run through the paper and intersect perfectly in the center.
Part 2 of 3: Making the Bird Body
Step 1. Fold the corners to form a smaller square
Start at the bottom corner, the one facing your chest. Fold the two sides of the square along the horizontal crease, bringing the right and left corners down to the bottom. The two sides will squeeze towards the center and the top corner will fold over them to form a small square.
- It will not be easy to bring the sides towards the center of the square. If you have difficulty, go over all the folds to make them more flexible.
- If you do this correctly, the smallest square you have formed should have a crease from the top to the bottom corner.
Step 2. Fold the right side
Keeping the bottom corner of the square facing your chest, fold the top layer of the right corner inward, aligning its edge with the center crease. Go over the fold with your finger.
Step 3. Fold the left side
Repeat the movements from the previous step, folding the top layer of the left corner inward, aligning its edge with the center crease. Go over the fold with your finger. The new folds should be in the shape of a small kite.
Step 4. Turn the paper over
You will have to repeat the same steps on the other side.
Step 5. Fold the right side
Keeping the bottom corner of the square facing your chest, fold the right corner inward, aligning its edge with the center crease. Go over the fold with your finger.
Step 6. Fold the left side
Repeat the movements from the previous step, folding the left corner inwards, aligning its edge with the center crease. Go over the fold with your finger. You will now have a kite on both sides.
Step 7. Fold the tip of the kite
See the triangle at the top of the kite? Fold it back and forth along its base to create a crease.
Step 8. Open the kite
Turn its bottom corner (the part you can open to reveal the inside) towards your chest. Lift the top layer from the bottom corner and flatten it against the table. It should be shaped like a rhombus above your kite.
When you lift the bottom corner, the sides of the paper will naturally take the shape of the rhombus along the folds already made
Step 9. Turn the paper over
You will need to repeat the steps on the other side. Open the back of the kite. Turn its bottom corner (the part you can open to reveal the inside) towards your chest. Lift the top layer from the bottom corner and flatten it against the table. You will now have created a diamond on both sides.
The two diamonds should be perfectly aligned on both sides when you're done
Part 3 of 3: Creating the Head, Tail and Wings
Step 1. Fold the two bottom flaps up and diagonally
The right one in the upper right, the left one in the upper left.
Step 2. Make a reverse fold on the two diagonal flaps
Step 3. Make a reverse crease on the tip of one of the diagonal wings to make the head
Step 4. Fold the top layer of the middle triangle down to form a wing
Step 5. Flip the paper over and repeat the fold to create the second wing
Step 6. Holding the bird's neck, pull the tail up diagonally to make the wings flap
Step 7. You are done
Enjoy your flying origami.
Advice
- Use recycled paper; it's better for the environment.
- Even if your top 20 birds didn't do well, keep trying! You will improve as your fingers get used to the creases.
- Practice each fold as precisely as possible, even in the early stages when you're making the square. A small mistake will be enough to ruin the shape of the final product.
- If you can't get the bird's wings to flap, try loosening the folds near the tail slightly.
- The crane is an origami model very similar to the bird flapping its wings. If you want to give a friend a special gift for his wedding, a Japanese tradition holds that a thousand cranes bring good luck.
- Choose many different colors! Each color will allow you to make a different origami.
- Try using thin paper or newspaper.
Warnings
- Be careful not to cut yourself with paper!
- Keep the origami away from water.
