This origami project is a beginner-intermediate level project that should take you approximately ten minutes to complete. Simply read each step through before attempting it and only move on to the next step when you are confident that all prior steps have been correctly completed.
Origami, the ancient art of Japanese paper folding, does not usually require much equipment. You only need two items for this project a square of paper and the correct type of work surface. You can practice with any paper you have on hand, although your model will fold more accurately and look better if you use paper that is at least as heavy as the standard sheet of copy paper. Once you have practiced your model a few times, then move on to special colored or patterned papers.
You will also need to use the right type of work surface in order to produce a correctly folded model. The success of your project depends upon your ability to line up edges and points evenly and make sharp creases. Folding against a hard, flat, stable surface will help you achieve these goals. A table is preferred, but even a hardback book will work. Try running a pencil or ruler edge over each crease as you go in order to make your creases even sharper.
- Position a square of paper on your work surface so that its points are facing up and down, left and right. If you are using two-sided paper, make sure that the color you want for the exterior of the belt buckle is facing down.
- Bring the left point of the model over to meet the right point. Crease and unfold.
- Bring the top point of the model down to meet the bottom point. Crease and unfold. Turn the paper over.
- Position the square so that its edges are now facing up and down, left and right.
- Bring the left edge of the model over to meet the right edge. Crease and unfold. Bring the top edge down to meet the bottom edge. Crease and leave folded. You will now have a rectangular-shaped model.
- Grasp the model at its left and right edges and push inward. It should collapse along the pre-existing folds. The result will be a diamond shape that has one folded flap sticking out toward the back of the model and another sticking out toward the front.
- Bring the front flap back to meet the left point of the diamond and bring the back flap up to meet the right point. Make sure all of the creases are as sharp as possible and that your model lies as flat as possible. Position the model so that the open end is pointing away from you.
- Bring the top point of the model (top layer only) down to meet the bottom point. Crease and leave folded. Turn the model over.
- Repeat Step 8. The result is a diamond-shaped model that is divided vertically along its upper half.
- Bring the left point of the model (top layer only) over to meet the right point. Press flat. Turn the model over.
- Repeat Step 10. Both the front and back of the model should be smooth.
- Being the top point of the model (top layer only) down to meet the bottom point. Crease just enough to mark the center of the model. Do not make a sharp crease. Unfold.
- Bring the left point of the model (top layer only) over to the center. Crease and leave folded.
- Repeat Step 13 for the right point.
- Bring the top point down to the center of the model to meet the two points folded over in Steps 13 and 14. Turn the model over.
- Repeat Steps 13-15.
- Bring the top edge of the model (top layer only) down as far as it will easily go to form a rectangular flap. Crease and leave folded. Turn the model over.
- Repeat Step 17.
- Open up the model by pulling it apart at the rectangular flaps created in Steps 17-18. The result will be a box-like model with two pointed flaps at its bottom and two rectangular flaps at its top.
- Locate one of the sides of the box that has a pointed flap.
- Bring the top edge of this flap out and down toward the point so that a crescent-shaped fold is created. As you make the fold, push it down to touch the bottom layer of the model. This should bring the pointed flap up and out to the side. Crease and leave folded. Repeat for the opposite edge.
- Bring the remaining edges in to meet at the center of the model. Press flat. Position the model so that the pointed ends are facing up and down.
- Bring the right edge of the left rectangular flap over to meet the left edge. Crease and leave folded.
- Locate the interior, v-shaped layer of the fold made in Step 23. Pull this layer out to the left and bring it to the back of the model. Re-fold the layers so that it is in the same v-shaped position at the back of the model as it was at the front. Press flat.
- Repeat Steps 23-24 for the right rectangular flap to complete the model.
