If you’re looking for a creative way to show your loved one how much you care, why not try making an origami rose? This charming paper flower is surprisingly easy to make and is sure to be a cherished keepsake.
Introduction
Origami, the traditional Japanese paper craft, is as popular as ever. Flowers are a perennial favorite, and the origami rose is one of the most classic origami models. This guide will show you how to make a simple origami rose. With just a few folds, you can transform a single sheet of square paper into a beautiful blossom.
What You’ll Need
- A square sheet of paper
- Scissors
- Tape or glue
Instructions:
- Cut your sheet of paper into a square shape. You can use any size of paper you want, but a smaller sheet will result in a smaller rose.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally to create a triangle. Crease well and unfold.
- Fold the two bottom corners of the triangle up to meet at the top point, and crease well. Unfold.
- Fold the top point of the triangle down to meet the bottom edge, and crease well. Unfold.
- Now you should have a triangle with two flaps on either side. Take one flap and fold it over so it’s touching the other side, tucking it in as you go (see photo). This will be the center of your rose, so make sure it’s nicely tucked in so it doesn’t come undone later. Repeat with the other flap.
- Turn your triangle over so the folded flaps are facing down, and fold in half again diagonally to create another triangle shape. Crease well and unfold.
- Fold both bottom corners up to meet at the top point, and crease well before unfolding again
Step-by-Step Instructions
Origami roses are beautiful, classic origami models. They’re easy to make, and there are plenty of diagrams available online. This step-by-step guide will show you how to make a traditional origami rose.
- Start with a square piece of paper, fold it in half diagonally, and then unfold it.
- Fold the top corner down to the bottom corner, and then unfold it.
- Fold the top corner down to the crease you just made, and then unfold it.
- Turn the paper over and repeat steps 2-3 on this side.
- Fold both top corners into the center crease, and then unfold them.
- Fold both top corners into the center crease again, and then leave them folded this time.
- “Mountain fold” the paper along the crease in the middle, folding it towards you so that it’s now a triangle shape with a smaller triangle on top of it (this is called a “base”).
- “Valley fold” along all three outside edges of the triangle (two sides and the bottom), folding them towards you so that they’re now inside the triangle (this is called an “inside reverse fold”).
- “Mountain fold” along the center crease again, folding it away from you this time so that it’s now a rectangle shape with triangles on either end (this is called an “outside reverse fold”).
Tips & Tricks
Pick the right type of paper. You’ll need a square sheet of origami paper for this project, but you can also use a regular 8 1/2-by-11-inch piece of copy paper. If you go the latter route, first fold it in half diagonally and then unfold it so that you have a crease running down the center. Fold each side of the crease to meet in the middle and crease well. This will give you a crisp fold to work with when you start folding your rose.
Choose your orientation. When you look at your origami paper, there are two orientations that you can use to fold your rose: landscape (horizontal) or portrait (vertical). It’s up to you which one you want to use, but we recommend landscape orientation for beginners.
Follow the folds carefully. Unlike other origami projects, there is some margin for error when folding a rose—but not much! Make sure to follow each fold as precisely as possible so that your finished product looks nice and tidy.
Be patient. This is definitely a project that requires some patience, especially if you’re a beginner. But we promise it’ll be worth it when you see your beautiful origami rose come to life!
Variations
once you know how to make a basic origami rose, you can try variations on the design. For example, you can make a smaller rose by using a 1/4 sheet of paper, or a larger one by using a 1/2 sheet. You can also use different types of paper, such as construction paper or patterned origami paper, to give your rose a different look.
More Ideas
If you want to create something a little more elaborate, try folding an origami rose. This design is made up of two interlocking kusudamas, or units of five origami pieces folded into a spherical shape. The rose is relatively easy to make, and it’s a perfect way to use up extra origami paper.
To fold an origami rose, you’ll need:
- 10 sheets of origami paper
- A pencil
- A ruler
- Scissors
- Begin by folding one sheet of origami paper in half lengthwise. Unfold the paper, then fold it in half widthwise. Crease well and unfold.
- Fold the top corners of the paper down to the center crease, then unfold. Repeat with the bottom corners. Your paper should now look like a kite.
- Fold each side of the paper toward the center, aligning the edges with the creases you just made. Crease well and unfold.
- Fold the top and bottom edges of the paper toward the center, aligning them with the previous creases. Crease well and unfold, then turn the paper over so that the folds are facing down.
Conclusion
Thanks for choosing to learn how to make an origami rose! We hope you had fun and were able to follow our instructions. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you and see your finished product!
Credits & Resources
This origami rose design is credited to Michael G. LaFosse, who has released it into the public domain. Related resources can be found below.
- OrigamiUSA is the American national association for origami enthusiasts of all skill levels.
- Origamido Studio is a professional origami design studio founded by Michael G. LaFosse and Richard L. Alexander, authors of many books on the subject.
- The British Origami Society is the national organization for origami enthusiasts in the United Kingdom.
