How to Fold an Origami Crane ( In 8 Steps)

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Step 1: The Paper

Begin with a square of paper. This is a 6" square of standard origami paper.

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Step 2: Folding into a Triangle

2.1 Fold it in half so it becomes a triangle like so.




2.2. It should look like this.







2.3 Now fold it in half again into a smaller triangle.







2.4. It should look like this.

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Step 3: Making a Smaller Folded Square

3.1 Keeping the triangle flat on the table lift one side so it is standing upright. Gently push it back down towards the table so that the center folded line, point A, meets the point directly below it, point B.

3.2 Flattened it looks like this.




3.3 Now flip it over and take the longer piece and fold it in towards the center to make a score line.





3.4 Flatten it down.


3.5 Now unfold what you just did and repeat step 3.1 and 3.2



3.6 Flatten the square down on the backside.





3.7 Now you should have a small square.

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Step 4: Making the Diamond Shape

4.1 Find the open end and lift upwards like so.

4.2 Take the outer edges and fold up to the center line starting from the lower half first, then aligning the top half the same way.

4.3 Like this.



4.4 Repeat on the other half.

4.5 Now it should look like this.



4.6 Flip over and repeat on the back side.

4.7 Now it should look like this.

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Step 5: Folding The Tail and Neck


5.1 Take the outer edge of the tail and head/neck section and fold inwards towards the center.



5.2 Fold evenly towards the center line but stop just short of it.

5.3 This is important: Do not fold all the way to the center line.

5.4. It should look like this.



5.5 Now repeat on the other half.



5.6 Flip over and repeat on other side so it looks like this.

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Step 6: Creating the Actual Tail and Neck


6.1 Now turn the model a quarter turn and open and flatten one of the tail / neck sections.



6.2 Fold it at the base where it connects to the body of the crane.



6.3 Move the section to an upright position as you do this.



6.4 Now, refold the flattened section so it looks like this.



6.5 Repeat the same fold on the other side.


6.6 Lift it upwards.



6.7 And refold so it looks like this.

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Step 7: Folding the Head

7.1 Now look at your form. Usually one side will be neater and one a bit messier. The neater one will become your tail, the messy one will become the neck and head. And enjoy it when both sides are equally perfect :o)

7.2 To make the head, unfold the messy side opening it up so it is flat again.




7.3 Bend it 90º the length you want the head to be.




7.4 Now fold it back up again so the fold is inverted.

7.5 It should look like this. You can use your fingers to finesses the folds on the head and even them out a bit and to adjust the angle of the head.

7.6 Your Crane with a head! You can leave it just like this and consider it done. If you want to puff the body out to make it more dimensional see step 8 below.

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Step 8: Puffing out the Body

8.1 To puff up the body you need to gently pull the wings apart grasping firmly but gently near the base of each wing where it joins into the body and carefully ease both wings away from each other at the same time as you simultaneously very gently push down on the body with your thumbs from above. This is difficult to show in a photo so let me know if anyone needs a short video clip and I'll post one for you.

8.2 Once the body is puffed open, you can leave the wings down or put them back up again.



Taaaa Daaaa! You just made an origami crane!
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