Choose any color of origami paper. Paper with a multi-colored design works well with this project since the bird’s flapping wings will make the colors dance. If your paper has two different colored sides, note which one is facing up and which one is facing down. If your paper is the same color on both sides, make a small mark or design to identify the two sides. the side facing the table is the side that you will see when the bird is complete.
You will now have a triangular shape with the points facing you. Then unfold the paper so it lays flat again.
The two creases will form an “X” shape in your paper. [2] X Research source Unfold your paper again.
Fold the paper in half, bringing the top edge to meet the bottom edge. Make a crease with your finger. Unfold the paper again to lay it flat.
Unfold your paper once again. You should now have four creases running through your paper that all intersect in the middle of the square.
It might take a little maneuvering to get the sides to collapse toward the middle of the square. It can help to re-crease all of the folds to make them more flexible. If you do this correctly, the small square you make will have a crease running from the top corner to the bottom corner in the center.
Use your finger to crease the fold.
The new folds will take the shape of a little kite.
You will now have two identical sides that look like a kite. Fold the top part of the kite down to create a crease. Then unfold.
As you lift the bottom corner, the sides of the paper will fall into the diamond shape naturally along the creases you already folded.
The two diamonds should align perfectly over one another when you’re finished with both sides.
You should now have three points forming three triangles all facing upward, pointing away from you.
Pull the paper out so that all of the edges are aligned. Crease the fold. Repeat this with the other side so that you have the head and tail pointing diagonally outward.
Open the paper to reveal the two flaps and fold down the tip so it’s between. Then pinch the flaps together and crease.
Fold the wing so that it points more toward the head, not just straight down.
Make sure that the wings line up with one another.
Finished! Enjoy your origami flapping bird.
Lay your paper on the table with the colored side facing down and the white side up. If your paper has two different colored sides, note which one is facing up and which one is facing down. If your paper is the same color on both sides, make a small mark or draw a design to identify the two sides. For example, mark the bottom side facing the table. This mark will help you know which side of the paper is currently facing you. The side or color that starts facing the table will be the side or color that you will see when the bird is complete.
Unfold your paper so it’s laying flat again. You should have two creases that look like a cross. If you marked the bottom, the marked side will be facing the table.
You will now four creases in your paper. Two diagonal ones, one vertical, and one horizontal. If you marked the bottom, the marked side will still be facing the table.
Then rotate the paper so the two open flaps are facing you.
You will already have crease lines so follow those and fold on the creases. The inside flaps of your folds will be the none marked side of paper that was originally facing up. Repeat this with the other side of paper until you have four triangular flaps. Your paper should look like a triangle with two flaps on each side.
You will now have a diamond shape made up of two flaps over the base flaps of your paper. Fold the top flaps in half on a backward fold. Now take the flaps you just folded and fold each one backward, aligning the outer edges. You will now have three layers of folds.
As you bring this flap over to the center crease you will be creating another crease and expanding the outer edge of your top flap. The outer edge of the top flaps will be aligned with the crease from your previous fold. You will still have three layers.
Your paper will now resemble something like a stealth bomber paper airplane with four points at the bottom and one point at the top.
Pull back the two flaps that make up the tail to reveal a flat portion of paper below. Pull the flat portion of paper up through your two flaps. Keep the folds you made for the tail intact by folding on the creases, but in the reverse direction. This will allow you to flatten the layers of folds. You will now have a piece of paper that is standing up and looks like a shark fin. The outsides of the fins should be the same color and side that you’ve marked. The inside is the plain color.
You will now have a triangular shape which fits in between the inner edges of your wings. You will now have a total of six layers of folds if you look at the back of your bird.
The bottom edge of the wings should be flat. You will now have another layer on top with a diagonal bottom edge that meets at a corner. When you pull the paper outward, press down on the center folds of your bird and let the portion you are pulling out flatten on the creases you’ve previously made. You want to keep the center fold and the tail folds of the bird intact.
Make sure each wing is even and that all the bottom edges line up.
Align the long edge the triangle fold to the crease you just created from your previous fold.
Fold the wings inward keeping the small triangle folds you just made intact. You will have crease lines to use as guides as you fold the wings back over twice on each side. The first of these two folds is the same fold you made before folding the triangle corners. A portion of your paper on your second fold will go over the center area. The bottom of the wings should align with the tail.
You will now have four points at the bottom, two from the wings and two from the tail. The top of your paper will be flat with the tip pointing down toward you.
You have now created a zig-zag like fold with the part of the paper making up the head and beak.
This is tricky, but you need to keep the bottom edge of the bird’s head intact while unfolding the wings from beneath. Flatten the paper out. If the area around the bird’s head looks smushed that’s fine.
Make sure that both sides are as even as possible and the edges of the wings line up.
You want to fold the wings down so that the top edge of the bird is flat while the wings are pointing down. Then, pull the wings up so that each is flat on the top. Do the same for the tail. The outside of the bird will show the marked side that you originally had facing down toward the table. You can now throw your bird like you would a paper airplane.
Regular 8. 5in by 11in printer paper works well. You can also use notebook paper.
Fold the paper in half bringing the bottom corner to meet the top. You will now have a triangle.
After you fold the paper over, bring the flap back down to the table.
The tip of your paper should extend below the bottom edge that’s making the base of the triangle. Fold the paper in half on a vertical crease. You will already have a crease line to make this fold easy from when you folded your triangle in half. After you fold the paper in half, rotate the paper counter-clockwise 180-degrees so it is vertical.
You will see a triangular shape in the center of your paper which is the beak. Fold the wings down so that the top edge of the fold is even with the top of the beak.
You want your wings to be flat. Throw your twirling bird like you would a paper airplane and watch it tumble in circles.
