Origami Rose Kusudama

Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Diagram and Video	: Rose Electra
Paper	: Total units :126
Electra as base	: 30 units :1/4th of 3*3 inch post-it note
Sepals	: 12 units :3*3 inch Post-it note
Petals	: 96 (8 per flower)units: 1/4th of 3*3 inch post-it note

Rose kusuduma consists of  12 modular roses and an electra.There are 126 units in total,12*8 i.e. 96  units for the rose and 30 units of electra.Electra is used as base for the kusudama where you stick on the flowers using glue .

Make sure the electra is big enough to hold the roses.

Few of the roses

Adding roses to the electra

While adding roses to the electra make sure the rose are stacked properly else by the tme you reach to the final rose the space inside the kusudama becomes really crowded.

After adding the roses to the Kusudama

Completed Kusudama with the stash

Here I have added a stash ,a crane and beads.I made this as a mothers day gift for my mom this year.

Daily origami

Looks like I would have to stop the daily origami posts but that doesnot mean I would stop foldng or posting.Its just that my schedules and work are not leaving me enough time for daily origami so I would have to stop it.

It was a wonderful time trying those models and I would continue but no regular updates .... :)

Origami Alexander Aztec butterfly - Design by Michael LaFosse

Day 154 - Origami Alexander Aztec butterfly - Design by Michael LaFosse

Model	: Origami Alexander Aztec butterfly
Design	: Michael LaFosse
Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Book	: Advanced Origami
Video	: Part 1 Part 2 by elsix2006
Paper	: 9*9 inch one side coloured paper.

Another one of the Michael Lafosse butterflies.This one is really nice to look at with the zigzag pattern on the wings this pattern makes it look complicated too,but the fact is its not that complicated.At least you feel so once you have folded Alexander swallowtail Butterfly and Alice Gray Butterfly.

Alexander Aztec Butterfly is a mix of both the above butterflies.It starts with similar folds as the Alice Gray butterfly.

Few Notes:-

• Start with a fairly large paper for the first time.
• The butterfly looks better with contrast coloured paper .
•  I felt the folding for the body of the butterfly are similar to Alice Gray Butterfly and the video by Orgamiancy for the same part s much clearer to understand.
• The Zigzag on the wings though look so complex but are actually easy.
• The part where you have to pull the paper in the upper wing for shaping it take care not to damage the model.

Video:-

Origami Alice Gray Butterfly - Design by Michael LaFosse

Day 153 - Origami Alice Gray Butterfly - Design by Michael LaFosse

Model	: Origami Alice Gray Butterfly
Design	: Michael LaFosse
Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: Diagram by J.C Nolan
Book	: Advanced Origami
Video	: Origamiancy
Paper	: 9*9 inch one side coloured paper.

Earlier I had tried Michael LaFosse's Alexandar swallowtail butterfly .The instruction for this butterfly was available on the website by Michael LaFosse.

There were many more wonderful butterflies modeled by Michael Lafosse which I wanted to fold but could not find the instruction online neither I am that good at following the diagrams.Finally after one and a half years of folding Alexander swallowtail butterfly I found this video on YouTube by origamiancy for the model Alice Gray Butterfly by Michael Lafosse.The video was up by 2009 and I found it now that show how good I am at searching things on internet.

The instructions are quite clear.One thing to take care of ,is the instructions in the video starts with colour side up but if you want your butterfly to be colourful then start with White side up.

By the time your are finished the paper in the middle forming the body of the butterfly becomes so thick that its difficult to make further folds and it may rip so take care while folding it.

Video:-

Origami High Heel shoes - 1

Day 152 - Origami High Heel shoes - 1

Model	: Origami High Heel shoes - 1
Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Video	: okakuku
Paper	:3*3 inch one side coloured square

Yesterday it was a 2D High Heel shoes which I wasn't that happy to fold so today here is another version of the high heel shoe which I found on YouTube.Though there are a lot of high heel shoes video on YouTube most of them are too fast to follow.This video is fast too but kind of better than others.You need to have real Patience to stop the video every now and then to follow the instructions but the end result is worth it.

This one is a 3D model which looks like the barbie high heel shoes.

Video:-

Origami Heel Shoes

Day 151 - Origami Heel Shoes

Model	: Origami Heel Shoes
Design	: Traditional
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: Origami-club
Paper	:3*3 inch one side coloured square

Origami Heel shoes starts with a kite base.I would suggest to make it with a smaller paper instead of a big one.Though the model is 3D its better to be called a 2D as you can flatten and stick it on cards.If kept a 3D model it stands and gives a 3D view in the front view only .

Origami Basket

Day 150 - Origami Basket

Model	: Origami Basket
Design	: Traditional
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Photo instruction	: Orgami Mommy
Paper	:3*3 inch contrast coloured square

It's cute little basket which can be made in a very little amount of time.The model requires glue to fix the handle.Its made out of single square piece of paper.

Origami Penguin by Jo Nakashima

Day 149 - Origami Penguin by Jo Nakashima

Model	: Origami Penguin by Jo Nakashima
Design	: Jo Nakashima
Complexity	: Difficult
Folding Instruction
Video	: Jo Nakashima
Paper	:15 * 15 cm one side coloured square

One more from Jo Nakashima.A wonderful 3D penguin .This one is bit difficult but not too tough.The tough part is the precrease.One needs to have a lot of patience ( of course I have very little patience which is evident from the penguin I have folded).

Only suggestion is do start with a big piece of paper else it becomes difficult to follow the creases.

Origami Maple Leaf

Day 148 - Origami Maple Leaf

Model	: Origami Maple Leaf
Design	: Traditional
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: Origami-club
Animation	: Origami-club
Paper	:3*3inch one side coloured square

A very simple model for maple leaf .It uses the standard Origami bird base.The flaps of the bird base are turned into the leaf.

You would need a small piece of paper and a little glue to make the stem attached to the leaf.

Origami Tote Bag

Day 147 - Origami Tote Bag

Model	: Origami Tote Bag
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: Origam-club
Animation	: Origami-club
Photo instruction	: Origami-instructions.com
Paper	:3*3 one side coloured square paper

Origami Tote Bag is a kirigami model as you need to cut for bringing out the handle of the bag.Its a simple model with hardly a 5 to 6 steps.

Use stiffer paper if you want to use it as a bag and also add a little glue to fix the final fold.You can use flowers to decorate it too or make it out of patterned paper.

Origami rose - 1

Day 146 - Origami Rose - 1

Model	: Origami Rose 1
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Photo instruction	: stranamasterov.ru
Paper	: 8 squares of 3*3 inch Post-it note

Units made of 1/4 of 3*3 inch Post-it note

One more of the roses.As I was never so successful with the standard rose models I always try to make some different formats of rose like the modular ones.

This is a modular rose with 8 units made of square paper.The units are interlocked by the inbuilt pockets

3*3 inch Post-it note units

The units need the simple kite base just that the left flap is folded back.Use both side same coloured paper.3 units are first arranged to make the bud and the rest 5 to make the outer circle.The petals are bit rolled to give them the flower look.

Both large and small rose

Origami kusudama - 1

Day 141,142,143,144,145 - Origami kusudama - 1

Model	: Origami Kusudama-1
Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Diagram and Video	: Paper world Mary
Paper	: Total units :138
Electra as base	: 30 units :1/4th of 3*3 inch post-it note
Sepals	: 12 units :3*3 inch Post-it note
Petals	: 96 (8 per flower)units: 1/4th of 3*3 inch post-it note

This is a cute model but the number of units make it a bit scarry .Ok its not that tough neither it takes as long as I have taken .It's easy model with a lot of gluing.As I was busy with other work it took me longer to complete the model.

The model needs both side coloured square paper of varying size.The electra units and petals can be of same size.As mentioned above I have used 1/4 of 3*3 inch post it notes for the electra units and petals and 3*3 inch post-it notes for the sepals.

Electra makes a good base for the kusudama where you stick on the flowers using glue ,so a lot of gluing.The sepals have similar folding as the iris flower with a little use of scissors so you may say its kirigami.The petals are the easiest to fold of the three.

If you notice carefully its a lotus and would look like a perfect lotus if you add few more layers of petals.

Electra as base

Flowers to be added to the kusudama

Completed Kusudama

Origami Electra

Day 138,139,140 - Origami Electra

Model	: Origami Electra
Design	: David Mitchell
Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: Part 1 Part 2
Book	: Paper Crystals Enchanting Ornaments Folding
Video	: "How to make these !! " by barbabellaatje
Paper	:1/4 of 3*3 inch post-it note

Origami Electra Icosidodecahedron Kusudama is designed by David Mitchell.This model requires 30 modules made out of square sheets and the modules have in built pockets which help in assembly.

Though Origami Electra looks tough to build and some what like some chemistry molecular structure but trust me it's not that tough and this model can be used as base for many other kusuduma.

In fact I actually went on building this model to make the base for my next kusudama.I had seen this model earlier but never felt like building it as due to the complex look.

Origami Electra

I have used 1/4 of 3*3 Inch post-it notes as I wanted to make a small model.Assembly is done using glue( the model assures that the inbuilt pockets are good enough to keep the pieces together ) as my units were small and I didn't want to take a risk.

Use both side coloured paper for the model.

Video :-

Origami Humming Bird

Day 137 - Origami Humming Bird

Model	: Origami Humming bird
Design	: Andrés Plazas
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Video	: Youtube channel Pozamansa
Paper	: 3*3 inch one side coloured square

I have seen a lot of origami humming birds but the best one is the one by Robert J lang.Though that model looks very tough to me I found this simple humming bird on Origami Spirit.

This Origami Humming Bird model is designed by Andrés Plazas of Colombia.It starts with an origami bird base.Basically its the same old crane but with few manipulations you can get the humming bird.

Video :-

Origami cat by Roman Diaz

Day 136 - Origami cat by Roman Diaz

Model	: Origami cat by Roman Diaz
Design	: Roman Diaz
Complexity	: Difficult
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: www.origamichile.cl
Video	: Benjingling
Paper	: Rectangle Half of 4.5 Inches square

This model needs a rectangle to start with.I found diagram as well as video instruction for the model but I found the diagram better. I know its sounds strange when I say diagram is better because I never liked following the diagrams,but this time I found the diagram easier.

After few failed attempts on folding the model I was somewhat successful with the model.My model doesnot stand properly though it should have.Also I could not get the finer details properly like whiskers though the cheeks came out properly and many more finer details.

One of the failed attempts

Finally something near abt the model.I am exhausted ! Uff... I am not trying any more kitty.

Origami cat by Gilad Aharoni

Day 135 - Origami cat by Gilad Aharoni

Model	: Origami cat by Gilad Aharoni
Design	: Gilad Aharoni
Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: www.Giladorigami.com
Video	: Marigami
Paper	: 4.5 Inches

I tried following the diagram but was lost midway.It seems I am really bad at following diagrams so I searched for the video instructions and luckily I found one on Marigami's channel on YouTube.

After trying so many cute cats this one does not look so cute .I found the cat face to be the toughest in the whole model,especially while making the eyes and nose.

One should start with a big paper else its really difficult to make the face.

Origami Cat - 3

Day 134 - Origami Cat-3

Model	: Origami Cat-3
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Video	: About.com
Paper	: 1/4 of 3*3 Inch one side coloured square paper . 2 square papers

It can be treated as a 2D as well as 3D model as it can stand too. It requires 2 squares,one each for head and body.You can assemble using glue or just tuck the body part into the pocket created in the head even though that would be very frail assembly but that's an option.

Good model for card making.

Origami Cat-2

Day 133 - Origami Cat-2

Model	: Origami Cat-2
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Photo Instructions	: Card Making @ CircleOfCrafters.com
Paper	: 3*3 Inch one side coloured square paper . 3 square papers

It's turning out to be a origami cat week,though I didn't search the models intentionally but found them interesting and moreover easy.

It's a 2D model. I stumbled upon this cat model on a card making site called Card Making @ CircleOfCrafters.com.This cat requires 3 square papers .one each for face,body and tail.
The units are to be assembled using glue.

Origami Cat-1

Day 132 - Origami Cat-1

Model	: Origami Cat-1
Design	: Hiroaki Takai
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: Diagramed by Hiroaki Takai
Paper	: Post-it notes.Rectangle

This is a cute little cat .I traced this model from the website www.origamispirit.com.This model is created by Hiroaki Takai but the page has 2 little cat models of which one is modified form of the model by Hirokai.I could fold only the one diagrammed by Hiroaki as the other one does not have a diagram there nor do I have that much imagination to manipulate and create it.

This model needs a rectangle.You can get that by dividing your regular square in half. Preferable to use both side same coloured paper for the model.One needs to be careful while shaping the ears of the cat else its an easy model.

Origami Cat Nap

Day 131 - Origami Cat Nap

Model	: Origami Cat Nap
Design	: Philip Schulz
Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: Diagramed by Philip Schulz
Paper	: 4.5 Inches

Origami Cat nap is based on Origami fish base.As I am really bad at following diagrams only I serached for video instructions and found none .Most of the pplaces where I found the diagram it was incomplete.
It was in origami.happymagpie.com that I found the complete diagram.

Somehow I managed following the diagram( even though the author is so clear in the diagram ) and made my cute little cat nap model.As the paper I choose was too stiff the cats tail kept on going away from the intended position so I cheated a little and used glue to keep it in place :D.

Here's my cat nap model.

Origami cat

Day 130 - Origami Cat

Model	: Origami Cat
Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: www.giladorigami.com
Video	: Super1600
Paper	: 3*3 Inch one side coloured square paper

This one is simple only for the part where you crease - open and refold to get the body and the tail.

I found the instructionson youtube on a channel by super1600.The video instructions are good to follow but one needs to be really careful and make crisp folds to get the exact model also certain places the folds dont seem clear as they are very small folds and the paper colour is reflecting making it tough to understand the fold.

Origami Camel-1

Day 129 - Origami Camel - 1

Model	: Origami Camel
Design	: Chiyo Araki
Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Video	: Happypuppytruffles
Paper	: 3*3 Inch one side coloured square paper

This camel start with origami bird base.The difficult part is the hind legs coz you keep on making small folds so I would suggest to start with a bigger square for beginners else you may end up with a trash.Otherwise its a pretty simple model.

Video:-

Origami fancy Horse

Day 128 - Origami Fancy Horse

Model	: Origami Fancy Horse
Design	: Japanese Origami Society
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Video	: Happypuppytruffles
Paper	: 3*3 Inch one side coloured square paper

This one is a kirigami model as one needs to cut to get the legs of the horse.You need to start with origami bird base and proceed by cutting to get the legs .Very few and simple steps and the final product is nice.

Video :-

Origami Rat

Day 127 - Origami Rat

Model	: Origami Rat
Design	: Toshie Takahama
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Video	: Happypuppytruffles
Paper	: 3*3 Inch one side coloured square paper

Origami Rats a simple model .The difficult part is the front part where you give shape to the ears of the rat.There are a few folds which are intricate,otherwise the model is simple.

Video :-

Origami Raven

Day 126 - Origami Raven

Model	: Origami Raven
Design	: Tavin
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: Tavin
Video	: Tavin
Paper	: 4.5 Inches

Another bird model but this one looks a bit realistic even though mine didn't turn out to be that good.Thats because I refolded it which made the paper to loose it's strength and thus the bird couldn't stand.

One suggestion is start with white side up.

Video:-

Origami Rose cube

Day 124,125 - Origami Rose cube

Model	: Origami Rose Cube
Design	: Valerie Vann
Complexity	: Medium
Folding Instruction
Video	: Jonakashima
Paper	: Post-it neon papers
Units	: 6 units.3 of each colour of same size

This is an interesting model made out of 6 units ,3 units of each colour.The units are assembled by interlocking.It is a cube which can be transformed into a rose with few simple steps,thus making the model interesting.

Though it's a simple model it took me a lot of time to understand it and give it shape.First suggestion is to use a both side same coloured square paper.If the paper is one side coloured then the white side would get exposed as below.

The cube out of the one side coloured papers

The rose on opening the cube

Then I tried with post-it notes here's the result.

Cube

Rose out of the cube made of post- it notes

Though it's not perfect it's somewhat OK I believe.

Video :-



Some important points to take care of :-

• Be patient while folding the units and follow the video carefully. I skipped a few steps which led to re folding.
• The above video uses a double side same coloured paper so one needs to follow the steps carefully.
• The Green/leaves modules are a bit differently folded as compared to the red once.
• once you finish a module make sure you have 2 pockets.This is necessary for the final cube formation.
• While opening the cube to metamorphoses to rose be careful not to rip it.you will have to open 2 rounds to get the final model.

Origami Baby bird

Day 123 - Origami Baby Bird

Model	: Origami Baby Bird
Design	: MaMa to Asobou: Tanoshii Origami
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Video	: Happytruffles
Paper	: 3*3 Inch one side coloured square paper

It's origami and a little bit of kirigami as you need to use scissors to cut towards the end of the model.It's intial folds are similar to many of the bird models.

Doesn't my fold look bit similar to the video once :) just that I forgot to fold the tail up.I felt it would help stablises the bird to stand.

Video :-

Origami Hello Kitty

Day 122 - Origami Hello Kitty

Model	: Origami Hello Kitty
Design	: Sanrio
Complexity	: Simple
Folding Instruction
Video	: Happytruffles
Paper	: 3*3 Inch one side coloured square paper: 3 squares used

This is a 2D model made out of three pieces of square paper folded and glued together depicting the famous Fictional character Hello Kitty

As its a glue fixed model so I suppose we can't call it pure origami.This is a good model for greeting cards for kids.

Video :-

Origami Venus Kusudama

Day 118,119,120,121 - Origami Venus Kusudama

Model	: Origami Venus Kusudama
Design	: Traditional
Complexity	: Medium
Other details	: Modular Origami : 36 Units made of squares
Folding Instruction
Diagram	: Ocantinhodacris-artes
Video	: 1petiteSorciere
Book	: Kusudama: Ball Origami
Paper	: Neon cloured post it notes

As I am a lazy person it took me 4 days to fold the units and put them together. This kusudama is named “Venus Kusudama” in YAMAGUCHI Makoto’s book Kusudama Ball Origami.Various tutorials ask to make 36-40 modules.I have made 36 modules for the kusudama.Each module is made of a square piece of paper which needs to be folded - opened - reverse folded.The reverse folding on the creases made is the only part where you may face difficulty.You will get four points which you need to tuck in if you are not careful it would open up the module.The modules are held together with string.You can also use glue but I feel string is better.

I have used neon coloured Post-it Notes for the model.I would suggest to use both side same coloured or contrast coloured paper for the model.

It is same as the Pluto model with the points folded in.The folds are some what similar to the units of Origami Butterfly kusudama or you may find some similarity with the origami iris/lily.First time when I tried to create this model I followed a tutorial which asked to create 60 modules and it was glue fixed .The end result was really bad but this time I followed a simpler version with 36 modules and sewed instead of gluing.

Video:-


Some more video links :-
Tadashimori - single unit folding
Tadashimori - How to sew the units together?