Origami Wind Chime/Mobile

This is one of the projects which took a lot of time for collecting material , folding and final assembly especially when you have inquisitive kids around you who love to pick the finished parts :).

Requirement:-

1.	Origami Squares	:	355	:	30*10 Kusudama and 55 for the cranes
2.	Embroidery ring	:	1	:	Plastic ring to keep the weight of final product low
3.	Ribbon	:	1 Pack	:	Approx 12 m
4.	Fishing/Nylon wire	:	As required
5.	Metal Beads	:	10
6.	Glue

This origami mobile has ten Electra kusudama which is stringed to the plastic mobile ring using nylon fishing wire.Each kusudama consists of 30 units.So a total of 300 units goes in for kusudama.

300 pieces of paper to be folded

Few folded units

Work in Progress

All the 10 completed kusudamas 

Then I folded 55 cranes to decorate the strings.I used a metal bead at the bottom of each kusudama to give a little weight to the nylon string.If you wants some sweet sound from the mobile then add a few small bells/ghungroo. So first a bead,then kusudama,then paper crane (number increasing by one each time) stringed to the plastic embroidery ring at equal gaps.To keep the cranes at equal distance on the string and not drop down you can use a glue drop from glue gun or tie knots.

Initial testing for gaps between strings and length of string.

After arranging the strings on the ring and securing them I covered the ring with braided ribbon.

Kusuduma IvaMia

Model	: IvaMia
Design By	: Andrey Hechuev
Website	: Andrey flickr page
Folding Instruction	:
Photo Instructions	: Stranamasterov
Video	: Instruction by Leyla Torres
Paper	: 5*5 Inch one side coloured origami paper

IvaMia kusuduma is designed by Andrey Hechuev.The kusuduma has only 6 units.As I was searching for an easy design which would need less units,fast and easy so that I can make some ornaments for the Christmas tree really fast this fitted in very well and Leyla Torres instruction video was really useful ( Thanks a lot to her ).

This basically uses windmill base.Of the two, folding and assembly sections in kusuduma here folding of the units is easier than the assembly.

The units with face up

Units with face down.

The units can be assembled without glue but are bit tricky so a few clips are required while you assemble.

Assembling the kusuduma.

I used a few my daughters hair clips as I ran out of paper clips and the clothespin were too heavy for my units:P.

Swallow Tail butterfly - Evi Binzinger

Model                   : Swallow Tail butterfly
Design By              : Evi Binzinger(Germany)
Website                 : Evi Binzinger flickr page
Folding Instruction :
    Video                : Instruction by Leyla Torres
Paper                    : 3*3 Inch contrast colored square

Though the butterfly looks simple last few steps become a little difficult for first timers and on small paper.

After finishing the butterfly I have opened up the upper wings again to give the butterfly a different colored upper wings.

Origami Harebell

Model	: Origami Harebell
Design By	: Traditional
Website	: Origami-instructions
Folding Instruction	:
Photo Instructions	: origami-instructions
Video	: Origami Harebell
Paper	: 3*3 inch contrast coloured square

Origami Kapok

Model	: Medium
Design By	: Eagle
Folding Instruction	:
Photo Instructions	: Origami Kapok
Paper	:  10*10 cm both side colored office notes

Origami Cherry Blossom

Model	:Medium
Design By	:Yamaguchi Makoto
Folding Instruction	:
Diagram	:Paperkawaii.com
Paper	:Office memo notes
Units	:5
Assembly	:Interlocking

Origami Cherry Blossom

I had first seen this model on the blog Paperunlimited.But I couldnot find the diagram for the same .The blog post mentioned of diagram appearing in a magazine named "Origami Tanteidan Magazine" to which a comment posted on it pointed to the following link ,but I couldnot make out anything of it.

Recently when I again stumbled upon the page I found another comment pointing to blog Paperkawaii .This has the diagrams of the flower. As I am really poor in following diagrams and haven't folded a single thing for ages , it took me long to understand the basic folds.

After two failed attempts and search for instruction video I found this photo instruction of a variation called Clematis having 7 petals by Yamaguchi Makoto.

The Origami Cherry Blossom is a modular structure with 5 petals.Each unit is folded separately and can be assembled without glue as the units have interlocking system.Though the model looks somewhat flat( at least I thought so)it is bit elevated.

Units of  origami cherry blossom

Another view of the flower

I have used glue to assemble as my units weren't interlocking properly.The final touch I have curled the petals.

Its better to use origami paper than other varieties as thinner paper give a better look.

Origami Cherry Blossom

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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?