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.

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 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 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?

Origami Pluto Kusudama

Day 96,97,98,99 - Origami Pluto Kusudama

Hmm... This one took me 4 days to complete. This kusudama is named “Pluto Kusudama” in YAMAGUCHI Makoto’s book Kusudama Ball Origami.It needs to create 40 module 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.The modules are held together with string.You can also use glue but I feel string is better.

Few units of the Pluto Kusudama

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.

If the points of the modules are folded inside then it becomes Venus Kusudama.The folds are some what similar to the units of Origami Butterfly kusudama or you may find some similarity with the origami iris/lily

Folding Instructions:-

Diagram:-
You can find the diagram on this Portuguese blog ocantinhodacris-artes .

Video:-
On the youtube channel by 1petiteSorciere you can find instruction video for the module of origami pluto kusudama.


Book:-

Origami curler cuboctahedron kusudama

Day 76,77 - Origami curler cuboctahedron kusudama

Origami curler units are really simple and fast to make .They start with origami waterbomb base.

For a cuboctahedron kusudama you need 12 curler units .Sounds easy ,right!But hold on the assembly of the units is not that easy.It took me a day to understand the assembly and once I understood I felt it was easy.

Few of the curler units

I have used the Neon post it 3*3 inch papers for the curler units and the assembly doesnot require glue .I suppose that is one of the best things .

A suggestion to first timers is to use 3 differnt colours so that you can understand the assembly of the units though its not that necessary but thats just a suggestion.

Final curler cuboctahedron kusudama

Video Instruction:-
This is a nice video which teaches both the curler units and the curler cubotahedron kusudama.

Origami Iris Kusudama

Day 69,70,71,72 - Origami Iris Kusudama

Origami Iris Kusudama is made of 12 + 12 a total of 24 modules.The modules are the simple origami iris or origami lily .I never knew they can be made into a kusudama but thanks to the tutorial by barbabellaatje on youtube.

This kusudama may not be called as pure origami as it requires glue but you can try your hand on it.

To start with you need 12 iris to make the ball and 12 more are required to make a second layer. I have made 12 origami lily of variation type of green colour for the ball and 12 traditional lilies of orange colour to make the second layer.

The 12 liles are glued to each other in such a way that the 12 lilies make 6 squares and 8 triangles basically a cuboctahedron to make the ball.Once the ball is done its just putting the second layers to give the finishing touch.

The gluing part is really cumbersome and one needs to have patience for the same also a good glue specially when your units are small ( as in my case ). As my flowers are small I glued them first and then made the ball.

Folding Instructions:-
Video:-

Origami Chrysanthemum kusudama

Day 57 - Origami chrysanthemum kusudama

Today being Republic day I thought of folding a tricolour kusudama to dedicate to the republic day.So I have folded a Chrysanthemum Kusudama.

The Kusudama consists of 6 units made of square pieces of paper.Contrast colours on both sides looks great.I have folded 2 of Saffron ,2 of Green and 2 of Blue each contrasted against white to give all the colours of the national flag :)

Folding Instructions :-

Photo Instructions:-

Step 1:-
Fold the paper in half  to crease


Step 2:-
Fold the paper in half to crease  and open




Step 3:-
Fold the paper along the black lines to the centre







Step 4:-
Fold along the blavk line to the centre





Step 5:-
Fold along the black lines diagonally to crease and unfold .



Step 6:-
Open and fold as shown below.















Step 7:-
Fold along the black lines







Step 8:-
Open each flap as shown below.



You need to make 6 of these and join them using glue



Video:-




Diagram:-
Oriland

Book:-
Kusudama Origami
Floral Origami Globes