Beautiful kusudama flowers can be made by folding five or six rectangular pieces of paper. If you make twelve buds, the flowers can be combined into a stunning kusudama ball. Even if you only use colorful Post-it paper, they will look great and can be used as decorations or brooches.
Step
Step 1. Fold the rectangular paper diagonally in half
The result will be a triangle.
Step 2. Fold the two bottom corners of the triangle to the top corner
Now your paper will form a rectangle.
Step 3. Fold the triangle in half outwards
The folded back should line up with the edges of the rectangle underneath.
Step 4. Unfold the triangle you folded in the previous step
Lift one side of the triangle, insert your finger to open the pocket inside and flatten the fold so that it forms a rhombus. Repeat on the other side. If you are confused, just watch the video for further guidance.
Step 5. Turn the paper over
Step 6. Fold and insert the triangle sticking out on the left side, inward
If you peek at the left side of the folded paper, you will see that behind the top paper, there is a fold that covers part of the rhombus underneath. Just fold the corners of the rhombus to the inside, that is, under the paper covering it.
Step 7. Repeat the above steps on the triangle on the right side
Step 8. Turn the paper over again
Step 9. Fold the left and right corners inward, following the existing folds
Now, the paper shape will return to being a rectangle.
Step 10. Glue the top crease, as shown in the video
Use glue sticks to dry faster, but you can also use liquid white glue like the example here.
Step 11. Glue the two top folds on each other, giving a clamp so the paper doesn't come off before it dries
Bring the top two folds together so that the glue sticks together, then pinch them tightly so that the crease that goes into the cone stays in the middle. Use paper clips to hold the glued paper in place.
Step 12. Make four shapes that are exactly the same as this one
Step 13. Apply glue to the center of the flower
This is where each flower will be glued together. Apply enough glue so that each bud will stick firmly to each other.
Step 14. Glue each flower
All these buds will form the five petals of the Kusudama flower.
Step 15. Glue everything together until the petals form one whole flower
Glue each bud and glue them all in a circular fashion.
Step 16. Use a paperclip to hold each petal from sliding out of position
Step 17. Wait for the glue to dry completely before removing the paperclip
Otherwise, the petals may shift.
Tips
- Make sure the folds you make are really sharp, precise, and firm. Good creases will result in a clean look.
- Don't use too much glue and use clear glue instead.
- Choose a bright and beautiful paper color.
- Make sure all the edges of the rectangle are even so you don't have problems when you fold them over and over again.
- Prepare five sheets of paper from the start. Make one bud until it's finished, then work on the remaining four. This method will make you work faster.
- Make 12 kusudama flowers and glue them all together to form a traditional kusudama ball.
- Glue the pipe cleaner to the bottom of the flower as a stalk.
- If you're using liquid glue, wait for the glue to dry a bit, then glue the flowers together.
- Make bigger flowers with bigger paper.
- Use a glue gun (glue gun) so that each petal sticks more firmly.
Warning
- Post-it paper will be more difficult to work with because it has some glue on it and will stick when folded.
- Use a base when making flowers, so that your desk is not messy.
- Be careful not to scratch your hands with the sharp edges of the paper.
- Be careful when using the X-acto knife.
