With a piece of paper and a little creative folding, you can make an origami lotus flower. These instructions will help you learn how to make a “blintz fold”: the basis for many popular origami works, including lotus flowers. This guide will teach you how to make those blintz bases pop! After some practice, experiment with different shapes, sizes, and textures of paper to see what you can make. With a little patience and thoroughness, you'll soon amaze your friends.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Creating “Blintz Folds”
Step 1. Draw a guide line by folding a square piece of paper in half
Align the buts and corners and make sharp folds.
Step 2. Unfold and repeat in the opposite direction
Make sure you line up the edges and corners as neatly as possible.
Step 3. Unfold it
Now you have a square piece of paper with a crease/guideline that crosses perpendicularly in the middle.
Step 4. Fold each corner inward towards the center
Starting at one corner, pull towards the center point and align the sides with the crease you made earlier. When it is aligned, fold and press.
- Try to bring the corners as close to the midpoint as possible without crossing them.
- Do not unfold.
Step 5. Repeat this step on each corner
When each corner is folded you will have a smaller square. This is a “blintz fold”.
The "blintz fold" is the basic fold of many origami works
Part 2 of 2: Making Lotus Flowers
Step 1. Fold each corner from the base of the flash inward towards the center
Bring each corner to the center of the square, and align the corners, butts, and guides as you did the first time you created the base.
Make sure the crease is above the base of the flash when you start
Step 2. Repeat on each corner
Once you're done, you'll have another square shape.
In essence you are making a series of flashes of folds on a piece of paper
Step 3. Make another flash of crease
As you did in the previous step, fold each corner of the paper toward the center, aligning all the edges and corners.
Fold the corners one at a time and be patient
Step 4. Turn the square over and make another blintz fold
Again, you will fold the corners to the midpoint so you will have a smaller square.
At this point, the paper will become a bit difficult to fold
Step 5. Make the final fold
This time you will only partially fold the corners inward. Make a fold that is about 10 - 20 percent of the corner.
Step 6. Repeat on each corner
Now the object will be an octagon with unequal sides.
Step 7. Draw the first petal
Keeping the object oriented so you can still see your last crease, feel at the bottom of the rectangle to find the top layer of petals. Gently pull the petals, one at a time, around the small crease you made in steps five and six. Repeat for each petal.
- You will "turn over" the crease on each petal. This is the most difficult part to do.
- Pull slowly and gently, and try not to tear the paper.
- You may have to "unfold" the lotus flower to allow the petals to open. When you're done, the petals you've drawn from the bottom should look almost vertical.
Step 8. Draw the second round of petals
Again, take the petal from the bottom and bring it up slowly, “turning over” the fold so that the petal opens on the opposite side.
Step 9. Draw the last round of petals
Take the remaining petals below and gently fold them up. These petals will be more flat than vertical, and may be difficult to fold without tearing.
Tips
- It is easier to make a large lotus flower than a small one. Start with a large square sheet of paper to make the final folds stronger.
- Be patient. Fold them carefully, and try to make some lotus flowers to understand the technique.
- Try different colors and sizes, but don't make it too small.
- Give your lotus flower to someone as a simple but sweet gift.
