Origami is a fun way to fold paper into all sorts of shapes. By making books using the origami technique, you can create origami creations that can actually function as notebooks or small sketchbooks.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Quarto-Sized Paper
Step 1. Fold the paper in half
If we count both sides of the entire sheet, this will result in a 16-page origami book. Take a square sheet of paper and fold it in half in a “hamburger” style.
This means that you have to fold the paper in a crosswise direction along the length, resulting in a shape that is the same width, but half the length of the quarter
Step 2. Fold again in the same direction
Take the folded paper and fold it again into two halves in the same direction. As a result, your paper will be very narrow, the same width but only a quarter of the length of the quarto.
Step 3. Unfold the paper
Now that you've marked the paper with crease lines, and you need to unfold the entire fold again. The unfolded paper was now quarto-sized again, and had creased lines revealing four stacked lines.
Step 4. Fold the paper in half, in opposite directions
With the paper unfolded, you now need to turn it 90 degrees and fold it in half again, “hot dog” style.
The folded paper will be the same length, but half the width of the quarto
Step 5. Fold the paper in half again in the same direction
Just like when you folded again in a “hamburger” style, now you need to fold again in a “hot dog” style. After folding this in half again, the paper shape will be the same length but a quarter as wide as the quarter.
Step 6. Unfold the entire paper fold
After folding twice, unfold the entire fold again so that the paper is quarto-sized again. This time, the crease lines reveal 16 equal-sized squares on the paper surface.
Step 7. Fold the paper in half in a “hamburger” style again
With all the fold lines in place, you are now ready to start shaping the paper into a book. Start by folding the paper along the line of the first “hamburger” fold, so that the shape of the paper is the same length but half the width of the quarter.
Step 8. Cut along the three fold lines in the center of the paper
Point the center line of the paper fold toward you, then use the scissors to cut along the three fold lines that run across the center line of the paper. You can see these crease lines and you should only cut them in half.
The halfway mark that needs to be cut is easy to see, as this is where the crease line meets the center line of the paper and the crease line you're following with the scissors
Step 9. Unfold the paper
With the three cut lines following the three fold lines, unfold the paper again. The paper is now quarto-sized, and has two strands of connection in the center of the paper.
Step 10. Cut the joints
When the paper is in its unfolded state, rotate it so that the strands form an “equals” sign (=) and cut along the vertical crease line right in the middle of each of the “equals” marks. This will result in four separate opening strands in the center of the paper.
Step 11. Fold all four openings outward
Once you've made the opening, fold it out toward the edge of the paper. You can see the crease lines that are already at the edges of the opening due to the previous creases, and because each square is the same size, this opening when opened will come into contact with the edge of the paper.
When you fold the opening out, you'll notice an empty space in the middle of the paper, making the paper look like a window
Step 12. Turn the paper over
With the opening still folded out, turn over the entire paper. This will make the paper opening face down and in contact with your workbench.
Step 13. Fold the top and bottom to the middle
Take the top row and bottom row of the paper, then fold them inward towards the center of the paper. After this fold, the paper shape will be the same size as when you made the "hot dog" fold, which is the same length and half the width of the quarter.
Step 14. Fold the paper in half in a “hot dog” style
With the top and bottom folded in the middle, you now need to fold the entire surface of the paper “hot dog” style.
The paper shape will now be the same length and a quarter as wide as the square, and the openings you previously folded will be on the outer edge of the paper
Step 15. Push the left and right sides together until they form a diamond
Lift the paper off the table and push the two edges of the paper toward each other without creating crease lines. When viewed from above, the center will bend outward following the existing crease lines and form a diamond.
Step 16. Unite them to form an X
As you keep pushing the edges of the paper until they touch each other, the diamond will get smaller and the edges of the paper you are holding and bending will form an X.
Step 17. Fold it in half in the middle
These sheets of paper are fan-shaped open like a book that you open completely until the front and back covers touch each other. As a final step, you will need to fold the center as if you were closing the book.
Method 2 of 2: Using Five Sheets of Origami Paper
Step 1. Fold four pieces of origami paper in half
With standard size origami paper (approximately 15 X 15 centimeters), this book will be small. If you want to make a book that actually works for writing, you can use larger origami paper, measuring 30 X 30 centimeters. Start by folding the four sheets of paper, each in half.
The pages of the book will be a quarter of the size of the paper you are using
Step 2. Cut the four pieces of paper into two halves
With four sheets of paper folded in half, cut along the crease line. You now have eight sheets of paper that are twice as long as they are wide.
The size is 7.5 X 15 centimeters if you use standard sized origami paper
Step 3. Fold one sheet of paper in half
Take the first of eight sheets of paper and fold it in half in a “hot dog” style. This will result in a paper shape that is a quarter of the length wide (3.75 X 15 centimeters if you are using standard-sized origami paper).
Step 4. Fold the same sheet in half again in opposite directions
Now you need to fold the same sheet in half again, but in the opposite direction of the axis. You will have a paper shape that is twice the previous width (3.75 X 7.5 centimeters).
Step 5. Fold the top part back to the center
Take the top of the previous fold, and fold it back to the center and inward. To do this, take the edge from the top and fold it back in until the edge is in contact with the center line of the fold from Step 4.
Step 6. Fold the bottom part back to the middle
This step is the same as Step 5, but is done at the bottom of the sheet of paper. The bottom fold from Step 4 will protrude beyond the top once it's folded back in. Fold this bottom section inward and toward the center, just as you did with the top section.
After this fold, the paper will be square and 3.75 X 3.75 centimeters (for standard-sized origami paper), with an accordion-style fold that forms a W when viewed from above
Step 7. Repeat Steps 3-6 with the remaining six sheets
To make a thicker book, you will need to repeat Steps 3-6 with the seven previously cut sheets of paper. The seven sheets of paper will make up ten pages of your book when you're done.
You could just remove eight sheets of paper from the previous scraps
Step 8. Position the folded pages
Once all the pages are folded, you need to position them. For this step, you will need to look at all the folds of the page from above, so that each forms a W or M. Arrange them in a row, so that you are each opposite.
When viewed from above, you will form a long line of letters MWMWMWM
Step 9. Put these pages together
Take the very back of the first page fold and the very front of the next page fold, and insert the front into the back, tucking them into the fold you made in Step 3 earlier.
- You will need to repeat this step with the next five folds of the page until all of them form a long, unbroken accordion fold.
- Although optional, you can use solid glue to glue the two joined pieces together, and add strength to the finish later.
Step 10. Cut the fifth sheet of origami paper in half
Once the pages are complete and linked together, you can now create the cover. Start by taking a fifth piece of origami paper that is still intact, then cut it into two equal-sized pieces.
Since this sheet will be the cover of your book, you can use paper in a different color or even a pattern
Step 11. Fold the top and bottom edges to the center
Take half of the sheet you just cut and fold the top and bottom edges into the center of the paper. Fold in a “hot dog” style, so that the width of the sheet becomes narrower, not the length that becomes shorter.
- If you want to make sure that the cover of this book is slightly larger than the pages, don't fold it right in the middle, but leave an excess of about 1 millimeter wide.
- Of course, make sure that if you choose patterned paper as the cover, the patterned side is facing out.
Step 12. Position the stack of pages on the cover sheet
Take a stack of pages and press them together, then place them in the center of the cover sheet. You can ensure that it's perfectly centered by folding the cover sheet (which is still long) over the stack of pages and positioning the edges parallel and even.
Create a small crease line by pinching each side of the stack of pages, where the center line of the page meets the cover sheet
Step 13. Fold in the excess length of the cover sheet
The front cover and back cover will leave excess length, but don't cut it. Just make a small crease line at the meeting point of the cover and the edge of the page. Fold along this line on the front and back covers.
Step 14. Tuck the front and back pages into the cover fold
The cover fold you made in Step 11 will create a little pocket. After folding the excess length of the cover inward, you can use the front and back pages as connectors and tuck them into the front and back cover fold pockets, respectively.
Although you don't have to, you can strengthen the book with solid glue at the joints or in the flap pocket
Tips
- By using paper of various sizes in the second method, you can make books of various sizes as well.
- To get a beautiful cover in the second method, use origami paper with a pattern that you like.
