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Complete your origami collection with this sturdy, stackable piece
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Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. Few origami constructions require more than a piece of paper , making origami a wonderful hobby that is accessible to almost everyone. These instructions cover one of the most exhilarating pieces of art. The cube is a simple construction and should take no more than ten minutes to complete. The instructions include basic folds and abase that is common to many constructions.
Steps
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Orient the paper into portrait alignment. [1] X Research source- You can also find a range of square origami paper on Amazon .
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Fold the bottom right corner upward so that the bottom edge is aligned with the left edge, and unfold. Then, repeat for the left corner. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Fold the top section of the paper down along the horizontal line formed by the tops of the Step 2-3 creases, and unfold. [3] X Research source
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Cut along the Step 4 crease. Alternatively, lightly lick along the Step 4 crease and then carefully tear. You will not need the long rectangular strip.
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Flip the paper over so that the Step 2-3 creases from the previous section are facing down and the paper is somewhat convex.
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Fold the bottom edge to the top edge, and unfold.
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Push the left and right edges toward the center until they meet, forming a tent-like shape. Flatten the tent-like shape along the existing creases.
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Fold the right vertex to the top vertex.
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Fold the right vertex of the resulting triangle to the center line.
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Insert the flap near the top vertex into the pocket along the top edge of the triangle formed in Step 3, and fold to secure.
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Repeat Steps 2-4 for the left side.
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Flip the paper over.
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Repeat Steps 2-5 for the now-front face.
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Fold the top triangular section down, and unfold.
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Fold the bottom triangular section up, and unfold. [4] X Research source
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Hold the paper's bottom vertex and spread out the four edges so that they are perpendicular to each other.
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Blow into the hole at the bottom vertex until the cube takes shape. [5] X Research source
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Finished.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I fold a sharp crease?Robert Homayoon is an Origami Expert known for his engaging YouTube videos and accessible instructions. He has been teaching origami on YouTube since 2009. His channel has a following of over 676,000 subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 211 million views. Robert uses his channel to highlight his passion for teaching people origami, crafts, and how to solve puzzles. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 2007 and earned his D.M.D degree from Temple University Dental School in 2013.I often employ a technique where I use my thumb and fingernail, with the tip of my pointer finger, to run along the crease line. It's not exactly pinching the fingernail together but rather using the fingernail and the tip of the finger to align and define the crease sharply. Simultaneously, I secure the paper with my other hand to prevent any potential shifting that might occur while dragging my thumb and pointer finger along the fold. This ensures precision and stability in the crease.
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QuestionAfter blowing, the cube is not taking shape. What did I do wrong?T. ChinsenTop AnswererThe paper used may either be too stiff or not stiff enough. Also, the folding needs to be precise, as it can affect how well it will shape out. With the help of a paper clip inserted into the hole, it is possible to nudge out the side walls and push it into shape.
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QuestionCan I attach string and a small origami box in such a way to make a hot air balloon or parachute? And would it be functional?Community AnswerThat would be a good way to make an origami hot air balloon. However, it would likely not be able to function because hot air balloons rely on fire, and paper is combustible.
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Tips
- If one of your folds is off, simply unfold and try again.Thanks
- If the cube doesn't blow up easily, try, in step nine of 'The Compressed Cube' to fold the top and bottom triangle sections both forward and backwards (fold it both ways). It should ease the blowing up process.Thanks
- If you are unsure what a step means, look closely at the accompanying image. Dotted lines indicate where a fold should be made.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- 1 Piece of 8.5" x 11" printer paper (Feel free to use square origami paper . Then you can skip the first section, though you will need the folds from Steps 3-4.
- Scissors (optional)
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about origami, check out our in-depth interview with Robert Homayoon .
References
- ↑ https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/mathematics/mathematics-curriculum-resources-k-12/mathematics-k-6-resources/origami-cube
- ↑ https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/mathematics/mathematics-curriculum-resources-k-12/mathematics-k-6-resources/origami-cube
- ↑ https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/mathematics/mathematics-curriculum-resources-k-12/mathematics-k-6-resources/origami-cube
- ↑ https://youtu.be/A5En3UHGBjY?t=160
- ↑ https://youtu.be/A5En3UHGBjY?t=200
About This Article
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Reader Success Stories
- "I'm going to send these as a buy-nothing gift to my family, and a poem written on the outside: "This is a very special gift that you can never see. The reason it's so special is it's just for you, from me. Whenever you are lonely, or ever feeling blue, just hold this gift close to your heart and know I think of you. You never can unwrap it, please leave the ribbon tied. The reason it's so special is, it's filled with love inside." With a paper ribbon around it, it's biodegradable, like me." ..." more
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"I'm going to send these as a buy-nothing gift to my family, and a poem written on the outside: "This is a very special gift that you can never see. The reason it's so special is it's just for you, from me. Whenever you are lonely, or ever feeling blue, just hold this gift close to your heart and know I think of you. You never can unwrap it, please leave the ribbon tied. The reason it's so special is, it's filled with love inside." With a paper ribbon around it, it's biodegradable, like me."
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"This helped me because I was bored in class and needed something to do, and the whole class now knows how to make a paper cube/box."
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"I managed to make one out of 50 I needed to make... but out of all the ones I tested this one worked the best!"
"So cool! I made them so my family and I could play a game called CheeseRun. (A game I made up.) Thanks!"
"Easy steps with instructions shown so that you cant go wrong! Brilliant, thank you."
