A little paper ornament - simple to make, perfect for popping inside a Christmas Card. Want to have a go? I promised a tutorial, so here's what to do.
You'll need to begin with a rectangle of paper 4cm wide by 8 cm long. Choose paper with a bit of body - really lightweight stuff won't hold the folds as well or appear 3 dimensional when finished. I'm using some nice old sheet music.
Fold your rectangle in half lengthwise ( keep the prettier side out if your paper is only patterned on one side) to give you a folded strip 8cm by 2cm.
Fold in half crosswise so your piece is now 4cm by 2cm (like the one on the left). You then need to fold down the corners at each end of the strip.
Hold your folded strip with the open edges to the top. Grab both layers of the top right hand side and fold them at 45 degrees to meet the bottom edge. Then do the same with the top left hand side.
You will be left with shapes like this. Each wreath takes 8 of them to complete.
Hold the first piece by the points. If you look carefully at the top edge, you'll see that there are two little pockets formed between the layers of paper. If you imagine they are numbered 1 2 3 and 4, you need to slide one folded point of the next piece, between layers 1 and 2 and the other between layers 3 and 4.
I wish I could just show you, it'd be a lot easier! But try it, it's simpler than I am making it sound.
Push the second piece down into the first until the tips touch the bottom of the pocket.
Then go on with the third piece in exactly the same way.
Continue round. The eighth and final piece gets the tips of the first piece tucked into its pocket to complete the circle.
Fiddle with them to adjust so the wreath looks an even shape.
I added a hanging loop by threading a bit of embroidery cotton through one of the tips using a needle.
You could go to town with fancy Christmas papers, upcycled glossy magazines, text from an old book - the origami wreath world is your oyster. And if you have a go, do leave a link in the comments - I'd love to see them.
brilliant!
so simple and so brilliant!
Posted by: monica | 14 November 2008 at 00:00
oh, I am definitely trying these. But maybe not until the weekend! Thanks so much.
Lorrie
Posted by: Lorrie | 14 November 2008 at 01:07
Fabulous - great choice of paper for the job!
Posted by: lina | 14 November 2008 at 01:21
Perfect - have to make some of these!
Posted by: Kate | 14 November 2008 at 02:35
awesome! thanks for sharing, ali!
(and your paper choice is definitely awesome.)
Posted by: kirsten | 14 November 2008 at 02:44
So cute! Do you have to use a dab of glue or anything to make them stay in place, or do the folds just stay together like that?
Posted by: Wendy | 14 November 2008 at 03:04
Paper, Christmas, a tutorial - three of my favourite things in on post. Very cool.
Posted by: Megan | 14 November 2008 at 04:09
Wow! Thanks. Those would be adorable tucked into Christmas cards!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | 14 November 2008 at 05:16
Thank you Ali - will definitely be trying some of these.
Posted by: Gina | 14 November 2008 at 05:48
Thank you for this! I shall be making some for sure.
Posted by: dottycookie | 14 November 2008 at 07:56
Thank you for this! My ILs would love the music paper option, I'm going to get DH on to making one this weekend!
Posted by: KarenV | 14 November 2008 at 08:03
Thank you so much for the tutorial. I'm definitely going to have a go (hopefully before Christmas actually arrives)! K x
Posted by: kristina | 14 November 2008 at 08:23
what fun and effective decoration, great tutorial.
Posted by: Ruth | 14 November 2008 at 08:37
Hi,
Alice at the magpiefiles recommended your blog to me (although I think I had come across it before) and encouraged me to comment, so here I am!
Wonderful idea, how clever of you! I'm not sure mine would turn out so well but feel inspired to try. Thank you! I'll let you know how I get on...
Posted by: Deb | 14 November 2008 at 10:57
Great tutorial and so full of endless possibilities - as if I need any more sideroads for my brain to go down!
Posted by: nita | 14 November 2008 at 11:06
That is so great because it is so simple. I am thinking about making some (if I still find some time) for the christmas basar at preschool.
Posted by: Simone | 14 November 2008 at 13:49
Beautiful. I love the zen of folding paper. I like making the little cranes and making mobiles out of them. This wreath is wonderful and would be great made out of festive paper and then glued onto a card.
Posted by: raina | 14 November 2008 at 15:46
This is super cute! I'll be linking in my next Ornament Roundup!
Posted by: Rachel | 14 November 2008 at 17:09
Great tutorial.
Posted by: simone | 14 November 2008 at 17:41
Ali, I just had to let you know that I absolutely LOVE it when I happen upon your ID page in Blogger and read your Occupation. It SO makes my day. estions
I hate "Occupation" questions. I call myslef a Home Executive, or Artist, depending on my mood, but may have to adopt yours.
lx
Posted by: Lucy@Attic24 | 14 November 2008 at 19:36
loving the tutorial thank you for taking time to do it :-) weekend craft session sorted now !!
Lesley x
Posted by: Lesley | 14 November 2008 at 20:34
this one is so perfect !!!
no doubt I'll have a go -- merci !!!
Posted by: SierraMoon | 14 November 2008 at 20:36
Right I really have to go and get some sleep now!
Why did I have to look at your blog just before I really needed to go to bed.
Gosh tutorial were the words that first pulled me in, then ORIGAMI well I just had to find some paper and make one. Here I am up since 5am with Mister T dead on my feet making a Christmas decoration!
I have done it and very impressed with your tutorial. I have to go to bed now but will photograph it tomorrow and post a link to it - i'll be back!!
Posted by: Thimbleina | 14 November 2008 at 20:46
I saw this in the previous post and hoped there would be a tutorial. I might just make some for my tree this year! Fab!
Posted by: Bev | 14 November 2008 at 20:51
Thank you. (I wonder what tune it plays now? A 'round'?)Must give it a try.
Posted by: Jackie | 14 November 2008 at 22:57
Love the simplicity of this wreath! I have an antique ledger that would work perfectly with this idea. I'm going to make a bunch of wreaths for my Christmas tree this year. Thanks for the inspiration!
PS-I'll send a link when I do!
Posted by: Eurolush | 15 November 2008 at 08:54
Love these Ali, thanks for the tutorial. A bit of inspiration is just what I need right now.
Posted by: Diana | 15 November 2008 at 09:50
Here is my go at it: http://thimbleina.typepad.com/thimbleina/2008/11/origami-christmas.html
Posted by: Thimbleina | 15 November 2008 at 14:01
Lovely tutorial Ali, thanks for doing it when you sound like you've had a tough week with a small sickly one. We've a pile of scrap paper here that we're going to have fun with tomorrow.
Posted by: Victoria Leather | 15 November 2008 at 15:30
Oh I hoped you would do a show how! Thanks so much. I think my Brownies could have a go at this to help decorate our hall. Bx
Posted by: Barbara | 15 November 2008 at 18:35
Great tutorial Ali - nearly as good as getting my very own decoration and having the chance to meet you "for real" today! It was so much fun! I'm already trying to work out if we can have a whole Covent-Garden-Weekend in the Spring!
Thanks again! Lucy xxx
Posted by: Lucy Locket-Pocket | 15 November 2008 at 21:04
Ah, this might be one I get to attempt. Thank you.
Posted by: Lil' d | 16 November 2008 at 17:47
Now this is spectacular. I am off to find some old sheet music of my own...
Posted by: Ramona | 17 November 2008 at 15:39
thank you for sharing- these look brilliant!
Posted by: melissa | 19 November 2008 at 15:28
Very cool! I have some old hymnals. I'm going to make some for everyone in my choir.
Posted by: Joni | 22 November 2008 at 03:15
That's fantastic! I was struggling to find cheap ways to decorate my "Christmas" tree and this works a treat!
I had a go- http://melodytan.blogspot.com/2008/11/christmas-tree-oh-christmas-tree.html
Posted by: Melody | 23 November 2008 at 03:30
OOh! How lovely, I spotted one of these on Lucy Locket's blog and immediately asked my lovely Hubby (who is dead good at origami) if he could make one! THEN I followed the trail and found YOU!! Hello!!!
April xx
Posted by: April | 25 November 2008 at 17:55
I came here from Claudia's blog. These are awesome. So simple, but so many directions one could go with these. Thanks for the tutorial!
Posted by: jackie | 25 November 2008 at 19:24
so awesome :D
you should check out our tutorial contest xD
there's tonz of prizes!!
Posted by: Gis | 29 November 2008 at 13:53
its so cool n trendy
Posted by: sneha | 29 November 2008 at 18:17
Get tutorial - I am so making these!!
Posted by: lazylol | 30 November 2008 at 09:31
These are beautiful and I really want to make them but I am just not getting it! I get lost at about the third step. Do you have any additional pictures of the process?
Posted by: Natalie | 30 November 2008 at 17:25
Thanks for the inspiration. I featured your blog on my blog. Take a look.
http://blueplumshop.blogspot.com/
Posted by: BluePlum | 02 December 2008 at 15:33
I'll give it a try. Thanks!
Posted by: CC | 02 December 2008 at 17:34
I love this idea! I'm definitely going to try this.
Posted by: Shelley | 02 December 2008 at 18:14
Oh they're fabulous.
We have a 'How to make' Christmas decorations guide on our blog.
You're looks so stunning the way the paper folds.
I will bookmark this blog, it looks great!
Season's Greetings.
Laura
Posted by: Laura (Robson and Mason) | 02 December 2008 at 18:55
Oh they're fabulous.
We have a 'How to make' Christmas decorations guide on our blog.
You're looks so stunning the way the paper folds.
I will bookmark this blog, it looks great!
Season's Greetings.
Laura
Posted by: Laura (Robson and Mason) | 02 December 2008 at 18:56
Oh they're fabulous.
We have a 'How to make' Christmas decorations guide on our blog.
You're looks so stunning the way the paper folds.
I will bookmark this blog, it looks great!
Season's Greetings.
Laura
Posted by: Laura (Robson and Mason) | 02 December 2008 at 18:56
http://lorienwoods.deviantart.com/art/Origami-Wreath-105246057
I tried it with foil origami paper and it looks cool but huge! Instead of 4 sheets (each diff color), I'm going to try it out of one sheet or two half sheets of diff colors. Depending on the size maybe it will end up on a card for the Deviantart Holiday Card Project 2008 :D
Posted by: Tamra | 02 December 2008 at 20:49
My 7 year old & I are going to have to try this. Thanks for the instructions
Posted by: Regina | 02 December 2008 at 22:51