Origami wreath tutorial

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.

 

Comments

[Kristina Keller-Wilczek]

Love the music paper and the foil idea Tamra had was great.
I would love to use this for the oriental section of my site~Kristina
http://Christmasdecoratingideastoday.com

[Buy_Viagra]

I think you are not quite right and you should still studying the matter.

[Kristina]

I'm definitely going to give this a go. I have the perfect paper for doing some! Thanks for the inspiration.

[Janee Lookerse]

This is awesome, I think I'm going to make a whole garland of them. I'll let you know if I ever finish it! Thanks!

[twototwo]

Thanks for the tutorial. I had so much fun with my go: http://twototwo.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/my-first-origami/

I'm hoping to make a bunch more to decorate the whole room.

[Glenedengal]

i made 8 of these of different sizes starting big and getting smaller and stacked them up. they look really cool!!

[Kathy Knapp]

HI, Is this your design, or do you know whose it is? I need to ask permission of the designer. Thanks, Kathy

[Elliot]

This would be perfect for my 12 year old to make for Christmas! And his Grandma loves music.

[Password management]

Wow!!! Ali, it looks awesome! Fantastic decorations!!very cute! I am going to try this in this weekend. All the pics are simply great.. Keep posting such an interesting tutorials which provides great joy in the leisure. Thanks a lot.

[ruth cobb]

THese were so much fun to make! Very easy and simple directions! I can't wait to make more to give to the music peeps in my life!!

[elenor]

thank you for sharing your idea and the good instruction. I already made some of these ornaments - also with music sheets - they turned out really lovely!

many greetings from Austria
have a merry christmas
elenor

[Caterina]

Thank you! Simple , quick and brilliant!
I0ve found your post surfing on the net! thank you!

[skb]

Thanks, what a cute idea.