Fast and Easy Origami

 

Origami is a fast growing hobby among children and adults alike. Many people create origami objects to pass time while others create beautiful decorations and creations. Some people whose techniques are very advanced spend time creating their own designs and are always inventing new ways to make origami. People who are new to origami need to start with basic designs and elements. Whether you are new to origami or practice more advanced techniques, there is always something new to learn and a way to make it more enjoyable and interesting.

While not considered to be origami because of their popularity, some of the most basic origami patterns, such as the box, the crane and the triangle are, in fact, still origami. Origami is the ancient Japanese art of folding paper. When people think about origami, they typically imagine very complicated designs that look like animals and other shapes which seem very difficult to make. However, this is not necessarily the case as there are many simple origami designs.
One of the most basic origami shapes, which most people already know how to make in some form or fashion, is the paper airplane, which is technically origami because it is created by folding paper. There are many different variations on the paper airplane, ranging from easy designs that take no more than five or six folds to very complicated designs which, when done correctly, can do special tricks and loops in the air. The paper airplane is unique because, unlike other origami figures, you can make a paper airplane using special origami paper or plain copy paper, as most people do. Folded hats and boats are some other common objects that, while not considered origami, because they involve paper folding techniques, they are.

One of the most fun and interesting designs to make, especially for kids, is a simple fish. Fish are a very popular not only because of the wide variety of colored origami papers available to make them with but also because they are relatively easy to make. Fish patterns range from a simple angel fish to the most complicated of three dimensional fishes. Fish could be used to decorate a bathroom with a sea or aquarium theme or for a kid’s birthday party.

Some other popular origami shapes include more two dimensional designs that may have additional eyes or things colored onto them to make them look like a particular type of animal head or face. Some of the most popular shapes are dogs, cats, horses, cows and bears. Their popularity stems from their ease of creation by both adults and children.

Another very popular, common origami shape is the crane which is normally one of the first animals that beginner origami makers learn how to fold. Cranes are relatively easy to fold and impressive at the same time. Some crane, and general bird, designs will actually flap their wings if you pull on the right parts of their head and tail. This is another reason they are so popular with children, because they can be animated.

Modular origami and geometric origami are typically fast and easy designs that are popular because they can be useful origami. You can make an origami shape or box and put a gift inside it, if you like, for a different idea.