Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Origami Wreath

I've enjoyed making this paper wreath many time, mostly for a Christmas decoration. I've even created them with kids and they pick up the instructions quite easily and have even taught their parents. I first saw this wreath at a team meeting 6 years ago with Julie Reynolds Here is what she shared.

Origami Wreath

Julie Reynolds – February 2014

The following instructions are to create a wreath approximately 6 ½” across.

Use a bone folder to firmly crease all your folds, being careful not to catch any folded edges with the tip of the bone folder – you don’t want to tear it.

Create a folding template: Fold a 6” piece of scratch paper in half. Bring one side up to center crease and fold again. Repeat. You will use the last section you folded, which is 1/8 the width of your paper, for your folding guide.
Cut twelve 6” squares of CTMH B&T Duos. You will fold 6 featuring one side, and 6 featuring the other side.

4. Insert one 6x6 piece into your folding template. Using the narrowest fold as a guide, bring the outside edge of your BT Duo over to the edge of the guide and fold.

5. Repeat this on all 4 sides of paper:

. Fold both bottom corners up to the closest fold (but do not overlap fold.) Note: Each time you “fold to meet,” a crease or another paper edge, it’s best to be just a hair short of it, rather than touching it.

6. Turn paper 180 degrees. Fold bottom section up at closest horizontal crease, leaving just the tips of triangles showing.

7. Turn piece over. Fold the little outside corners inward.

8. Fold bottom section up, at the first horizontal crease just below the little triangle; this will look like a little hat. Then fold the two sides forward, making use of the vertical creases (do NOT create a new crease here!) Then lay it on your work surface and crease these folds well with your bone folder to finish your first wreath
piece.

9. Now repeat those steps 11 more times to complete your 12 wreath pieces.

10. Assemble your wreath by inserting the 2 loose ends of one piece into the little pockets on both sides (front and back) of another piece. Repeat until you have placed all 12 pieces, joining the last 2 together. No gluing is necessary.

Now be creative and embellish as you’d like. Hot-glue or use Glue Dots to attach a ribbon to the back for a hanger . . . Add flowers or buttons to the front . . . Have fun!

Here are more wreaths. The Christmas one is made with 6” pieces, the two smaller with 4” and 3” pieces. The 3” wreath makes a nice tree ornament. The larger the piece, the easier it is to fold.