Learn to make an Origami Diya: Easy Craft Idea for Kids

With Navratri and Durga Puja just round the corner, a bunch of festivals is lined up, one after the other; this is the time of the year we all Indians eagerly wait for the whole year, to celebrate and enjoy with our families and friends. 

It is customary in every Indian home to light up the diyas during this festive season. Even in this era of advanced technology where it has become easier to decorate your house with electric lights, which will only remove darkness, the spiritual significance of lighting a traditional diya still hasn't lost its importance. As parents, it is our concern to involve our kids during this festivities and keep their interest alive in our traditions. So here's an easy craft idea for kids for this festive season which they can learn with joy; learning to make a paper diya - an origami diya for this festive occasion.

Origami Diyas

Procedure:

This origami diya is very easy for kids to try and doesn't involve any complicated folds. So just follow the procedure closely and enjoy folding an origami Diya this season.

Materials required:

All you need is square colored sheets and some sequins or colors for decoration. Here, in this tutorial we have used a simple gift wrapping paper with one side colored.

Step 1:

Start by keeping the white side of the paper facing you. Make a vertical diagonal crease by folding the paper into half and then unfold it.

Step 1: Make a vertical diagonal crease

Step 2:
Fold in the two corners to touch the central crease and you will get a kite base.

Step 2: Fold in the two corners to get a kite base

Step 3:
Turn it over. Note the crease for the next fold.

Step 3: Turn over. Note the crease for next fold.

Step 4:
Fold in the bottom part up to get a crease and then unfold it.

Fold the bottom part to get a crease and unfold.

Step 5:

Now fold the bottom tip to touch the midpoint of the crease.

Fold the bottom tip to touch the crease 

Step 6:
Fold in the bottom part again to touch the crease.

Step 6: Fold in the bottom part to touch the same crease.

Step 7:
Fold the bottom part again, this time along the crease.

Step 7: Fold the bottom part along the crease.

Step 8:
Turn it over

Turn it over

Step 9:
Now fold in the bottom part upwards and you can see the wick behind.

Step 9: Fold in the bottom part upwards
to make the wick visible from behind.

Step 10:
Turn it over.

Step 10: Turn it over

Step 11:
Note the creases on the top side for the next fold. Now fold in the both the top corners to touch the triangular edges.

Step 11: Note the crease for the next fold

This is how it will look after folding in both the top corners.

Step 11 (contd.): Fold in the top corners to
touch the edges of the triangle

Step 12:
Fold in the bottom edge.

Step 12: Fold in the bottom edge

 This is how it would look after folding up the bottom edge.

Step 12 (contd.): This is how it looks after folding the bottom

Done:
Just flip over the model and the origami diya is ready.

Done: Turn it over and done

Make more such origami diyas and decorate them with sequins, glitter or just color them with sketch pens and the diyas are ready.

Origami Diyas are ready 

Decorate the origami diyas

Suggestion for use:

You can make these diyas just for fun or you can even use them to make greeting cards and gift them to your friends.

You can a watch a quick video tutorial below.

Do try making this origami Diya and just have fun.

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Origami Triangular Box: Useful Origami

This origami triangular container box is very easy to make since it doesn't involve any complex folding. Once ready it can be used for various purposes. I made several of them and have used it for storing many things ranging from beads to pins to buttons and more. 

Origami Triangular Container

You can also use this model to discuss mathematics with children, after all, origami is all about geometry and symmetry, shapes and angles. As kids fold these models by themselves, it becomes an excellent tool for visualization of 3d shapes and geometry, something that not all kids are comfortable with...or some kids just find it boring...but origami can make it easy and a fun activity too.

Materials required:

You can use three sheets of the same color or use three different colored sheets to make it look more interesting. Also, if you are going to try making this container for the first time, then I would suggest you use three different colors, that would make it easy at the time of assembling the units. 

One little piece of advice, I give to all my students doing origami is precision folding to get a neat result. Though there is no complex folds involved in this origami model, don't be in a hurry to fold and finish it off. Take time to make neat folds and you will be happy with the result at the end.

For this origami box, all you need is just three square sheets and some glue. Here, the material used is color sheets of size 10.5 cm x 10.5 cm.

Procedure:

Step 1: 

Make diagonal creases along both the directions. Then fold the sheet into half along the horizontal diagonal and you have just learned the first base fold in origami i.e. shawl fold. So now the shape you see is a triangle. Be ready to count the triangles from this stage onwards!

Left inset: Make diagonal creases along both the direction.
Right inset: Fold the sheet into half along the horizontal diagonal.

Step 2:

Fold in the right flap to meet the crease at centre. Fold in the left flap too, such that both the flaps meet at the centre.

Left inset: Fold in the right flap
Right inset: Fold in both the flaps to meet at the centre. 

Step 3:

Unfold the flaps. Now you see two triangles with one square between them.

Now fold in both the layers of the bottom flap to touch the top, then unfold it. 

One unit for the origami triangular box is ready. And all we did is just make and count triangles!

Left inset: Unfold the flaps.
Right inset: Fold in the bottom flap to touch the top, then unfold it.

At this stage in my class, my students smiled gleefully when they could identify the triangles, one of them also went ahead to calculate the area of the triangles. Origami is fun when kids enjoy doing them!

Step 4:

Make totally three units, following steps 1 to 3.

Step 4: Make totally 3 units for the origami box

Step 5:

Insert one flap into the pocket of the other unit. Note, here the green unit acts as the pocket and the pink one acts as the flap. Now insert the flap of the pink unit into the pocket of the green unit such that the triangular flap completely fits into the triangular pocket of the green unit.

Left inset: Insert pink flap into the pocket of the green unit
Right inset: Fit into the pocket completely.

Step 6:

Insert the blue flap into the pocket of the pink unit. Next, insert the green one into the pocket of the blue unit.

You see the box taking shape.

Left inset: Insert the blue flap into the pocket of the pink unit, and
the green flap into the pocket of the blue unit.
Right inset: This is how it looks once all the flaps are inserted.

Step 7:
Now let's deal with the base. Alternate the bottom flaps one over the other and apply glue from the top side. Turn the model over and apply glue to the base flaps.

Left inset: Apply glue to the bottom flaps in the base from the top side
Right inset: Apply glue to the bottom flaps in the base from the bottom side

Turn it over and the triangular container is ready for use. If you want to use it, then gluing the base is essential. If you just want to make it for fun, then no need to apply glue, you can just alternate the base flaps one over the other and leave it so.

Origami Triangular Container ready for use

Suggestions for use:

This box can be used for several purposes, provided the base is firmly glued. You can use it for serving dry snacks or candies during parties. The container can be used as an organiser too. Use it for storing craft materials like beads, sequins, buttons, etc.

If you try making this origami container, let us know how many triangles did you count during the entire process. Did you identify the type of the triangle? I am sure you could.

Also, let us know what did you use the container for. Your suggestions and ideas are welcome. 

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Camellia and Origami

Camellia and Origami

I was searching for information on camellia tea when I came across this beautiful flower that resembles a rose. The leaves and leaf buds of camellia sinensis are used to produce tea. It is an evergreen shrub and found in abundance in Japan and China. Found in pink, red, and white colors, each one is a beautiful bloom.

Found a picture of this beautiful flower on the internet and thought if there was an origami version of it. No doubt about it, there were many tutorials on the web on how to make the origami camellia flower. 

The Camellia bloom
source:flowerwallpapers.org

So there I was ready with some craft papers and looking for tutorials on how to make the camellia flower. The origami camellia is not difficult to fold but beginners or kids may find it a little challenging. You may even give up in the middle of the process but keep trying and once you know the folds you will be able to make one in less than a few minutes.

I made the camellia flowers using one-sided colored gift wrapping papers, while for the leaves I used rainbow printing sheets. The size of the sheets used for the flower was @8cm x 8cm squares and the final size of each flower was @5cm in diameter.

Do try them. There are plenty of tutorials on the net from where you can learn to make them. They make a beautiful arrangement for greeting cards or wall decor too.

Origami Camellia

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sources referred:

www.flowermeaning.com

Learn to Make Some Origami Heart Corner Bookmarks

This post contains tutorials on making origami corner bookmarks along with some historical facts on how bookmarks came into being. Read on till the end, for you will find some suggestions on how to decorate these origami bookmarks and their alternative uses too.

Origami Corner Heart Bookmarks

Recently, I read an interesting article on the origin of bookmarks and came across some interesting facts that I thought I should share here:

• The oldest existing bookmark dates from the 6th Century AD and it is made of ornamented leather lined with vellum and found in Egypt.
• The Royal Museum of Brunei showcases an ivory bookmark made in India. It is embellished with a geometrical pattern of pierced holes dating from the 16th century which has been used in Qurans.
• In 1584, Queen Elizabeth was presented with a fringed silk bookmarker by Christopher Barker who had acquired a patent as Queen's printer in 1577 which gave him a solo right to print the Bible.
• You will be amazed to learn that there is a book entirely dedicated to bookmarks by AW Coysh 'Collecting Bookmarkers published by David & Charles, London in 1974.
• In the Victorian era, the ladies taught their daughters embroidery and by this means many bookmarks were produced which were intended for use in prayer books and resulted in a favoured gift those days for friends and family members. Those home-made bookmarks were often produced from pieces of ribbon embroidered by hand or more usually to which an embroidered perforated card or small watercolor drawing was stitched.
• Bookmarks in shapes and sizes and in materials like gold, brass, bronze, copper, celluloid, leather and ivory were produced after the 1850s by specialized companies too. Many were shaped like knives or swords because at the turn of the century many pages in books were not completely separated so they would be also used as paper cutters.

Here are the tutorials, on how to make some easy bookmarks from not gold or silver but from paper, after all, that's the most easily available material nowadays.

I have tried to compile instructions for three types of origami corner bookmarks, all in the shape of hearts using different origami folding techniques. Each option will take only a few minutes to fold except for the option-2 which requires a little patience.

Tutorial 1: 
This one starts with a square sheet of paper using the waterbomb base. Once you have made the waterbomb base, its easy from there.

Origami Heart Corner Bookmark - Option 1  

Steps:

1. Start with a square sheet of paper and make diagonal folds
2. Turn over the paper and make a horizontal crease
3. Push the sides along the horizontal crease. You will get a triangular shape, that is termed as a waterbomb base.
4. Fold in the corners to meet at the centre to make a crease. Then fold both the corners upwards touching the crease made.
5. Fold in again along the crease made.
6. Fold the top tip backwards to get the shape of the heart 
7. The heart bookmark is ready for use.

Tutorial 2: 

This option is not as complicated as it looks, so don't get daunted by just seeing the pictures. Do give it a try. This one also starts with the waterbomb base. Follow the instructions closely and you can make this pretty bookmark easily.

Origami Heart Corner Bookmark - Option 2 

Steps:

1. Start with a square sheet of paper and make diagonal folds
2. Turn over the paper and make a horizontal crease.
3. Make another crease at the bottom by touching the edge to the centre.
4. Like in option-1, push along the sides to get the waterbomb base.
5. Now lift open the flap following the crease.
6. You will get a flap that needs to be folded down.
7. Fold in the flap downwards.
8. Now lift the bottom flap and fold into half and crease properly.
9. Open the flaps and squash them.
10. Now fold in the small sides into triangles as shown in the picture. 
11. Fold the bottom tips for the heart shape.
12. Now lift the entire flap upwards.
13. Once you lift it upwards you will get a clear heart shape and your bookmark is ready.

To use it, you need to put a tape on the inner side or else the folds will open up. You can also put a sticker on the top to avoid opening up the folds.

Tutorial 3: 
This is the easiest of all the three alternatives and doesn't use any complicated folds. Kids can easily give it a try. You need a rectangular sheet for this bookmark.

Origami Heart Corner Bookmark - Option 3

Steps:

1. Start with a rectangular sheet with its length double the size of the width.
2. Fold the paper into half horizontally.
3. Fold in half along the vertical axis. Crease well and unfold.
4. Now fold in left side along the central crease made in the last step.
5. Fold in the right side also.
6. Turn it over.
7. Fold down the top to about 1/3rd the top area.
8. Fold in the top edges to get a shape of the heart
9. Turn it over and the heart corner bookmark is ready.

Left inset: Apply a tape at the back of the joints
Right inset: Paste a sticker on the top of the joints

To use it, and avoid the folds opening up, you can either apply a tape behind at the joints or just paste a sticker on the top of the joints as shown in the picture above.

Suggestions and tips:
Each of the above corner bookmarks, take only a few minutes to make and can be used conveniently for bookmarking purpose. You can use colorful papers or gift wrapping papers to make them. They can be decorated further with stickers, buttons, sequins or stars as shown in the picture below.

Suggestions to decorate the bookmarks

Alternative use of the bookmarks:

These origami heart corner bookmarks are pretty indeed and can be used alternatively for decorating the corner of pictures in your scrapbooks or photo albums. It can also be used for decorating the corner of the posters or pictures.  I often use them at the corner of book covers to prevent the corners from getting damaged.

Alternative use of Corner bookmarks:
For protecting the picture corners
in photo albums or scrapbook

Alternative use of Corner bookmarks:
For decorating posters or pictures

I hope you will try making at least one of these pretty heart bookmarks. Do give it a try. These bookmarks are good handmade gifts for your friends especially those who are avid readers or for school children who need these bookmarks to mark the pages for later reading. Instead of folding the pages to read them later, you can use these pretty bookmarks so that you can return and find your page with ease. So make them and gift them to your friends or use them yourself. 

Happy bookmarking!

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sources referred:
http://www.miragebookmark.ch/wb_history.htm

Recycling Empty Containers for Useful Purposes

Instead of disposing empty packaged containers that comes along with drinking chocolate, cocoa powder, milk powders etc. that usually are made from thick cardboard paper, they can be reused in our homes itself by just upscaling them a little bit. I often do this - a small part I play in the process of recycling and reducing the carbon footprints. This post contains the tutorial on how I often recycle them. Keep reading till the end for suggestions and tips on decorating them and using them for various other purposes too.

Materials required:

Empty containers, some decorative sheets, satin ribbons, beads for decoration, needle & thread, glue, a pair of scissors.

Empty Packaged Containers 

A4 colored sheets, ribbons and beads for decoration

Procedure:
I had a couple of empty containers I wanted to reuse for storing stationery materials. I used the same procedure to decorate both of them.

Step 1:

The procedure is very simple. Just cut out strips from A4 sized colored sheets and glue them on the containers' outer surface. I left the inside of the containers untouched for they were already coated and lined with a silver sheet. If the container's inner surface is damaged, you could certainly cover it from the inside.

Step 1: Glue the paper strips on the outer surface of the containers

Step 2:

To decorate the container further, I used a satin ribbon and some beads. I had saved some satin ribbons from an old dress of my kid and used it for decorating this container. Instead of gluing the beads, I used a needle and thread to attach the beads to the ribbon permanently. 

Just measure the size of ribbon needed by rolling it around the surface of the container and cut the required length, keeping a little margin to glue it later.

Step 2: Satin ribbons, some beads, needle & thread

Step 2 (contd.): Using a needle and thread to attach the beads to the ribbon

Step 3:

Once, the ribbons with the beads are ready, just glue them on to the surfaces as required.

Next, make a simple bow using the ribbons. I didn't have to make the bow, since I had saved this from an old dress of my child. Once, I glued the ribbon around the top of the container, all I had to do was glue the ready-made bow onto it - a quick and easy way to recycle old clothes.

Step 3: Adding ribbons with beads and
a ready-made bow to the tall container.

Step 3 (contd.):
Ribbons with beads for the short container

Step 3 (contd.): Glue the ribbons to hide the joints
where two colored paper strips meet.

Done:
So just in a few easy steps the container is ready for use. I used the short one for storing pencils and the tall one for storing other stationery items.

Done: Pencil holder ready for use

The Stationery holders are ready to use

Suggestions and Tips:

• You can also use gift wrappers or other decorative sheets to cover the surface and decorate them further. 
• These containers can be used for various other purposes. It can also be used in your kitchens for holding knives/spoons, etc. as a cutlery stand.
• You can also use them for holding spoons, straws, etc. to match the themes for your parties or other events. A couple of years ago, I made one to hold spoons for a 'Frozen' theme birthday party for my daughter with a painting of the Olaf character on it and all the kids loved it. 

Olaf Spoon holder for 'Frozen' themed birthday party

• Another spoon holder made for 'rainbow' theme birthday party. All I did was glue strips of seven different colors onto the surface of the container and a rainbow spoon holder was ready in a few minutes.

Spoon holder for 'Rainbow' themed birthday party

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