I like to create simple origami models that new folders and even children can easily fold. Alice Gray, a founding member of what is now Origami USA, felt that creating simple origami models that rely solely on mountain and valley folds was a much more difficult task than creating complex ones.
The first origami model I ever created was the shamrock. It was getting close to St Patrick's Day and at the time there weren't any shamrock models on the Internet or anywhere else. I grabbed a piece of green origami paper and began folding. I went through a couple of variations but it came together pretty quickly. When creating an origami model, I find I need to use origami paper that is the same color as what I am trying to make. Red paper for an origami Santa or green origami paper for a plant. It sounds silly but it works for me.
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Standing Chick and Egg
October 2000
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The Standing Chick and Egg model is now diagrammed. This origami model is made out of two pieces of origami paper and will stand alone.
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Chick 'N' Egg
October 2000
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The Chick 'N' Egg model is now diagrammed. This origami model is a one piece model made from a yellow piece of origami paper and utilizes both sides of the paper.
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Santa Head
October 2000
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The Santa Head is now diagrammed. I like trying creating origami models that have a color change and utilize both sides of the origami paper.
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Shamrock
March 1998
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The shamrock is now diagrammed. I redesigned the stem so this photo is not exactly the same as what you will fold. I think the design is better than the original. It is probably low-intermediate difficulty. I actually sat down with the intention of creating a shamrock. Lots of times I just start folding and stop to look at the model to see what it resembles and try to create an origami model that way.
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Shamrock Version 2
March 1998
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Shamrock version 2...
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Shamrock Version 3
March 1998
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This model looks very similar to my first shamrock but it starts with a different base. Photographing foil paper is really difficult. The origami model was picking up the black camera making it look dark and then there is the problem with the flash. This was made from a 6 inch sheet and creates the same size shamrock as the original shamrock made from a 3 inch sheet. Since there are extra layers it needs to be made from a thinner origami paper such as foil.
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Gingerbread House
December 2000
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All the pieces are folded from origami models without cutting or gluing but to assemble the individual pieces I used white glue as the 'icing' just like a real one. The candy canes, icicles, trees, and hearts are my own models. The peppermint candies are a variation on a Lover's Knot model in Creating Origami. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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Candy Cane
October 2000
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This is my most super simple, super easy, any one can do it origami model. You can fold it from my diagrams.The origami artist John Montroll recently published his version of a candy cane. I was excited to make his model and see his method. I wonder how many different methods there are to make an origami candy cane?
In comparing the models, my method creates a bigger model which is also not as thick. Both models are pretty thick when it comes to folding the top part of the cane. I think a thinner paper, a foil paper or multiple sheets of white tissue backed and a color sheet would work best. I used regular origami paper and even though I creased it (and creased it...) I had to glue the top folds so the models were flat. Foil will hold the creases better and the tissue might be thin enough.
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Candy Cane Method 2
March 2009
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Ok, THIS candy cane is my most super simple piece of origami. After folding my and Montroll's candy cane model I started wondering if I could just roll a tube and squach it flat. I folded step one from my origami candy cane and then rolled it and flattened it. This method does eliminate the need for guestimating the size of the first fold in step 2 and careful folding. It's probably not even true origami. It's more like smushagami.
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Gingerbread Person
December 2000
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This is a two piece model folded from 2 1:2 rectangles of origami paper. See my origami diagram page for folding instructions. I glued a loop to the back to use as tree decorations at my office. Our tree is a disaster - we have the worst department in the whole building - before origami that is!
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Bearded Iris
September 2000
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I guess it is more of a Monet's Impressionistic iris than a Ted Normington Daffodil. I love iris and now I can have them year round. They look really good in different shades of purple and lilac in a small grouping. I am working on diagramming this origami model by reverse engineering the ones I made years ago - as I have forgotten the exact folding method over the years.
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Two Color House
September 2000
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Fred, my resident architect inspired me to design this. I first came up with a VERY simple house silhouette so I made it a little more complicated and gave it some graphic interest with the color change. The folding process also allows it to stand on its own.
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Stem and Leaf with Traditional Tulip
September 2000
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I was working on an origami palm tree and came up with this free standing stem.
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Evergreen Trees
September 2000
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I was TRYING to create a maple tree when I stumbled upon this, folded a quick trunk and had a stand alone tree. It looks best with several variations placed together to look like a forest.
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Standing Pine Trees
September 2000
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This was inspired by the traditional pine tree as opposed to it being a variation of the model.
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Standing Pine Dollar Bill Fold
September 2000
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The standing pine fold works well with a crisp dollar bill too. This bill was NOT crisp!
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Willow Tree
September 2000
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Once again, I was trying for a deciduous tree. Willows do lose their leaves in the fall so it is, technically, a deciduous. For those who quilt, I was reminds me of the "Tree of Life" quilt pattern. This is definitely a representational origami model.
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Spooky Tree
September 2000
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Made from 2 sheets of origami paper.
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Pumpkin Head
October 2000
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This origami model came together so quickly that I was sort of surprised. It really just sort of happened without even trying. I'll enjoy sharing this model with my son when he gets older.
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Wicked Witch
October 2000
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I didn't have any green/black duo sided origami paper so I folded two sheets white sides together.
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Witch's Hat
October 2000
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My first attempt at Wicked Witch but there wasn't enough paper left for a color change.
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Stump
September 2000
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This was actually the first part of Spooky Tree origami model.
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USA Flag
October 2000
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After designing the Swiss flag I felt a little unpatriotic. Now I feel better. I think this is made using 2 sheets of red origami paper and 1 of blue.
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American Eagle
October 2000
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Was anyone else's house decorated with this in 1976? We had a plaque above the door.
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Swiss Flag
October 2000
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I designed this for the daughter of a foriegn exchange student that lived with us back in high school for a year.
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Banana Palm Tree
September 2000
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This is another version of the palm tree that developed.
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Date Palm Tree
September 2000
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I think I got my inspiration for this from the line drawings of plants in John Montroll's "Prehistoric Origami". It looks similar to a background picture in that book.
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Awareness Ribbon
September 2000
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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Fold one for a woman you love!!!!!
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Fall Leaves
September 2000
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I folded these while waiting to see the doctor. I still have the origami models so I may try to recreate and then diagram them. No promises though!
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