Origami Paper Craft Ideas

The practice of origami, or paper folding, has long been one of the most popular of hobbies, and origami is certainly one of the oldest of all crafts. To get started with some of the more simple origami shapes, make sure you have square origami paper. For your shapes to come out right, your paper should be perfectly square. In many cases you can purchase paper especially for origami, or you can turn a triangular sheet of construction paper into a square with a simple fold and tear.

Once you have your supplies, try starting with easy shapes, such as a four pointed star, an airplane, an origami boat, or a heart. With origami, the possibilities are nearly endless. You can even help your little prince or princess make their own origami crown. Children love origami, but it can also be for adults to enjoy too.

Adults find origami useful for making photo frames, home decorations, and homemade Christmas gifts. Some more advanced origami fans can even make or decorate costumes and they can also make cheap party decor that looks great. Since Origami is the art of paper folding, the color and design is as limitless as the color and design of paper available.

Many schoolchildren use the art of origami to make gifts for family members and friends, and origami is one of the simplest, and least expensive, crafts for teachers to do with their students. In addition to those ever present paper airplanes (often made without the teacher's approval), origami is often used in school to create elaborate birds, animals, boats and toys.

Birds are a frequent subject of origami art, no doubt due to the special place birds hold in Oriental culture. In addition, there are a host of origami animals that can be created, and virtually any object can be created using the origami skills crafter have learned.

As with any type of activity, the art of origami has its own unique language. As one becomes familiar with the art of origami, one will also learn such terms as "mountain fold", "valley fold", "square base" and "bird base. The various bases and folds used in origami can be combined to make a wide variety of different objects using a limited number of basic techniques. This makes origami one of the most versatile of all craft forms.

Even though simple origami has many practical uses, it also makes a wonderful pastime, creative activity, or group activity for adults. It requires minimum dexterity and is easy to explain and demonstrate. It can make a wonderful gift for seniors, retirees, or stay at home moms. For children, this can be a valuable teaching tool. Children can learn math, geometry, creativity and self-confidence from origami. Children love to make things and participate in crafts. Since it often uses simple shapes, division, and multiplication, it can be a wonderful learning opportunity for young and old alike. Everyone loves this past time as it is practical, fun, economical and easy to begin.

Simple origami is more than a hobby, it is an art. Children, seniors, and people of all ages can love and have fun with it. When you make origami one of your special crafts for yourself, your family, or your classroom, you choose a valuable, exciting learning tool, and you choose and ancient practice loved by all.