Table Of ContentO R I G A M I
Love Notes
CREATE YOUR OWN UNIQUELY MEMORABLE LOVE NOTES
NICK ROBINSON
Introduction
Origami has a long and cherished
tradition as a means of sending love
notes. The choice of the origami shape
itself operates on two levels. First, the
design itself can symbolize a message:
the color and shape helping to convey
the true emotions of the writer. Second,
should the love note be intercepted, it
would be unlikely that the reader could
perfectly refold the shape. So the origami
love note was very secure—it could not
be read by the wrong person without the
recipient knowing it had been opened.
introduction 5
Before You Begin
CHOOSING PAPER You can buy standard origami paper at
There is a wonderful range of paper most craft stores and over the Internet. If
available these days. You can use almost you want specialist papers, you will need
any type of paper, as long as your origami to search a bit harder, trying stores that
folds stay in place. Try to select a paper sell artists’ materials, and even florists’
color and texture to suit the theme of stores. Interesting paper crops up in many
your chosen design. unlikely places, so keep your eyes open.
FOLDING TIPS
• Hold the paper in position while WHAT THE SET CONTAINS
making a firm crease Origami Love Notes includes 40 sheets
of patterned paper (five different
• Start a crease in the center and spread
patterns) to enable you to personal-
it to both sides ize the designs, plus 20 envelopes,
• Never try to rush a step—fold slowly so that you can mail them to your
chosen recipient.
and carefully
• Make sure you have a clean folding
surface with good lighting
• Don’t force the paper—if you make the
creases properly, the steps should not
be too difficult
• Never expect your first folding attempts
to be fantastic—practice a design
using cheap paper to start with; once
you are familiar with the techniques,
you will produce better results
before you begin 7
turn the paperover outside reverse
valleyfold Valley and unfold
turn the paperover outside reverse
valleyfold Valley and unfold
Techniques
repeat arrow
Inside reverse
Mountainfold
VALLEY FOLD
This basic technique involves folding a corner
or an edge of a paper to meet another corner
or edge (creating a “valley” in between). Don’t
make the crease until you are sure the paper
is in the proper place. Sometimes you fold repeat arrow Inside reverse enlarged view
“to taste”—in other words, fold it to where Mountainfold turn the paperover outside reverse pull paper out
you think it looks right! valleyfold Valley and unfold
MOUNTAIN FOLD turn the paperover outside reverse enlarged view
valleyfold Here a crease is made by folVdainlgle tyh ae npda puenr fold pull paper out
behind itself, creating a “mountain” peak—the
opposite of a valley fold.
repeat arrow
Inside reverse
Mountainfold
8 techniques
repeat arrow
Inside reverse enlarged view
Mountainfold
pull paper out
enlarged view
pull paper out
turn the paperover outside reverse
valleyfold Valley and unfold
turn the paperover outside reverse
REPEAT ARROW
valleyfold Valley and unfold
If a move is repeated (for example, at each
corner of a square), it might be confusing to
show the same move four times in one step.
So the move is shown once, and a repeat
(notched) arrow indicates how many times it is
to be repeated by the number of “notches” on
turn the paperover outside reverse
the arrow (one repeat in the illustration below). turn the paperover outside reverse
valleyfold Valley and unfold
valleyfold Valley and unfold
repeat arrow
Inside reverse
Mountainfold
repeat arrow
Inside reverse
Mountainfold
VALLEY AND UNFOLD
enlarged view
You will frequently be asked to make a crease repeat arrow
Inside reverse pull paper out
Mountainfold that is used larteepr iena tth aer sroeqwuence. This is Inside reverse
Mountainfold known as “precreasing” and is indicated by enlarged view
pull paper out
a double-headed arrow. Make the crease as
a simple valley fold, then undo the fold.
techniques 9
enlarged view
enlarged view pull paper out
pull paper out
turn the paperover outside reverse
turn the paperover outside reverse
valleyfold Valley and unfold
valleyfold Valley and unfold
turn the paperover outside reverse
turn the paperover outside reverse
vavllaellyefyoflodld VaVllaellye ayn adn du nufnoflodld
repeat arrow
Inside reverse
Mountainfold reTpeat arerowchniques Inside reverse
Mountainfold
TURNOVER ARROW
This simple symbol means that you should turn
the paper over (from side to tsuidrne) .the paperover outside reverse
enlarged view
valleyMfoMoludonutnatinainfoflodld Valley and unfold rerpeepaeta atr arorrwow InInsisdidee r ereveversrese enlarged viewpull pappuell rp oaupter out
turn the paperover outside reverse
valleyfold Valley and unfold turn the paperover outside reverse enlarged view
enlarged view
valleyfold Valley and unfold pull paper out
INSIDE REVERSE FOLD pull paper out
repeat arrow Inside reverse First, you need to precrease the fold, making
Mountainfold a firm valley fold, then unfold this step. Now
make both sides of the crease into mountain
folds, carefully pressing the center line of the
paper so that it changes direction into a valley
fold—the small black triangle shows where
you should apply gentle pressure. The fourth
drawing shows the result.
10 techniques
repeat arrow
Inside reverse enlarged view
Mountainfold
repeat arrow Inside reverse pull paper out
Mountainfold
enlarged view
pull paper out
enlarged view
pull paper out
turn the paperover outside reverse
valleyfold Valley and unfold
OUTSIDE REVERSE FOLD
Similar in principle to the inside reverse
PRACTICING REVERSES
fold, here you should precrease the paper
With both reverses, fold and unfold
firmly, then unfold this step. Now wrap the
the step until you understand what is
sides of the pointed flap around the outside
happening—these are very important
as you bring the point downward and flatten
techniques to master.
turn the ptauprner tohvee praperover outsidoeu trseidvtheee s ridrseese avgaeinr. se
valleyfoldvalleyfold Valley andV ualnlefoyl adnd unforledpeat arrow
Inside reverse
Mountainfold
PULL PAPER
OUT/UNDO
A solid white arrow
turn the paperover outside reverse shows where you
valleyfold Valley and unfold turn the paperover outside reverse enlarged view need to pull some
paper out, or undo
valleyfold Valley and unfold pull paper out
previous steps.
repeat arrroewpeat arrow
Inside Irnesviedres ere verse
MountainMfooludntainfold
techniques 11
repeat arrow enlaregnelda rvgieewd view
Inside reverse
Mountainfold repeat arrow Inside reverse pull ppauplel pr aopuetr out
Mountainfold
enlarged view
enlarged view pull paper out
pull paper out
Love Bird
This charming little bird is the perfect
symbol of love and romance, but do fold
a pair of them so they can snuggle up to
each other. Steps 2–4 specify no exact
location for the creases, enabling you
to make your own unique bird. Feel free
to experiment until you get the perfect
shape, and try to use exotic patterned
paper for this love note.
love bird 13
