How to make an origami flower
Origami Flower: try all 40 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor flower with six broad pink petals around a yellow centre. Fold each square into a blunt kite, join its point to the folded centre with a little glue, then lift the petals into a shallow blossom.
- You need
- Six 3 × 3 in pink paper squares, a yellow square about 1.8 in across and a little paper glue.
- Start
- Use six matching pink squares and a yellow square about three fifths as wide. Paper coloured on both sides gives an even finish. Start each pink square with one corner pointing up.
- Tips
- Make all six petals the same way before joining them.
- Keep glue below each petal's base crease so the broad end can lift freely.
Your model is ready
Let the six joining tabs dry. Lift each broad petal a little along its base crease, keeping the yellow centre flat.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Fold the first petal's left edge in
Start with a corner pointing up. Bring the lower left edge to the line down the middle, making a long point at the bottom.
- 2
Fold the first petal's right edge in
Bring the lower right edge to the middle too. Keep the broad upper half of the kite open.
- 3
Round the first petal's end
Fold the upper point behind, about a sixth of the way down the kite. This leaves a broad, blunt petal end.
- 4
Mark the first petal's base
Fold the broad petal up across a line just above its narrow bottom point, then open it flat. The small point below this crease is the joining tab.
- 5
Fold the second petal's left edge in
Start with a corner pointing up. Bring the lower left edge to the line down the middle, making a long point at the bottom.
- 6
Fold the second petal's right edge in
Bring the lower right edge to the middle too. Keep the broad upper half of the kite open.
- 7
Round the second petal's end
Fold the upper point behind, about a sixth of the way down the kite. This leaves a broad, blunt petal end.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Mark the second petal's base
Fold the broad petal up across a line just above its narrow bottom point, then open it flat. The small point below this crease is the joining tab.
- 9
Fold the third petal's left edge in
Start with a corner pointing up. Bring the lower left edge to the line down the middle, making a long point at the bottom.
- 10
Fold the third petal's right edge in
Bring the lower right edge to the middle too. Keep the broad upper half of the kite open.
- 11
Round the third petal's end
Fold the upper point behind, about a sixth of the way down the kite. This leaves a broad, blunt petal end.
- 12
Mark the third petal's base
Fold the broad petal up across a line just above its narrow bottom point, then open it flat. The small point below this crease is the joining tab.
- 13
Fold the fourth petal's left edge in
Start with a corner pointing up. Bring the lower left edge to the line down the middle, making a long point at the bottom.
- 14
Fold the fourth petal's right edge in
Bring the lower right edge to the middle too. Keep the broad upper half of the kite open.
Steps 15–21
- 15
Round the fourth petal's end
Fold the upper point behind, about a sixth of the way down the kite. This leaves a broad, blunt petal end.
- 16
Mark the fourth petal's base
Fold the broad petal up across a line just above its narrow bottom point, then open it flat. The small point below this crease is the joining tab.
- 17
Fold the fifth petal's left edge in
Start with a corner pointing up. Bring the lower left edge to the line down the middle, making a long point at the bottom.
- 18
Fold the fifth petal's right edge in
Bring the lower right edge to the middle too. Keep the broad upper half of the kite open.
- 19
Round the fifth petal's end
Fold the upper point behind, about a sixth of the way down the kite. This leaves a broad, blunt petal end.
- 20
Mark the fifth petal's base
Fold the broad petal up across a line just above its narrow bottom point, then open it flat. The small point below this crease is the joining tab.
- 21
Fold the sixth petal's left edge in
Start with a corner pointing up. Bring the lower left edge to the line down the middle, making a long point at the bottom.
Steps 22–28
- 22
Fold the sixth petal's right edge in
Bring the lower right edge to the middle too. Keep the broad upper half of the kite open.
- 23
Round the sixth petal's end
Fold the upper point behind, about a sixth of the way down the kite. This leaves a broad, blunt petal end.
- 24
Mark the sixth petal's base
Fold the broad petal up across a line just above its narrow bottom point, then open it flat. The small point below this crease is the joining tab.
- 25
Arrange the second petal
Turn the next petal one sixth of the way round from the last. Point its narrow tab towards the middle, leaving a small gap between the points.
- 26
Arrange the third petal
Turn the next petal one sixth of the way round from the last. Point its narrow tab towards the middle, leaving a small gap between the points.
- 27
Arrange the fourth petal
Turn the next petal one sixth of the way round from the last. Point its narrow tab towards the middle, leaving a small gap between the points.
- 28
Arrange the fifth petal
Turn the next petal one sixth of the way round from the last. Point its narrow tab towards the middle, leaving a small gap between the points.
Steps 29–35
- 29
Arrange the sixth petal
Turn the next petal one sixth of the way round from the last. Point its narrow tab towards the middle, leaving a small gap between the points.
- 30
Round yellow corner 1
Fold a small corner of the yellow square behind. Repeat around the square to make an eight-sided centre.
- 31
Round yellow corner 2
Fold a small corner of the yellow square behind. Repeat around the square to make an eight-sided centre.
- 32
Round yellow corner 3
Fold a small corner of the yellow square behind. Repeat around the square to make an eight-sided centre.
- 33
Round yellow corner 4
Fold a small corner of the yellow square behind. Repeat around the square to make an eight-sided centre.
- 34
Set the yellow centre underneath
Slide the yellow centre under the six narrow petal points. Every point should overlap its front.
- 35
Join the first petal
Glue the overlapping point to the yellow centre. Keep the petal's base crease clear of glue.
Steps 36–40
- 36
Join the second petal
Glue the overlapping point to the yellow centre. Keep the petal's base crease clear of glue.
- 37
Join the third petal
Glue the overlapping point to the yellow centre. Keep the petal's base crease clear of glue.
- 38
Join the fourth petal
Glue the overlapping point to the yellow centre. Keep the petal's base crease clear of glue.
- 39
Join the fifth petal
Glue the overlapping point to the yellow centre. Keep the petal's base crease clear of glue.
- 40
Join the sixth petal
Glue the overlapping point to the yellow centre. Keep the petal's base crease clear of glue.
- ✓
Finish
Let the six joining tabs dry. Lift each broad petal a little along its base crease, keeping the yellow centre flat.
Fold next
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Simple tulip ↗
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Water lily ↗
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Leaf ↗
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