How to make an origami heart
Two edges meet at the center to make the heart's point. Fold the sharp corners behind to round the top, then slip the flat heart into a card.
This heart stays flat, so it fits inside a greeting card or on the front of a folded note. The colored side makes the face; small folds hidden behind the left edge, right edge and two top tips soften the outline.
- You need
- A 6-inch square of light paper in the color you want for the heart. The folds hold it together without glue, and the sheet stays uncut.
- Start
- Place the square white side up like a diamond, with a point toward you. The colored reverse will show on the heart's front.
- Tips
- Line up the two lower edges at the center before pressing them.
- Use thin paper so the small corner folds lie flat.
Your model is ready
Press the edges flat. Your heart is ready to slip into a card.
Step-by-step diagrams
- 1
Find the middle
Bring the right corner to the left corner. Press a vertical crease, then unfold.
- 2
Fold the top point
Bring the top point down to the center of the square.
- 3
Fold the bottom point
Bring the bottom point up to the middle of the top folded edge.
- 4
Lift the left side
Fold the lower left edge up so it lies along the vertical center crease.
- 5
Lift the right side
Fold the lower right edge up to meet the center crease as well.
- 6
Soften the left edge
Fold the far left corner behind the model.
- 7
Soften the right edge
Fold the far right corner behind the model.
- 8
Round the two peaks
Fold the tips of both top points behind the heart.
- ✓
Finish
Press the edges flat. Your heart is ready to slip into a card.
Fold next
Easy heart ↗
An Origami Tutor heart in three main folds for young children: fold the square in half, then fold each half up across the middle so its corner becomes a lobe. Two small folds round the lobes. The whole heart shows the colored side.
Pocket heart ↗
An Origami Tutor two-color heart with a pocket across its front: slip a folded note or a gift card in behind the colored pocket. Five folds and no glue.
Heart with wings ↗
An Origami Tutor winged heart in three pieces: a red heart folded from a square in five easy folds, and two pointed wings folded from smaller squares. A dab of glue sets the wings behind the heart.
Heart butterfly ↗
An Origami Tutor butterfly whose wings are four hearts: two large hearts above and two small ones below, set point to point round the middle, with a thin dark body folded from a fifth square down the center.