How to Make 3 Origami Hearts

How to Make 3 Origami Hearts

 

Hearts can mean so many special things; love, friendship, kindness.  Most importantly, when you can make your own origami heart for someone, it’s even more special.

That’s why I’m so happy to be bringing my friend Barbara Pearl back to show us three ways to create hearts to share with those around us.

My name’s Elizabeth and I love sharing creative arts integrated activities with other teachers that will help build our students’ social and emotional wellbeing through SEAL: Social- Emotional Artistic Learning. 

Today, we’re going to look at three ways to create a heart that we can give to others. It’s a great gesture of kindness, friendship, relationship building, and love.

 

Heart #1: Pocket Heart

 

The first heart is called a pocket heart because you can insert it into a pocket. It’s also a great heart to make for a Valentine because you can easily put a nice message inside of it.

You need a square piece of paper but if you don’t have a square piece of paper, make a square from a regular standard sized piece of printer paper (size 8.5 x 11). 

Be sure to keep that piece that you just tore off because you will need it for later.  You’ll see why!

Okay! Now, let’s get started with our first heart, the pocket heart.

Hi everyone!  This is Barbara Pearl, and she’s going to show you a variety of hearts you can make.  These are not only for Valentine’s day, it’s always a good time to give a heart.

 

 

Step #1:

First, let’s do a book fold.  That is, we’re going to fold the paper in half.  Then, remember to crease sharply at least three times. 

Next, unfold your book.  While using this vertical line of symmetry right there, we’re going to fold the sides to the center guideline.   

It creates a triangle shape first on one side, and then on the other. These are called isosceles right triangles because they have a right angle, and two of the sides are exactly the same, so you have an isosceles right triangle.

 

 

Step #2:

For the next step, turn the paper over.  Using that vertical line of symmetry, we’re going to fold the straight edge to the center guideline.

Most importantly, take your time and be mindful.

Rotate the paper and repeat that step on the other side. Then, take the straight-edge and fold it to the center guideline but be sure to crease sharply.

 

 

Step #3:

After that, we’re going to take the edge and fold it over the bottom of this white line.  Next, fold down to crease sharply. Also, if you turn your model over, you’ll start to see the shape of your heart.

 

Step #4:

To make the inside, you can take a portion of the corner and just tuck it underneath twice. This creates the inside of the heart.

To shape the size of the heart, you’re going to take the outside corner and fold it down behind the heart.  Try this step first on one side and then on the other.  It then creates a small triangle.

 

Step #5:

I’d like to show you another step called the inside reverse fold. It will hide that paper, so it gets tucked inside.

A pre-crease is when you fold the paper back and forth a few times.  If you open the paper, you can take the point and tuck it right between the lines you created. It tucks inside and it’s called an inside reverse fold.

We repeat that step on the other side. After that, separate the model, take the corner, and gently press it inside the creases you created. What’s special about this model is that it can stand so you can write a message.

 

You can write a message and send it to someone special.

I love it!  I can see making a lot of these and making them into little Valentines for all your friends and your family members. This would be just wonderful!

 

 

Heart #2: Simple Heart

 

The next heart is a very simple one and it’s not made from a square. Instead, it’s made from a paper that is 2 x 6 inches.  Or, you could use the piece of paper that you just tore off of when you made the Pocket Heart. 

You could also use Origami paper.  It’s usually color on one side and white on the other. I’m going to start with the white side up. 

 

Step #1:

Make a book fold. This means when you fold the paper in half width-wise and then crease sharply at three times.

Remember, the secret to folding is in the crease.

 

Step #2:

Next, unfold and open your book.   You can see the line of symmetry down the center of your paper.  Now, your rectangle is divided into other rectangles: one, two and the whole one makes three.

 

Step #3:

Take one page of your book and fold it up right against this vertical line of symmetry.

There’s a lot of symmetry in origami.  So if you do it on one side, then you do it on the other.

Let’s match the other side. Now, you count the sides of this shape, you have one, two, three, four, five. Do you know a name for a shape that has five sides?

 

Step #4:

Turn it over and on the back of the model, you will see two white rectangles. In the corner, you need to make four small triangles.  Try to make them about the same size. Crease them a little more so they stay down.

When you turn your model over you should see your heart!

 

 

Heart #3: Advanced Heart

 

Our final heart is a little more complex.  So, don’t be afraid to use that pause button in the video and even rewind when you need to see a step a second or third time.

This heart is really fun to make, and when you’re done, you’ll see how you can even make this heart into a necklace.

The Advanced Heart is actually made from a regular standard sized piece of paper.  It’s the kind of paper that you have in your printer (8.5 x 11). You don’t need a square for this, you need a rectangle. 

I can’t wait for you to try yours now! 

I selected a magazine page for the paper.  So, if you’re like my household, you get magazines that come in the mail.  One way to recycle them is to use some of its pages.

I thought this was especially appropriate for the heart model we’re going to make.

 

Step #1:

Start with the other side up and do a book fold. Remember, book fold is whenever you fold a square or rectangle in half and crease sharply.

 

Step #2:

After that, unfold the paper, and then you’re going to take one edge and fold it all the way over to the other edge. Sometimes I’ll start in the corner and then fan it out.

This is a right angle fold.  This fold creates a triangle. Unfold it and go the other way.  Also, pre-creases will help you create the model.

 

Step #3:

First, crease sharply, unfold the paper, and then turn it over.  Then, we’re going to take the top of the X and fold it to the bottom of the X. If you look carefully, you see that you also created intersecting perpendicular lines.

 

Step #4:

Again, take the top of the X and fold it down to the bottom of the X. That’s your guideline. Then, crease sharply.

 

Step #5:

First, unfold the paper and turn it over to where you started.

Here’s the fun part!

Poke right into the center of the paper, and you’ve been increasing sharply, it will start to pop up.

Now, you see a horizontal line.  Place two fingertips on the horizontal line and push everything to the center.  It will collapse or squash into a triangle, so all those creases created this part of the model.

 

Step #6:

This step we’re going to take the bottom edge and fold it to the baseline of our triangle. You will see another isosceles triangle or an isosceles right triangle. 

Finally, we’re going to take the bottom edge and fold it to the baseline of the triangle. It makes a rectangular border and here is what it looks like.

 

Step #7:

For the next step of our triangle, we’ll take one point and fold it to the top point.

I call it the point-to-point step.

Take the outside point and fold it to the top point. It makes a small triangle on the side.  Then, repeat that step on the other side, point-to-point, and side point to the top point.

Those two isosceles right triangles created a square. If you are mindful to look at the paper, look and see all the patterns you have.   You have triangles at the top, on the sides, and here too!

 

Step #8:

For the next step, I’m going to take this edge of the paper and fold it precisely against this line of symmetry.  Look right at this vertical line and see how precisely it fits along the edge of the triangle. Can you see that?

 

Step #9:

Repeat on the other side. Take this straight edge and fold it along the edge of the triangle so they meet in the middle.

After that, turn the paper over.  Again, using that vertical line of symmetry, I’m going to take the outside corner and fold it to that line.  Remember that’s the guideline.

As you can see, the paper is getting thicker.  For this reason, you do have to crease sharper.

Some people like to use a tongue depressor, popsicle stick, or a ruler to get really sharp creases in the paper when it starts to get thicker.

 

Step #10:

Next, repeat on the other side. Take the outside corner and fold it along that guideline or line of symmetry. If you have something that you can crease with to reinforce the fold, use that.

 

Step #11:

For the next step, we’re going to take this point and fold it down. It should go over the base of these two triangles, so it overlaps.

Now, crease it sharply. There’s a reason for that.

Second, we’re going to tuck these points inside the pocket of this triangle because then it’s a little hidden pocket in there.

It will fit right inside.  First, on one side and then on the other.  Also, you can use your fingers just to tuck it inside but be sure to crease sharply so it locks it down in place.

 

Step #12: 

For the last step you need to start on the inside but we’re going to take this triangle and start on the inside corner. Next, I’m going to fold it on an angle. Then, it goes over the edge of this triangle.

Again, I’m going to tuck it inside the pocket of the triangle but you can do a pre crease first.  After that, just fold it over the edge and then tuck it inside the pocket because this hides the point.

That’s a little trickier, so just take your time with it.

 

Step #13: 

Now, I’ll repeat it on the other side.

Again, I’m starting from the inside corner. I’m taking the point of the triangle and I’m trying to match them. I try to match them at the top, but I’m folding it over the edge of this side triangle. 

Then, crease sharply.

I’m going to take the point and you can tuck it behind or you can insert it inside the pocket. But, either way works.

I showed you two different ways you can do it.  Finally, when you turn it around, you discover your beautiful heart.

 

Make the Advanced Heart into a Necklace or Pin!

 

Here’s one that I made and created into a necklace!

First, unfold that last step. Then, use a string, a ribbon, or a chain.  I found a chain of hearts and then just thread it through on the edge. After that, you can tuck these points back inside.

It’s wonderful to give as a gift.

One year, I gave this to my mother as a gift.  She was wearing her heart around! Also, the year when I learned this, I couldn’t stop making them.

I can see that happening with a lot of students making these like crazy this year.  You have something that you can use as a pin as well, right? 

I purchased this stick on pins.  I made one recycled from some newsprint and I found with Asian and Japanese characters. Now, you can put the sticker pin on the back of the heart and pin it on yourself! 

 

We’re ready for Valentine’s Day!

 

Let me know in the comments which heart was your favorite to make.

 

If you liked this video, be sure to hit that like button as well.

Finally, don’t forget to be sure to subscribe to my channel if you want to learn more fun and creative activities like this one! In addition, check out some of the other how to videos I have in my how-to playlist.

 

My name’s Elizabeth, and I can’t wait to hear about all the wonderful things you create!