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Flapping Bird Envelopes

Extract from Trash Origami • By Michael G. LaFosse and Richard L. Alexander • Published by Tuttle Publishing

About

Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
20 mins

Trash Origami
Whenever you receive a nicely wrapped gift, don’t throw away the gift
wrap! Say “Thank You!” by folding a sample square into this lovely and fun envelope. A 10-inch square (25 cm) works well. Birds folded from stronger papers flap better and last longer. The design allows for plenty of artistic and creative modification.

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© 2024 Michael G. LaFosse / Tuttle Publishing · Reproduced with permission.
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You Will Need

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 1
    Step 1

    Begin with the display side of the paper facing down. White side up if using origami paper. Fold in half corner to corner both ways. Unfold.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 2
    Step 2

    Fold all four corners to meet at the center where the creases cross.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 3
    Step 3

    (1) Unfold only the bottom flap. (2) Turn the paper over, left to right.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 4
    Step 4

    One at a time, fold and unfold the bottom edges. Use the left and right obtuse corners to help: they should each touch the center crossing creases.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 5
    Step 5

    You now have a mountain and valley crease pattern that will let you move the bottom three corners to meet at the crossing creases in the middle of the paper. Look ahead at the next drawing to see the shape.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 6
    Step 6

    Turn the paper over, top to bottom.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 7
    Step 7

    Unfold the bottom flap.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 8
    Step 8

    Pull out the indicated left and right flaps to fold the bottom area up and flat. Look ahead.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 9
    Step 9

    Your paper should look like this. Turn over, left to right.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 10
    Step 10

    A flat item can be inserted now or later. Fold the top flap down, into the envelope. This flap would also cover the inserted item.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 11
    Step 11

    Pre-crease for a petal fold: 1. Fold the bottom left and right edges of the center shape to meet at the middle. Unfold. 2. Fold down the top corner at the level of the top of the creases just formed. Unfold.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 12
    Step 12

    Petal-fold: lift the top layer up and fold in the sides as you flatten the shape into a tall diamond.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 13
    Step 13

    Inside-reverse fold the indicated points to form the neck and the tail of the flapping bird. A large flap of paper is attached to each and will follow.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 14
    Step 14

    Fold the left and right corners inward and behind the flaps, locking the envelope.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 15
    Step 15

    Install the fold in the wing, toward the head. (The head will be formed at the point in the circle on the right.) You could use the left side point for the head, and fold the wing toward the left.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 16
    Step 16

    Inside-reverse fold the tip of the right point down for the head. Fold the excess flap behind the head.

  • How to make an envelope. Flapping Bird Envelopes - Step 17
    Step 17

    The finished Flapping Bird Envelope. Hold the envelope at the base of the bird’s neck, then pull the tail in and out to make the wing flap. Now that’s airmail!

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