You may be familiar with the origami crane, often hung together with string.  The ancient Japanese believed that folding one thousand paper cranes would allow one wish to come true.  Modern thousand crane projects are often created to symbolize peace.

The art of paper folding is suitable for a wide range of ages, from children to the elderly and everyone in between.   You can do it alone, as a family, or with a local folding club (if one exists in your area).
It’s simple and inexpensive to get started.  You just need paper and an origami diagram or two.  You can use paper found around the house, such as printer paper and old magazines, when folding a new design for the first time.  Origami paper, which comes in solid colors or designs, can be used for the final piece.

The rules of origami are simple:  fold but do not cut or glue.   There a several folds to learn - mountain, valley, reverse etc. - which form the basis for both simple origami projects and complex ones.  By following origami directions, usually in the form of diagrams, a wide range of origami creations can be made.  If you’re really creative, you can design your own!

There are thousands of designs to choose from.  Origami for beginners may include simple fish, butterflies,  boats and hats.  More complicated designs have multiple folds and some can take hours to fold. You can also make functional items such as a toy plane that flies, boxes, and even paper cups to drink from - though the latter are usually only good for a quick sip of water while you’re out!

Origami can even provide some side benefits that you weren’t expecting.  Your concentration and focus may improve.  The simple act of creating a project may be a form of relaxation for some.  Children can develop fine motor control and experience the satisfaction of completing a project.

Origami kits are a great way to get started as they usually contain a book or manual with diagrams and instructions as well as origami paper.   The Origami Fun Kit for Beginners has over 1000 easy-to-follow diagrams and 55 projects in 3 books.  Plus you get 96 sheets of origami paper.  It’s a great way to get started and learn simple origami.

Technorati Tags: origami for beginners, simple origami