Year-end is closer, but I have three reasons why you should consider trying this creative project in the rest of few weeks we have.

1. Once holiday seasons are in, perhaps you have more time to spend with your family members.
2. You might even play board games like chess while you chat with your close family.
3. And if you are reading this blog, chances are you are a big fan of paper craft.

Why not try turning your favorite free-standing origami models into origami board game pieces like this?  Origami Bonsai, or an origami enthusiast and artist, Benjamin John Coleman did such a beautiful work to make this intricate creation into something useful.

Check out what Origami Bonsai designed …

]]> http://usefulorigami.com/origami-board-game-piece/feed/ 2 http://usefulorigami.com/origami-board-game-piece/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UsefulOrigami/~3/cHE6gOm8yUo/ http://usefulorigami.com/easy-origami-candy-cane-christmas-ornament/#comments Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:43:10 +0000 Useful Origami http://usefulorigami.com/?p=1513 Learn how to make an easy origami candy cane

Holiday is around the corner, and buying gifts could get expensive. Whether you are looking for a way to save money on Christmas Ornaments or family project that you can enjoy with your kids together to make memory, origami could be on your next to-do list.

Origami candy cane is simple, fun, and quick crafting that anyone with different dexterity level can handle. In just 10 steps, you will have a candy cane of your favorite color!

What you will need:

• 1 square sheet of paper with two different colors
• 2 small pieces of double sided tape

Instructions:

Click each image for a larger photo and instructions on bottom. Instructional animated video is also available!

[Show as slideshow]

1. Start with either side up (It does not matter which side is up – I have my color side up this time)
2. Take the bottom corner to the top corner, leaving 1/4 inch left from the edge, crease. (This is a 6 inch square paper in the photos)
3. Flip over.
4. Take the bottom line and fold up about 1/4 inches. Keep folding tightly, maintaining about the same width. Continue 3-4 times, and you will see this coming out on the both sides
5. Around the half way, start rolling not so tightly – tight enough that you can still hold together, but crease line should not be as prominent. The photo shows the optimal amount of pressure.
6. When you get to the top part, take a small piece of double sided tape and put it on the top white side, keep folding up till the tape touches the paper.
7. You will have another piece of paper you will have to tape. Take a piece of double sided tape and put it on red side, fold.
8. Take your thumb and pointing finger and squeeze the sides, making the model more round like a real candy cane.
9. Pick a point above the half line and start bending carefully. Bend more points to make a curve. (It tends to want to twist itself, so try to avoid that while bending and shaping.)
10. Congratulations, you have finished!

“What are you doing for Mother’s Day?”

Every year, you might send something to your mom on Mother’s Day, like flowers.

If you want to show gratitude to your mom with a bright and beautiful bouquet of carnations, why not try making them on your own?

According to ProFlowers.com, carnations mean “fascination, distinction, and love.”

You can see why carnations are the official flower of Mother’s Day by looking at those words, but more over, what’s even better is that you can hand craft it just by using tissue paper and make them last forever!

What you will need:

• Colored tissue paper (in color you want as flower)
• A strip of green tissue paper (about 20 inches)
• Glue (optional)

[Show as slideshow]

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*This is posted with permission by Russell Sutherland, the creator of this model.*

This Foldable.Me is a product design project in London, United Kingdom by Kejia Zhu.

This might not be really an origami for some enthusiasts, but it is a practical way to cater towards people wanting to have something special for themselves or to give it as a personal gift to other people.

This is completely customizable, and it can be sent via postal mail anywhere in the world. 

Although this project is not finished yet, it’s certainly something that would make a paper nerd like myself be intrigued!

View their promo video and click HERE to order yours!

It’s a mini milestone for Useful Origami that the site owner myself appeared on video the first time explaining personally to you!

If it’s your first time folding this model or first time folding, follow my video and check each step later with the below static photo gallery. (Click on any of them to enlarge)

[Show as slideshow]

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Happy folding!

I’m friends with someone at CanvasPeople, which transforms an ordinary picture into canvas work of art.  I thought this makes a great gift for anyone – and I decided to incorporate the idea of canvas into my origami video.

This is how I film it... nothing exciting!

I was excited to see smaller rats (elves) turn out pretty funny when they hold painting brushes.

Hope you enjoy my newest video out of oven!

Why not share the Christmas Spirit?
Share it via email HERE

]]> http://usefulorigami.com/origami-rat-santas-best-christmas-gift-idea/feed/ 2 http://usefulorigami.com/origami-rat-santas-best-christmas-gift-idea/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UsefulOrigami/~3/1FuLTrASi5s/ http://usefulorigami.com/how-to-fold-origami-turkey-turkey-in-the-straw-techno-remix/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:30:12 +0000 Useful Origami http://usefulorigami.com/?p=1290  Are you looking for special ways to decorate your home and Thanksgiving table?

If you are looking for an afternoon activity with your kids, try some origami folding! Origami Turkey is an easy model that is great for small children to adults!

Origami is a paper craft from Japan which literally means folding paper. It uses no glue, no scissors. Just one square sheet of paper can literally produce anything from a car to dragon. It helps building your children’s creativity and imagination and origami naturally helps them to learn how geometry works in everyday life.

Take a look at this fun stop motion video and enjoy folding!

Model designed by Margaret V Sicklen, video produced by www.UsefulOrigami.com

Check out Margaret’s cool site! http://modernpapercrafts.com

Maybe you are sending a little Halloween e-card to your relatives… what about adding a little origami stop motion video to creep them out?

You can find the video instructions on Jeremy Shafer’s Youtube Channel!

I was talking to one of my friends the other day, and this model came up in the topic…

Some of you might recognize what this is already, but yes, it’s “Nekobus” from My Neighbor Totoro by Hayao Miyazaki. It’s made out of an uncut square, designed by Brian Chan.

Brian Chan is one of the worlds most well-known origami designers that keeps distracting me from writing more posts on this blog and rather makes me want to fold more than teaching! (..just jokin’)

He amazes me with intricate super complex origami models that he designs from a square sheet of paper which he shapes really well. He’s well known for his numerous insects models.

Here is his brief biography (excerpt from his website)

“Brian Chan is an artist and craftsman with more than 10 years of experience at MIT and Mass Art. Some of the specialties he has had over the years are Japanese swords, replica props, and musical instruments. Brian also enjoys designing complex origami (he is currently working on an origami book to be published through Origamihouse Japan) and painting. “

You  can see that he’s a very talented individual, but he’s at the same time, very humorous. He has his own YouTube channel and many of his videos are very comical. Check it out!

Brian Chan’s Channel (chosetec) and funny but impressive video (THIS IS NOT an instructional video on how to make nekobus):

I hope you will have fun looking at many of his works like I did!!

This is one of my favorite music.

Origami is my passion.

Origami film is my new interest.

There was no way that I wouldn’t have enjoyed this video. This perfection and amazing motion picture with such simple model portrays its beauty by 100%. The movie itself is about 8 minutes – you can make some hot tea, sit down, and sip while you watch this. It’s worth it!

“Адажио” Альбинони «Adagio» Albinoni

Product of 2001
Director – Garry Bardin