Fidget Origami

Fold for good

Why origami?

Practical

Social

Accessible

Makes you feel good!

Useful

Why origami?

 

  • only requires rectangular of paper (almost) any size works 
  • no extras: glue, scissors
  • use leftovers: old documents, magazines, pamphlets
  • applicable anywhere, anytime
  • recyclable

Practical

Zero setup - whatever, whenever, wherever

Why origami?

Accessible

  • flexible difficulty
    • lots of easy & simple models
  • rich in resources
    • video - youtube & pinterest
    • websites
    • books
    • various types of diagrams

for all ages, tastes, and learning curves 

Why origami?

  • noise distracting
  • stress reliever - biting nails, twirling hair
  • particular uses
    • boxes
    • toys & games
    • decoration
  • educational

Useful
The Ikea Effect

Makes you feel like you're not wasting time

Why origami?

Educational

  • Arithmetics (whole/fractional units, division)
  • Geometry (lines, 2d and 3d shapes)
  • Creativity
  • Pattern matching and procedures
    • like a recipe or a computer program
  • Manual skills, Arts
    • good alternative to sculpting, drawing
  • Assembly
  • Cognitive stuff

manipulation facilitates the abstraction and symbolization and can help demotivated students to find new interest, it allows students to recover, maintain and reinforce their manual skills, something which is overlooked and devalued in school education

Why origami?

Social

  • teach & play
    • ex.: fold origami frogs and do a race
  • build together
    • variations
    • "modular origami" (+1 piece)

Relax together!


    gift someone
  • friendly communities
    • facebook groups
    • dedicated communities

Why origami?

Not just me

the journey is more worth it than the end result, like LEGO! -- me

Fun to build

Why origami?

Origami is a practice where precision helps (and we aim at precision) but perfection is impossible -- Cliff Landesman, citing someone else

Folding basics

Terminology & Tips

 

 

  • (un)fold
  • crease
  • flip

Origami is all about

FOLDING

But there's no need to perfect it!

 

  • between 2 points
  • joining 2 lines or points
  • to the outside or inside (mountain/valley)

Folding is making lines

Technical names come later...

Terminology & Tips

 

 

  • Not too big (about 10cm)
  • Comfortable in hands
  • any paper thickness works
    • but carton and card are too thick!

Paper size and thickness

Is NOT (too) important!

  • any rectangular paper works
  • can be cut by hand
  • make many pieces out of one

Cutting Paper

 

Square -> A4

(rare)

Making Squares

Beginner  Models

Simple, fast and fun

 

 

Fox Box

  • Easy
  • toy (dice), decoration
  • modular - 3 pieces
  • variation: a "wallet"

Pig (3 pieces)

Dropping Spinner

  • Easy
  • toy

Crow Beak

  • Easy
  • toy

Penguin "Pete"

  • Easy
  • Interactive
  • Story

Shuriken

  • 2 pieces
  • square paper
  • fun

Twirling Bird

 

  • easy
  • square paper
  • fun

Samurai Hat

Spinning top (?)

 

  • modular: 6 pieces
  • toy (?), decoration
  • source

Crane (Easier version)

 

  • square paper

Crane (Flapping Wings)

 

  • square paper
  • variations:
    • traditional (square top)
    • card holder (useful)
    • this one
  • toy

Toys and Tools

Fun and useful

 

 

Yakko - Samurai Servant

  • Puppet
  • New technique: the blintz

https://origamiusa.org/thefold/article/complete-blintz-part-1-yakko

Flower Bookmark

  • Bookmark
  • Somewhat intermediate
     

Fortune Teller

Rabbit Finger Puppet

Jumping Frog

  • half-square paper (2:1)
  • somewhat intermediate

Top Spinner

  • modular - 3 piece
  • square paper
  • fun
  • intermediate/somewhat advanced

Top Spinner (alt.)

  • modular - 3 piece
  • square paper
  • fun
  • intermediate/somewhat advanced
  • source: https://www.pinterest.pt/pin/321374123418273728/

Top Spinner (Leyla Torres)

Beak/Snapper

 

Culumbus Cube

  • modular - 6 pieces per cube
  • square paper
  • fun, stackable
  • intermediate/somewhat advanced
  • variation - regular cube

Sumo Wrestler

 

Jet Fighter (modular)

Modular Models

Assemble containers and kusudama 

 

 

Shapeshifting Shuriken

  • 8 pieces
  • square paper
  • fun

Box with lid

  • modular/buildable - 8 pieces
  • square paper
  • 2 basic variations (lid) 
  • easy
  • useful

Accordion case

Shuriken Ring

Spike Kusudama

Star (3D)

 

  • Modular: 5 pieces

Sonobe unit solids

  • modular/buildable
    • 3/6/12/30 pieces
  • square paper
  • +2 basic variations (lid) 
  • long, but accessible

Five-piece star (thick)

  • 5 pieces
  • decoration
  • square paper
  • short, accessible

Theme Models

For events and special occasions

 

 

Clapping Santa

 

  • two-colored paper
  • toy
  • Video

St. Valentine's

and other heart-themed festivities (?)

Theme Models

Heart envelope

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-make-an-origami-dollar-heart-4125708

Beating heart

Two-sided Heart

 

  • half-square paper (2:1)
  • two-colored paper
  • Video

Balloon Heart

 

Heart with 4-heart wreath

 

Heart with bow

 

Heart Marker (pointy)

 

  • author: Jo Nakashima
  • utility: bookmark
  • video
  • page

Animals

mostly cranes

Theme Models

Grullantina

 

Rabbit 

 

  • 2-piece

Pig

  • Maybe slightly more complex?

Tips
to learn and relax

  • use paper with different sides (or paint a side)
  • thickness: in-between
  • make squared from used paper
  • don't overemphasize precision
  • watch videos from different sources

Recommended Resources

Inspiration

Fidget Origami

By Miguel Costa

Fidget Origami

An origami enthusiast shares his thoughts on how origami can be used as a stress reliever.

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