Origami Butterflies Mini Kit_ Fold Up a Flutter of Gorgeous Paper Wings

24 A Butterfly for Beth Kawazura.

A Butterfly for Reiko Nishioka

Morikami Education Department Director, Reiko
Nishioka, was familiar with our environmental origami
exhibits in Tucson (and in Boston where she had
worked), and invited us to Florida to raise ecological
awareness through folded art. Visit www.morikami.org
and search for “FLorigami” to learn more.

1 Begin with the minor color facing up. (A) Valleyfold in half, bottom edge to

top. Unfold. (B) Move the bottom edge to the center crease and make a short
pinch mark. Unfold. (C) Move the bottom edge to the pinch mark and make
another short pinch mark. Unfold.

2 Lay the lower pinch mark upon the upper pinch mark and valleyfold the

paper across the full length. Unfold.

3 (A) Valleyfold the bottom corners to the lower valley crease from step 2. (B)

Valleyfold the flap up to lock the corners inside.

4 Turn the paper over, bottom to top.

5 (A) Move the bottom edge to the center crease and make a pinch mark.

Unfold. (B) Move the bottom edge to the pinch mark and make another pinch
mark. Unfold.

6 Lay the lower pinch mark upon the upper pinch mark and valleyfold the

paper all the way across. Rotate the paper 90 degree clockwise.

7 The folded edge should be on the left . Valleyfold the bottom edge to the top.

8 Squashfold the right half of the paper.
9 Your paper should look like this. Turn it over, left to right.

10 Squashfold the right half. Look ahead at step 11 to see the result.
11 Valleyfold the bottom corner to the top of the split, Unfold.

12 One at a time, squashfold the right and left halves of the model to form

scalene triangle shapes for the wings. Look ahead at step 13 to see the results.

13 Form a crimped overlap at the middle of each wing by rolling the bottom

edges of each hindwing up towards the horizontal mountain crease. Fold the
forewing paper down over the hindwing, creating the forewing overlap.

14 Your paper should look like this. Inside-reverse-fold the indicated corners.

15 (A) Move the center of the free edges of the forewings over, valleyfolding

a tapering, crescent moon-shaped edge. (B) Detail to follow.

16 Mountain-fold the outside edge behind. Valleyfold the triangle flap over

the hindwing.

17 One at a time, valleyfold and unfold the free edges of the triangle to the

bottom, folded edge.

18 Form a “Rabbit Ear”: Use the creases to fold the square corner in half

while collapsing the flap on top of the hindwing. Look ahead for the shape.

19 Mountain-fold the wing corner in half and fold it flat to the back side,

pointing away from the body.

20 Move the folded point back towards the body and make a graceful shape.
21 The completed “Prongtail” hindwing. Complete on both hindwings.

22 Mountain-and valleyfold the abdomen over the right wing, aligning as

indicated.

23 Valleyfold the left wing to match the right wing. Unfold.

24 (A) Squashfold the paper for the head. (B) Mountain-fold the corner

behind. (C) Your paper should look like this. (D) Fold the wings together.

25 (A) Mountain-fold the abdomen edges inside. (B) Valleyfold the wings

down on each side.

26 A Butterfly for Reiko Nishioka.

A Butterfly for Vancouver and One for
Elsa Chen



Elsa Chen has been a long time friend, origami student,
and teacher of our models at folding conventions. She
taught convention attendees how to fold a new design
that Michael created to commemorate Canada’s first
national convention of the Origami Canada Society,
2012, held in Vancouver. Michael named the swallowtail
version of this elegant butterfly in honor of Elsa’s
contributions and friendship.

1 Begin with the major color facing up. Valleyfold in half diagonally, both

ways, unfolding aft er each.

2 (A) Valleyfold in half, bottom edge to top. Unfold. (B) Move the bottom edge

to the center crease and make a short pinch mark. Unfold. (C) Move the bottom
edge to the pinch mark and make another short pinch mark. Unfold.

3 Lay the lower pinch mark upon the upper pinch mark and valleyfold the

paper across the full length.

4 (A) Valleyfold the bottom corners to the valley crease above. (B) Valleyfold

the flap up to lock the corners inside. (C) Valleyfold the top edge to the center
crease. Unfold. (D) Valleyfold the top corners to the valley crease below.

5 Use the center crease to valleyfold the bottom edge up.

6 Valleyfold the top paper down over the folded edge. Rotate the paper 90

degrees clockwise.

7 Open and unfold the left side.
8 Your paper should look like this. Valleyfold, bottom to top.

9 Squashfold the right half of the paper.
10 Your paper should look like this. Turn over, left to right.
11 Squashfold the right half of the paper. Look ahead to step 12 for the result.

12 Use the existing crease to move the top edge down. Squashfold the left and

right layers.

13 Valleyfold the indicated edges, forming a pointed flap.

14 Valleyfold the bottom corner to the top of the split, Unfold.

15 One at a time, squash-Fold the right and left halves of the model to form

the wings. Look ahead at step 16 for the results.

16 Form a crimped overlap at the middle of each wing by rolling the bottom

edges of each hindwing up towards the horizontal mountain crease. Fold the
forewing paper down over the hindwing, creating the forewing overlap.

17 Detail to follow.

18 (A) Inside-reverse-fold the indicated corner. (B) Mountain-fold the free

edge behind.

19 Mountain-and valleyfold the abdomen over the right wing.

20 Valleyfold the left wing to match the right wing. Unfold.

21 (A) Squashfold the paper for the head. (B) Mountain-fold the corner

behind. (C) Your paper should look like this. (D) Fold the wings together.

22 (A) Mountain-fold the abdomen edges inside. (B) Valleyfold the wings

down on each side.

23 A Butterfly for Vancouver. Continue for the Elsa Chen variation.

24 Mountain-fold the end of the hindwing in half and fold flat, under the wing

and pointing away from the body. Open the folded point and add a graceful
curve.

25 A Butterfly for Elsa Chen.