Using Origami to Save Lives

Very cool uses of origami to solve real world problems including saving lives.

4-pointed star

This piece had ten creases before the rest of the six folds started. On the surface, it was one of the more complicated ones. I like the design, but i don't like how the two sided paper shows up as purple instead of white. I find it distracting, but am too cheap to go buy other paper. :)

Bird hat

Started with the fish base and then another nine folds. I found a couple of them tricky, but eventually figured it out. It looked a bit lonely by itself, so I posed it on the cat from earlier.

Much better.

Koala Bear

This is supposed to be a Koala Bear head, but it looks more like a dog's head. I re-did the ears several times trying to make them look better, but eventually had to settle for this since the paper was starting to get stressed. I added the face which was on the card in an attempt to make it look more bear-like. I'm not convinced. The paper makes it seem like this one is going bald too. It had a light spot in the middle that ended up on the top of the head.

Emergency Tie

This is model is called the "Emergency Tie". I like it. I had a bit of trouble with the folds in the middle for a couple minutes, but eventually got it to work correctly. It is a bit small to wear, but looks fun. I gave it to a co-worker who always wears a tie. I hope they like it.

Mouse with Body

This is the second half of the mouse which adds the body to the previous mouse head. I added two eyes to the head after putting it on the body. It seemed to work better. I still feel like the head is a bit big for the body, but overall it works. It reminds me of the cat from earlier in the year.

Mouse Head

This mouse head is the first part in a two part model of a mouse. The head was easy to make with only seven steps. I think it is a tad big for what I think the body will be.

Pinwheel

This piece was twelve steps and took about ten minutes. I thought it was rather easy and steps 8-9 were very intuitive. Now to figure out a way to make it spin...

Tato

Tato is a Japanese word that means wallet or purse. This piece was twelve steps and about ten minutes. Most of the steps were prep steps to get creases for later.

Ninja Star

The ninja star was broken into two parts, but it doesn't need to be. It is 13 steps with the first 7 steps repeated twice. It takes about 7 minutes to make. They fly pretty well too! I remember making larger versions out of regular 8.5x11 paper when i was younger.

Sunfish

This was a medium difficulty piece for me. It is was 11 steps with the steps 7-10 repeated. It took about ten minutes. I am not very happy with the way it turned out.

Bullfrog

This piece started with the waterbomb base. It then had 11 steps 5 of which were repeated. The folds were pretty simple. It took about ten minutes.

Angelfish

This piece started as the waterbomb base which is three folds. Then it added six steps to create the fish. I added the smile and eye.

Horse Head

This was a simple piece; it only had four steps. I think it would look better with some eyes, so I might add some later.

Crown

This model was fun. It started with the organ base and then was an extra six steps for a total of 11. It took about ten minutes as the last couple steps confused me at first. This four-pointed crown would fit perfect on a small doll.

Kimono Heart

This model has an interesting name. It was named by the creator because "it folds left side over right (from the wearer's perspective), like a kimono." It was seven steps and about five minutes.

Instruction Folder

This model is a miniature folder. It was based on the previous organ base. I added some paper into the folder to make it more clear. This model, like the bill fold, isn't very interesting to me. Including the base, this was 14 steps and about seven minutes.

Organ Base

This model is another base model. I am curious what this one will turn into in the future. It has five steps and took about three minutes.

Nightingale

The bird model is a nightingale. It was rather simple with five steps and about seven minutes.

Baby Bunny

This model is supposed to be a baby bunny, but I think it looks more like a slug. It was seven steps and took about five minutes. Scissors were required on this one to separate the ears. I don't like this one much.

Goldfish

This goldfish looks pretty cool. It started with the helmet base and then was ten more steps. It took about twelve minutes.  It required using scissors to cut the bottom of the tail allowing it to be folded back. I like the paper on this one; it just seems to fit.

Cicada

This model is the cicada bug. It also started with the helmet base from a few days ago. After the base, it was eight steps. This one took about ten minutes.

Fox

This model used the previous day's helmet base as the start after that it was five steps. It took about seven minutes or so. It was fairly easy and straight forward. I like this one.

Helmet Base

This was another simple base model with only three steps. It took only a minute or two.

Pleated Bird

This model was easily the hardest so far. It was ten steps with the last step made up of at least five more mountain/valley folds. I had a very hard time with it and ended up with my own unique model. I could not figure out how to do what the diagram explained, so I improvised. It is close, but not quite right. The paper was about to tear, so I had to finish. At least fifteen minutes on this one. Looking at the photo again, I like my version better than the instructions.

Cat

This model combines the previous cat head and cat body. I like it. I think this is my new second favorite instead of the elephant. Sorry elephant! You're third now. The panda is still #1.

Cat body

This is the second half of a two part model. It was seven steps and took ten minutes. I had trouble with the final folds for tail because I kept getting the previous fold proportions off.

Cat Head

This model is another two part one like the elephant. It was six steps for the head and took about seven minutes. I had trouble with the proportions at first. I added eyes and a mouth which I think make the piece.

Peacock

This model was rather simple with only seven steps and about five minutes. I like how the choice of paper looks like feathers. The tail is a bit big though.

Pelican

Today's model is a pelican. It was similar to the chinese duck the first week. A few folds reversed and they are interchangeable. It took nearly ten minutes annd was eight folds. I like this one more than the duck. It is maybe my third favorite piece.

Inside Outside Reverse Fold

This was just a simple model to show how to do a reverse inside fold and a reverse outside fold. Both folds have three steps. This one should have been earlier in the calendar since a number of pieces have used these two folds already ie: chinese duck

Paper Cup

This model was quick, easy, and functional. It was five steps and maybe three minutes. It even holds water! I like it!

Mushroom

This was an interesting model. The trunk gave me a bit of trouble until I figured it out. It was six steps and about seven minutes. A fun shape

Mouse

This model is supposed to be a mouse. It is pretty weak. It was ten steps and only about seven minutes. The trickiest part was the ears. I don't really like this one.

Magazine Box

This model is made from regular 8.5x11 inch paper. It was seven steps and took about five minutes. I used plain paper; i think it would look better with colored paper like from a magazine. It could be a useful little box.

Dollar Peace Dove

This was the model with the most steps at thirteen and it took fifteen minutes to make. The first of the money origami. The paper money was nicer to fold than regular origami paper. The key, I learned, is to start with a crisp new bill. I enjoyed making this piece.

Kite base

Base for kite. Three steps and two minutes. Kinda boring

Fish base

Five steps a couple minutes. Boring by itself but a steping stone to something else.

Elephant

This is the second half of the elephant from the previous day's elephant head. This piece was four steps and only a minute or two. The head then fits on the top to complete the elephant. The model was made over two days using two pieces of origami paper. I think it looks pretty good. The panda is still my favorite; this one is my second fave.

Elephant Head

Today was the first part of a two part elephant model. The head was made today with the body to follow tomorrow. It was eight steps and about seven minutes. I added some eyes to make it more life-like.

Cat Boat

The cat boat is a sailboat with the main mast near the front of the boat. Interesting that out of nine models three have been boats so far. This one was six steps and about five minutes. Regular origami paper would have made it look better. The previous days instructions on the sail are a little distracting.

Boomerang Airplane

This model of an airplane was quick and fun to make. It was seven steps and maybe took three minutes.
You hold it just behind the nose to throw it, and it comes right back. Great for use in a small space like an office cube.

Horse

Today's model is a horse. It was ten steps (the most so far) and about seven minutes. It is a pretty simple piece. I think the paper works well too. It would be better if it had legs or ears, but that would make it much more difficult.

Week One Models

These are all the models created this past week. The Saturday/Sunday page included some history about the earliest known origami books instead of a model. It mentioned that some of them even included cutting techniques. Some 'Pureland' followers think there should only be folding. Maybe I will have to be more open minded about what techniques can/should be used with origami.

Panda

This piece was the most difficult so far. It took over ten minutes. I had to start over because the first time I got the second fold out of proportion. It had eight steps. I added the eyes to finish it off. I think the black paper worked well for this piece.