Video: Space monster/Venus flytrap

Another origami by Jeremy Shafer, known as venus flytrap or space monster. It’s a complicated action model, when pulled from the “leafs” or tentacles, whichever you prefer, it opens its mouth.

Diagrams from Jeremy’s website and video after the break.

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Posted in: Diagrams, Fun, Hard, Origami, Video

Video: Twin crane

Twin crane

After jason’s request here’s the first animal origami, everybody should know how to fold a simple crane, well this is a bit more complicated. You can make the same model with a 2:1 ratio paper by doing 2 traditional cranes, but it’s just not the same. I recommend using a bigger and thinner paper than regular A4 like I did, I ripped it a few times. This is the most complicated model so far and the video takes 20 minutes.

Diagrams here and the video after the break.

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Posted in: Animals, Diagrams, Hard, Origami, Video

Video: cube, octahedron, icosahedron

Cube octahedron icosahedron

A modular origami which lets you make a cube, an octahedron, an icosahedron and so on, made by Stephan T. Lavavej. The module used is a variant of the sonobe module, it’s really easy to make, but the icosahedron is a bit tricky to assemble. I used 10cm square paper and it’s quite sturdy.

Diagrams here and the video and a few images after the break.

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Video: Hexaflexagon

Hexaflexagon

Following David’s request here’s the hexaflexagon action model, made by Paul Jackson. It has to be cut out because it’s made from triangles. I used an A4 paper, divided it in 7 strips of 4cm and made the base of the triangles also 4cm, equilateral triangles might work better. You can also print out the diagrams. I had to glue it together, since it’s moving it tends to come apart.

Video after the break.

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Posted in: Diagrams, Fun, Origami, Simple, Video

Video: Six intersecting squares

Six intersecting squares

This amazing modular origami is brought to us by Jorge Lucero. It’s an intermediate model if you have good spatial view, but it can get very tricky with the last square. Just when I thought I had finished it I had to open some of the connections which weren’t made right, on the video you can see that the 5th square wasn’t tucked in right.

With this model you have to cut the paper exactly to 5:11 ratio for the modules. I cut 5cm by 11cm rectangles and got 9 out of an A4 paper, you need a total of 24, that’s why there are only 3 colors on my model. I used a thicker paper than normal printing paper, but that’s not necessarily better, I’m doing one in my classes with normal paper and it’s easier to fold.

When assembling the modules don’t tuck one of them all the way in, the other module won’t be able to lock to the first, instead push little by little on each one (see the video).

Diagrams.

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Video: Soma cube

Soma cube

A puzzle origami invented by Piet Hein and diagrammed by Sebastian M. Kirsch. It’s a fun toy to kill time, I spent about 10 minutes assembling it the first time and it didn’t get any easier the second. It’s composed of 7 different pieces made out of strips that look like those in Tetris. You can also make 6 pieces which would make it easier to assemble, here’s a Soma cube with 6 modules made with Sonobe modules. If you really like this model and the strip origami is too hard you can make it out of Sonobe units which are very easy, but I doubt it will be as sturdy.

The diagrams show how to fold the basic unit, once past that you have to figure out how to fold the rest. I advise you to make the 4th piece last since it’s the most difficult one, it’s very unstable until fully assembled.

A video and pictures of the units after the break.

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Video: Sprinkler

Sprinkler with 12 modules

The sprinkler origami is not a very spectacular modular compared to some others on this site, but it definitely suits the beginners. Made by Paula Versnick. The modules only need 8 creases and the assembly is really straight forward. You can do as many modules as you want and assemble them differently, the video shows how to fold a module, how to connect it to another one and some examples. The modules can also be sinked, it’s a really good model for practicing that move.

Diagrams here and the video and some more pictures after the break.

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Video: Strip icosahedron

Strip icosahedron

Here’s a very easy icosahedron by Heinz Strobl. It requires 20 strips of 6 squares for the triangles and 30 strips to knot them together (strips of 5 squares also work). Only the knotting strips will stand out, but I found it’s still better to use two colors. You can make a bigger model when assembling 6 triangles instead of 5 and connecting them to a 5 triangle module.

Diagrams here and the video after the break.

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Video: Origami spring

Origami spring

I took up Castword’s challenge and made an origami spring. At first I failed miserably, but the second try was already much better (on the picture). The origami spring takes a lot of time because it has to be completely creased before folding. When it comes to folding this model in one of the hardest, thanks again for Castword by pointing out a video of the creasing. I found it easier to fold each small flap separately rather than turn each level so that it would fall in place. A magnificent origami by Jeff Beynon.

Diagrams here and some more pictures and a video of somebody folding it after the break.

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Posted in: Diagrams, Fun, Hard, Origami, Video

Video: Squishy blob

Squishy blob

Following a request here’s a squishy blob, sure to drive your teachers nuts. It’s an action model since it acts like a trampoline when you poke it on the top square. A complicated, but not so difficult origami by Jeremy Shafer, according to whom its primary function is finger exercising. Diagrams straight from the authors website and the video and an additional picture after the break.

Also from now on I’m going to upload my videos to Metacafe, having to speed up my videos to keep them under 10 minutes (youtube limit) not only annoys me, but all those who watch them. So if you wish to stay informed about the new videos you can either subscribe to the RSS of this blog or at Metacafe.

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