How to Make Origami Crane Earrings
Transform a lucky crane into a wearable piece of art. These tiny origami crane earrings are so fun to make!
Yield: 2 origami earrings
Cost: $2
Equipment
- Sewing pin(s) (or safety pin)
Materials
- Origami paper
- Glossy Mod Podge
- Flat head pin
- 4 Small faceted beads (3 or 4mm; color matching crane)
- 2 Bicone beads (6mm; clear)
- Earring hooks
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Make a tiny paper crane
- Cut a piece of origami paper to be 2 x 2 inches. You'll need 1 piece for each earring.Set the paper down with the colour side up.
- Fold the paper in half diagonally, bringing the bottom right corner up to the top left corner.
- Unfold your last fold and make the opposite diagonal fold (bring the bottom left corner up to the top right).
- Unfold again, flip the paper over (so that the blank side is up), and fold in half vertically, bringing the bottom edge up to the top.
- Open the paper up again, rotate it 90 degrees, and fold it in half again vertically.
- Unfold the paper and flip it over so that the coloured side is facing you again.You should now have folds going to each corner and to the center of each edge. (Eg. There should be folds like an "X" and a plus sign.)
- Hold the paper with a point towards you and fold the top and bottom points together while bringing the left and right edges down in to make a smaller, layered square.
- Set the paper down with the open edges towards you.
- Fold the right edge (the top layer) in to the center line.Repeat, folding the top layer on the left in to the center.
- Flip your work over horizontally and repeat the same folds on this side, folding the right and left edges in to the center.
- Unfold your 2 most recent folds.Fold the top layer of the bottom point up towards the top. As you do this, fold the right and left sides in towards the middle.Make sure the top and bottom points are neatly folded.
- Flip the paper over horizontally.
- Unfold the bottom left and right folds. Repeat the same type of fold as the last step, lifting the top layer up from the bottom while bringing the left and right sides in.
- Fold the top layer of the lower right edge in so that it meets the center fold.Repeat on the left side.
- Flip the paper over and repeat, folding the right and left edges in to the center.
- Slide your finger between the 2 right layers and fold the bottom edge up.Fold the edges down, bringing the two sides together, and crease the fold to create the crane's tail.
- Repeat the same fold on the other side.
- Fold the left tip down to create the crane's head. The fold should be roughly parallel with the bottom of the crane.
- Pick up the crane and very gently pull the top points (the wings) away from one another.This should inflate the crane's body.
- Use your fingers to curve the wings down towards the tail.
Step 3: Add a coat of Mod Podge
- Brush a coat of glossy Mod Podge onto the top of the crane. This will strengthen the paper and make it water resistant.Allow to dry.
- Add Mod Podge to the bottom of the crane. Again, allow to dry.
Step 4: Attach the earring findings
- Stick a sewing pin (or a safety pin) through the hole in the bottom of the crane, pushing it up through the top center of the body.
- Remove the pin from the crane and add a coloured bead to the head pin.
- Insert the head pin through the bottom of the earring, using the hole made by the sewing pin.Push the bottom of the head pin up to the bottom of the crane.
- Add a clear bead and another coloured bead to the head pin.
- Use needle nose pliers to create a hook/loop at the top of the head pin. Don't close it off completely yet!
- Add the earring hook to the loop and then use the pliers to close the loop, securing the earring into place.
- Repeat the same instructions to make your second earring.Your origami crane earrings are complete!
Video
Notes
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