Paper Folding

I first started paper folding with traditional origami. Then I got interested in folding geometric shapes -- and then I discovered ways to fold paper into 3-dimensional shapes that can move and change. Now I am figuring out how to add motors and sensors.

paper scissors Fold a piece of paper in half. You can use almost any size, shape, color, or type of paper. Cut out a leaf shape. With the leaf still folded in half start making accordian (back-and-forth) folds. These folds will make the veins of the leaf. Start somewhere in the middle of the leaf, and make a diagonal fold that creates a crease from the center of the leaf up and out to the edge. Make the next fold about 1/2 to 1 inches away from the first and parallel to it. Keep making accordian folds, parallel and evenly spaced on the whole leaf. Continue the accordian folds until the whole leaf is folded up. (If you line up the folds, the veins of your leaf will be evenly spaced and parallel.) Now unfold the leaf and notice the "v" lines the folds made across the leaf. You'll now re-fold the leaf along those lines so that the first "v" is an "up" fold across the leaf, and the next is a "down" fold across the leaf. Here, the solid black lines show where I re-folded up, and the dotted lines where I re-folded down. From weiner dogs to frankenfish: Learn to make paper animals Fold a "super structure" designed by engineer Simon Guest Read more about what Margaret has learned about paper folding