Unfolding Beauty: A Comprehensive Guide to Folding an Origami Lily

Origami, the ancient art of paper folding, offers a unique blend of creativity, mindfulness, and tangible results. Among the myriad of designs possible with a simple square of paper, the origami lily stands out for its elegant beauty and symbolic representation of purity and rebirth. While it might seem complex at first glance, with a bit of patience and practice, anyone can master this captivating fold. This comprehensive guide will walk you through each step, providing clear instructions and helpful tips to help you craft your own stunning origami lilies. Get ready to transform a humble sheet of paper into a delicate work of art!

What You’ll Need

Before we begin, gather your materials:

• Square paper: Origami paper is ideal, as it’s thin and comes in a variety of colors and patterns. You can also use regular printer paper, but it will be slightly thicker. A 6-inch square is a good starting size for beginners. You can experiment with different sizes as you become more comfortable with the folds.
• A flat, clean surface: This will make it easier to fold accurately.
• Optional: Bone folder or similar tool: A bone folder can help create crisp folds, but it’s not strictly necessary. A ruler or even the back of a spoon can be used in its place.

Step-by-Step Instructions: The Origami Lily

Let’s dive into the folding process! We will be following a traditional origami lily design. Prepare to be patient and to enjoy the journey, as it will take a bit of time to master each fold.

Step 1: The Preliminary Base (The Beginning)

1. Start with your square paper face-down. The color you want to be visible on the finished lily should be on the bottom side.
2. Fold in half diagonally, creating a triangle. Make sure the points are aligned and crease firmly. Unfold this.
3. Fold in half diagonally again, the other way, creating another triangle. Crease well and unfold. You should now have two diagonal creases intersecting in the center of the paper. These creases are crucial for establishing our foundation.
4. Turn the paper over. Now the plain side of your paper will face up.
5. Fold the paper in half horizontally. Crease well and unfold.
6. Fold the paper in half vertically. Crease well and unfold. You should now have a total of four crease lines, two diagonal and two horizontal/vertical, forming a cross shape.

Step 2: The Waterbomb Base (Creating the Volume)

1. Bring the top two corners of the square to meet the bottom two corners, simultaneously. This will collapse the paper towards the center and form a smaller square. As you do this, the pre-existing crease lines will guide the folding process.
2. Press down to create a square. This is called the waterbomb base. Ensure the paper is flat and the creases are sharply defined. You should have four open flaps at the top of your square.
3. Rotate the square so that one of the open flap sides faces you. This is very important for following steps correctly.

Step 3: Shaping the Petals (The Emergence)

1. Take the top right point of the square and fold it inwards to the center crease, creating a diamond shape. Crease well.
2. Repeat this on the other side by folding the top left point inwards to the center crease, making another diamond shape.
3. You should now have a shape that looks like a diamond at the top with four open flaps below.
4. Turn the model over. Repeat steps 1 and 2 on the reverse side, creating a diamond shape on the other side as well.
5. Now the model should have a diamond shape on each side and four open flaps below.
6. Carefully open one of the bottom flaps and flatten it out, making a kite shape. To achieve this, gently open the flap and then flatten it, carefully bringing the side edges to the central crease. Ensure you crease the flap on both sides.
7. Repeat this with the other three flaps. You should now have four kite shapes extending from a central point.

Step 4: The Petal Formation (Refining the Lily)

1. Gently open one of the kite-shaped flaps and fold down the top pointy part to meet the bottom center point of the base. Crease sharply to mark it well.
2. Repeat this on the other three sides. You should now have four smaller diamond shapes coming out from the base.
3. Now, on each small diamond, create an inside reverse fold. To do this, slightly open up one side of the diamond shape, insert your finger to open the paper inside and then press the pointy tip inside, creating a small triangular shape or fold at the top of the diamond shape. This fold creates the petals.
4. Repeat step 3 for the other 3 small diamonds. These four triangular folds will now be the four petals of the lily.

Step 5: Opening the Flower (The Final Touches)

1. Carefully work your fingers underneath each petal, gently opening them up. The paper should naturally begin to curve outward, revealing the lily’s elegant form.
2. Pinch the base of the flower gently and twist the petals outwards. You can adjust the petals slightly to give them a more natural curve.
3. You can make subtle adjustments to the petals to create a more realistic look. You can gently curl them by running your finger or a bone folder along the edges. You can also gently pull some of the edges out slightly to create more of a petal shape.

Step 6: The Finishing Touches (Optional)

• Creating a Stem (Optional): You can use a thin piece of green paper and make an additional stem for your lily. There are different ways to create a paper stem, some are as simple as rolling a rectangle of green paper and gluing it to the base of the flower. You can also search online for more complex ways of making origami stems.
• Adding Details (Optional): You can add small details such as coloring the edges of the petals or adding small dots to the inside to mimic stamen of a real lily flower.

Tips for Success

• Take your time: Origami is a practice that requires patience. Don’t rush the process.
• Crease well: Sharp, crisp creases are crucial for a well-defined model. Use a bone folder or a similar tool if needed.
• Be precise: Accuracy in your folds will make the final result more polished.
• Don’t be afraid to start over: If you make a mistake, it’s okay to unfold and try again. This is part of the learning process.
• Use thinner paper: If you are having trouble folding, you might find that thinner paper, like actual origami paper, might be easier to work with, compared to thicker paper, like printer paper.
• Practice makes perfect: The more you fold, the easier it will become.
• Watch video tutorials: If you’re having trouble with a particular step, watching a video tutorial can be very helpful. There are numerous origami lily tutorials available online.

Troubleshooting

• My paper keeps tearing: This usually happens when the paper is too thick, or if you’re being too forceful with your folds. Try using thinner paper and be more gentle.
• My folds don’t line up correctly: This usually means that you did not crease properly or accurately in previous steps. Try undoing the steps until the beginning point where the paper started to misalign, and then make those folds with more precision and force.
• My lily won’t open up: Double-check that you have properly formed the inside reverse folds for each of the four petals. Also, make sure that you gently work your fingers underneath the petals to open them up.

The Beauty of Origami Lilies

Origami lilies are more than just beautiful paper sculptures; they hold significant meaning. In many cultures, lilies symbolize purity, renewal, and love. They make wonderful gifts, decorations, or simply a meditative craft to enjoy on your own. The act of creating origami is a mindful practice that can bring peace and focus to the mind.

Beyond the Basics

Once you’ve mastered the basic origami lily, you can explore variations and other origami flower designs. Experiment with different paper colors, patterns, and sizes. You can even create bouquets of origami lilies to give as gifts or to decorate your home. As you develop your skills, you can also challenge yourself with more complex origami projects.

Conclusion

Folding an origami lily is a rewarding experience that combines creativity, patience, and mindfulness. By following this comprehensive guide, you can learn the art of paper folding and create your own beautiful origami lilies. Remember to take your time, be precise, and enjoy the process. Happy folding!