Origami Bluebell

origami bluebell

This origami bluebell is very easy to make, you can probably make one in about 3 minutes. Despite how quickly you can make one, the paper flower is still quite nice. It goes to show: it doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful.

In the wild, bluebells are originally from the UK. As their name suggests, they are bluish-purple in color and shaped like bells. The flowers cluster on one side of the stem (this cluster is called an “inflorescence”) causing the stem to droop when heavy with blooms. In addition to being beautiful, blue-bell flowers contain biologically active chemicals, some which may have medicinal properties.

Origami Bluebell Instructions


origami bluebell

Step 1:

Start with a square sheet of paper with the colored-side facing up. Fold and unfold the paper along the diagonals (in both directions). This gives you an “X” shaped crease.


origami bluebell

Step 2:

Turn the paper over.
Fold in half from left to right.
Unfold

orrigami bluebell

Step 3:

Fold the paper in half (top to bottom).

origami bluebell

Step 4:

Gently push the top-left and top-right corners of the paper towards each other. The top layer of paper will lift up along the pre-made creases.

orrigami bluebell
Keep pushing the corners together.

origami bluebell
Watch the movement of the red dot.

origami  lily

Step 5

Swivel the flap of paper towards the right. There should be a similar flap of paper behind the model. Swivel this back flap towards the left.

origami bluebell

Step 6:

Fold the bottom-left and bottom-right edges of the model towards the vertical midline.

origami  lily

Step 7:

Unfold.

origami bluebell

Step 8:

Next, you will do an “Inside reverse fold”.
First lift the top layer of paper a little.

origami  lily
Fold in the side edges of the paper. Use the creases to guide you.

origami bluebell
The lower layer of paper will fold in nicely. The upper layer of paper will have to have the folds reversed from a valley fold to a mountain fold.

origami  lily
Bring the flap of paper back down so it lies flat.

origami bluebell

Step 9:

Turn the model over so you can work on the other side.

origami  lily

Step 10:

Fold the bottom-left and bottom-right edges of the paper towards the vertical midline.

origami bluebell

Step 11:

Unfold.

origami bluebell

Step 12:

lift the top layer of paper up a little.

origami bluebell

Step 13:

Fold the edges in.

origami bluebell
Bring the flap back down.

The next few steps will make the flower more of a “tube shape”. The folds also help “lock” the previous folds so they stay in place.

origami bluebell

Step 14:

Fold the pointed corners on the left and right side of the model towards the central midline. The folds do not need to be exactly perpendicular.

origami bluebell

Step 15:

Turn the model over.

origami bluebell

Step 16:

Repeat: fold the left and right corners in.

origami  lily

Step 17:

Rotate the flaps so they are splayed away from one another. The model becomes 3D.

origami bluebell

Step 18:

Wrap the bottom flaps around a pencil to curl the petals.

origami  lily
Two of the petals have been curled. Curl the remaining two.

origami bluebell
Origami bluebell is done!

origami  lily
Top view.

origami bluebell

To put the flowers on a stem, you will need floral wire and floral tape.

– Get a length of floral wire.
– Make a loop on one end.
– Insert the wire through the flower.
– Wrap floral tape around the loop.
– Push the wire through.
– Wrap floral tape around the rest of the wire.

 

Watch video: