These instructions will walk you through how to make an origami butterfly. It’s a pretty simple design and all you need is a square sheet of paper.
Are you ready? Let’s get started.
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Step 1Start with a square sheet of paper with the white side up. Fold it in half horizontally, crease it well and then unfold it. |
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Step 2Fold the paper in half vertically, crease it well and then unfold it. |
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Step 3Fold the top quarter of the paper along the dotted line to the center line. |
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Step 4Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 5Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 6Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 7Fold the right quarter of the paper along the dotted line to the center line. |
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Step 8Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 9Fold the left quarter of the paper along the dotted line to the centre line. |
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Step 10Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 11Fold the paper in half diagonally. Crease it well and then unfold it. |
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Step 12Fold the paper in half diagonally the other way. Crease it well and then unfold it. |
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Step 13Turn the paper over so the colored side is facing up. |
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Step 14Fold the corner of the paper to the center along the dotted line. Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 15Fold the next corner of the paper to the center along the dotted line. Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 16Fold the next corner of the paper to the centre along the dotted line. Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 17Fold the final corner of the paper to the center along the dotted line. Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 18Turn the paper over so the white side is facing up again. |
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Step 19Fold the two sides of the paper towards the center along the dotted line. You already have a crease here. Only fold the middle half of the paper where the dotted lines are. Don’t fold the top or bottom parts of the existing crease. |
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Step 20You should have a shape that resembles what you see here. Fold both the top and bottom of the model along the dotted lines to the center. |
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Step 21This is a completed Boat Base. Fold the bottom two flaps of paper down along the dotted lines. |
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Step 22Flip the model over. |
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Step 23Fold the top part of the paper down along the dotted line. |
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Step 24Flip the model over again. |
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Step 25Fold the top flap of paper on the right along the dotted line towards the centre. The dotted line goes from the top corner to halfway down the diagonal line at the bottom as you can see in the diagram. |
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Step 26Fold the top flap of paper on the left along the dotted line towards the center. The dotted line goes from the top corner to halfway down the diagonal line at the bottom as you can see in the diagram |
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Step 27Flip the model over. |
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Step 28Valley Fold along the dotted line in the direction of the arrow in the diagram. Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 29Valley Fold along the dotted line on the other side in the direction of the arrow in the diagram. Crease this fold well and then unfold it. |
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Step 30Pinch the middle of the model along the two folds you just made and form a Mountain Fold along the vertical line in the middle. This gives the butterfly it’s final shape. |
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The Completed Traditional Origami Butterfly. |
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