Green Origami

In Math (Trigo) class, my teacher was giving out these mint chocolates to the class, and after I finished eating mine I realized that I had quite a nice bit of foil-backed paper right in front of me. I just had to hide the plastic edges and I had a nice long rectangular piece of folding material. After fiddling a bit with it, pleating it and making random reverse folds, I thought that maybe I could make an arm with fingers out of it. It's a rather basic skill, used rather commonly in boxpleating to form hands with recognisable fingers. I'm not gonna go too deeply into it, but I think you should be able to reverse-engineer it from the pictures anyway.



And the underside...



Should be quite clear now ^_^

Then, I saw the wrapper left on the table by my neighbour and I was still bored, so I took it and folded another hand so I now have a matching set (With the thumbs in the right place, of course). Then I got hold of another few wrappers and started folding legs.



A view of the foot from its owner's perspective (i.e. looking downwards):


By the way, I've finished off all the dark-coloured paper I have, so I had to use my Year One Orientation T-shirt to provide the black background. I did that witht he last post too. (:

I quickly made a matching set of legs again, and I started having fun placing the "emo frog parts" into interesting arrangements.



The part providing the "body" and "head" is actually a sample of the original sweet. Mint Chocloates yum ^_^

Someone remarked that when viewed at an angle, it kinda looks like someone in a traffic accident.



Ouch.

In case you're wondering, the book I used was a copy of Hikaru No Go manga.

That was fun, random doodles in class are always the best ^_^

These techniques are always useful, so it's good to rememeber them.

Ta-ta!



Origami as Pure as Snow
Shonen

Origami Cards

Sorry sorry sorry sorry for killing this blog for two months, I've been really busy and tired all this time... forgive me forgive me T_T

I hope not many people stopped visiting this blog because of the lack of activity...

I shall do a post stuffed with pictures to make up for it ^_^

First up is a random doodle that I did during Biology class because I was too bored.



I made it out of an envelope I found in class:



You might be able to see how I folded it now =D

Next up is a folded version of the 202 class logo created by tiong suan.





Please don't kill me if it looks crappy, because 1) I was bored and tired at that time 2) This was a prototype that I did with printing paper 3) 30% of my mind was on the Beijing Olympics Opening

The following are the most important; remember the building blocks? Well, instead of using a boring square grid, why not use an equilateral triangle grid instead? I came up with a hexagonal and triangular building block...







and this is what they look like from the flipside...





Warning: the previous picture might prove to be misleading if you use it to try and figure out the folding method.

The above models can function like building blocks; their dimensions can be varied to a certain extent.

Surprisingly, I also managed to fold a little tetrahedron sticking out of the paper.





The flipside...



Mysteriously, this picture always turned out rotated 90 degrees anti-clockwise when I tried to upload it on blogger. The problem was solved when I rotated the picture file myself one whole round then trying again.

Its negative version...



... and its flipside.



Finally, here's a cool model that I did during the Origami Singapore meetup today



Cool, eh?

Hmmm I might post CPs some other day... *yawn*

seeya~




Origami as Pure as Snow
Shonen

Cross Grave - Variations

Hi everyone!

Following my Cross Grave post, Cupcake, another folder, did a variation on the cross model that turned out very well. ^_^ He kindly allowed me to show you guys his model, which changes the dimensions of the original cross (7 x 5) to a smaller one (4 x 3). The model become smaller and easier to fold, but most importantly, it shows how a versatile folder can change a design if he plans it well enough.

Click here to see cupcake's model in his flickr account (I had the picture but somehow it doesn't show up)

Very nicely done! Judging from the picture, I thought he used a 15 x 15 grid for this model (but he told me that it was really 16 x 16 ^_^) ; a very interesting feature of this type of "pop-out" origami is that any square grid can be used. Theoretically, the paper can be extended without bound on all four sides, but the model, jutting out from the centre and thus not needing the edges and corners, will remain intact. This is what gives "pop-out" origami an unlimited (at least, in my opinion) potential for the combination of models.

Now for a little exercise: how many squares does this cross take up from the paper? Try it out if you're interested!

As to how Cupcake managed to make his cross, it probably went something like this: please refer to the pictures in my last post, and scroll down to the second picture from the top. In that step, instead of forming two 2 x 1 x 1 building blocks each two squares away from the central square, he folded two 1 x 1 x 1 building blocks each one square away from the central square.
He then proceeded on with the rest of the steps until his cross reached a certain height. Folders may want to try this model out, and more adventurous ones (with very thin paper available) may want to extend the method to make a cross with dimensions 10 x 7! (figure out how I arrived at those two magical figures yourself ^_^)

I hope this post has managed to convince you guys that it is possible to create variations of models with enough planning! Then again, if any of you guys have folded any of my models, please let me know, and I may feature it on this blog!

Thank you very much Cupcake for folding my models! ^_^



Origami as Pure as Snow
Shonen

Cross Grave

My second post in a month!! Cheers guys! Thanks for your support! =D
D.Gray-man rocks more than Bleach now ^_^


I mentioned in the last post that knowing how to superimpose or combine sub-models to form new designs is very important. The model that will be shown in this post is formed by a combination of building blocks of various dimensions and placed strategically around the model to give the planned end result.

Behold, the Cross!



Dang, somehow I just can't get the lighting right ^_^

Next, I'll be showing pictorial instructions to making this model, but you have to be familiar with how to make building blocks of varying dimensions. Here's a little tip to help you control the height of a building block: create a buidling block of height 1, then treat the paper as though it were flat and form an identical building block at exactly the same spot using the same creases. Keep repeating this step and eventually the building block will reach the desired height.

The italicized sentence is extremely important in the combination of sub-models; experienced folders in this form of "pop-out" origami can skip it, but the technique described in the sentence can help beginners to combine sub-models efficiently.

Start with a 32 x 32 grid. Choose a central square which will eventually become the square on the highest point on the cross (refer to the previous photo). As there is no central square (the grid size is even), choose one that is as central as it can be. Next, form 2 identical 2 x 1 x 1 building blocks such that they are on opposite sides of the central square and there are two squares between the central square and each of the building blocks (as to how the dimensions of the building block are to be interpreted, refer to my last post). The result so far:



Next, treat the paper as if it were flat and construct a 1 x 1 x 1 building block whose topmost surface is the central square. As we are treating the paper as if it were flat, do not be disturbed by any places which are thicker when folding.

At this stage, it should look something like this:



Treating the paper as if it were flat, form another 1 x 1 x 1 building block at the exact same spot.



You'd be wondering what these three prongs are for, but you'll see in the next step!

Do that step yet again, i.e. treating the paper as if it were flat, form another 1 x 1 x 1 building block at the exact same spot.



See now? ^_^

The disadvantage of treating the paper as if it were flat is that the paper is not flat, and the layers build up and prove to be a nuisance sometimes, as in this case, where the paper is so thick that I cannot press the layers down flat into the required shape for fear of damaging the structure.

The remaining steps are just performing the previous step again...



... and again and again until the cross reaches a height of your choice. I felt that a height of 7 was the best in this case, but the height can be varied to your wishes.



This is what the paper looked like once I finished folding. My friends from Origami Singapore had recommended "Elephanthide Paper" to me, but true to its name, it refused to submit to creases easily... In this model, the paper near the "joints" puffed up like a spring because of extra thickness there, and the extra paper at the base also piled up because of all the layers of paper accumulated there. Only one way to sort things out... wet-folding!

I restrained the puffed-up parts with rubber bands (I just had to run out of them at that critical moment) and put the cross under the tap for a few seconds, shook off the extra water and laid it on the floor to dry with heavy books (thank goodness for the World Book series) pinning down all those layers at the edges. I left the entire set-up overnight, and removed the rubber bands in the morning to get the final result.

A picture of my valiant efforts to subdue the thickness of paper:



Now for an explanation for the title of this post; Firstly, my parents thought of a tombstone the moment they saw this model (which was a little disappointing T_T), and "Cross Grave" appears in D.Gray-man!

As mark of my new anime affiliation, I will end off this post in a new way...



Origami as Pure as Snow
Shonen

(My eternal thanks to the creator of this excellent picture! ^_^)

有口福

My sincere apologies for the over-one-month gap between posts. Because of my exams, I haven't been able to fold much... Well, its the June Holidays, so I might be able to post a lot more often than usual from now on! Thank you so much for supporting this blog, even though my posts have been rather scarce! *bows* ^_^

Now, to business! Remember my last post which taught you how to fold a "Negative Building Block"? (suggestions for its name are very welcome... heheh) Well, these little sub-models are rather useless unless you can incorporate them into a new design. If you refer back to the model in "Pop-out Prosperity", you'll see that the negative building block is not used on its own in the model; instead, it is used in conjunction with the Building Block to create a "well" structure. One example of such a structure is the "口" radical in the Pop-out Prosperity model; This post will show you how to convert a negative building block into that structure.

Firstly, you have to create a negative building block.



For details on how to fold a negative buidling block, refer to my last post.

I used a 15 x 15 grid for this model instead of the 9 x 9 one used in my last post, because I needed more space to fold the "well structure" than the negative building block itself. This gives a little insight on how paper is sucked up two-dimensionally while we try to build "upwards"... I call it "The Law of Conservation of Paper" - In an isolated model, the amount of paper present is always constant. ^_^

Anyway, for the next step, treat the model at the current step as flat paper (i.e. disregard the presence of the little hole in the center of the model). This step seems to be crucial in the superimposing of certain sub-models in this form of origami. Form a 1 x 3 x 3 building block with the hole at its center.

Before we continue, I feel that we should set down a standard way of referring to the dimensions of a building block so it is easier to refer to.

A building block with dimensions x x y x z has height x, length y and breadth z.
(For problems in the direction of y and z, I will clarify in a future post.)

A view of the model in the current stage:



And you're done! My, that was fast, wasn't it? Let's take a closer look at the "well structure" in the middle:





Now, you can see that the center part of the model corresponds to the "口" radical in the Pop-out Prosperity model.

The superimposing of sub-models does give you interesting results; the important thing is to know which sub-models to use and how to merge them to form a new model.

Now for a view of the underside of the model:



Compare this to the flip-sides of the Pop-out Prosperity model and the Negative Building Block; curious folders may also want to fold a 1 x 3 x 3 building block on a separate piece of paper and compare its reverse side to the picture above.

We're done with the model, but there's one more technique to show you that will help in folding this form of origami. How do we measure how much space the model takes up? Remember that what makes this form of origami unique is that the paper around the model can be extended without bound without affecting the model (because the model itself "pops out" of the paper and does not require edges and corners) and the extended portion can be used to fit in more models so long as the models do not interfere with one another. Hence, it is important for a folder to measure the amount of space his or her model takes up so he or she knows whether another model can be fitted in, or what grid size he or she should use. The space the model takes up is measured in terms of the two-dimensional area on the paper which the model takes up, as opposed to the three-dimensional notation of a building block.

Because of the sucking up of paper inside the model, it is rather impossible to gauge the number of squares it takes up by counting from the inside. However, we can use another approach; counting from the outside! If you've folded the model already, measure the distance from any edge of the paper to one side of the model in terms of the number of squares (in this case, 4) . Do the same for the opposite side (4 again) , and add the distances together (4 + 4 = 8) . subtract that total distance from the grid size (in this case, 15, because a 15 x 15 grid was used) to get the number of squares the model takes up in that dimension (15 - 8 = 7). Repeat for the other dimension (7 again). Thus, in this case, the dimensions of the model is 7 x 7.

Theoretically, a 7 x 7 grid can be used to fold this model; yes, it can be done, all the features of the model will be inside, but the edges of the model will not be locked vertically, and the thickness of the paper will force it to open up a little, resulting in the model not looking very nice. The edges of the model depend on the flat paper surrounding it for locking, so it is best to give a bit of leeway, like a 10 x 10 grid or more ( a 9 x 9 grid would not give enough locking for stiffer paper) .

Ahhh... a long post! I hope that you have enjoyed this post, and thanks for the support!

The next post will be really cool, I'm smoothing out the details for it now, it won't be long!
I'll be cross if you don't come back for the next post! ^_^


Origami as Pure as Snow
shonen

Terror Pit!

Okay folks!

Once again, I apologise for the really long gap between posts, this year's been hectic... T_T
In this posts and probably subsequent ones, I'll be elaborating more on the techniques used to create the maze and chinese characters. Hope you all will be satisfied by this post even after the long wait! =)

As most of you will probably have realised, there seems to be an extra feature in the Pop-Out Prosperity that hasn't appeared before; a series of holes. In previous posts, I've shown you all how to make Building Blocks that pop out of the paper, and in this post, I'll explain how to make a sinking portion in the paper, which, for want of a better name, will be called a "Negative Building Block". Hahah, I really need suggestions for the name. =)





This model was done on what could be said as a 9 x 9 grid, but with only a few creases from the grid.

The product is the cube-shaped hole in the center. Of course, the paper protrudes out from the other side, looking like this:



At least the extra paper could be neatly packed into 90-degree angles... ^_^

If you've tried making the Building Block before, you'll realise that you can't create a hole by simply reversing all the creases or flipping the paper over, because there are extra bits of paper that stick out and partially cover the hole, which does contribute much to the neatness of the model. In the Building Block, all the extra paper is stashed away into the hollow space inside the block, hiding it from the viewer. However, in the Negative Building Block, that extra paper has to go outside the hollow space as now the hollow space is the one being viewed. This leads to a drastically different crease pattern as shown below:




See the difference?

This time, I stopped being lazy and added in all the creases that ended up in the final product. However, be warned as the creases may get a little confusing; try and figure out which creases are merely two layers folded together to produce reflections!

Just like the Building Block, the dimentions for the Negative Building Block can be modified by changing the length of the sides of the small square in the centre of the CP.

Folders are encouraged to figure out how the 田 part in the Pop-Out Prosperity was created! All you need to know is how Building Blocks and Negative Building Blocks are made.

Have fun!
I'll try very hard to post as often as I can now!


Origami as Pure as Snow
shonen

Pop-out Prosperity

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

As promised, here's my CNY post!

In the last Origami Singapore meet-up, some of us folded Eric Joisel's Rat model and compared them around. Eileen wanted to do a variation on it, and suggested to me (since I could fold a design that "popped out" from the paper) that I fold a rat in a maze, all popping out of the paper.

The first step in trying to make the model was, of course, learning how to fold a maze first.

In the meeting itself Eileen and I experimented around and tried to figure out a method to fold a series of solid walls that could bend around and connect to form a real maze. We found one, but I realised later that it would not work very well. I tried again at home and finally got a method to do the job; I'll be posting about the method in subsequent posts.

Another idea I had during the meet-up was that instead of using the "walls" to form a maze, why shouldn't I use it to form words? Chinese New Year was coming, and I should be trying something big...

I did a lot of planning and after one prototype, ta-daa...



Pop-out prosperity!

As my method currently can only deal with 90-degree angles, the Simplified Chinese character "福" would have been impossible to fold. Hence, I chose the Traditional Chinese character with a "示" radical.

This model was done on a 32 x 32 grid.

To show the three-dimensionality of the model, here's another picture:



It's a little uneven, but nothing's perfect. (:

From here you can see that I've solved the problem of making a maze.

The CP for this model is a little complicated, so it will take a while for me to create it, if I can summon up the energy to do it.

I'm gonna try out more chinese characters in the future! Guess what I'll be posting on Valentine's Day...

Once again, Happy Chinese New Year, and may this year be full of prosperity!


Origami as Pure as Snow
shonen

A Die with 20 Faces?

I'm posting this to ensure that this blog does not become worse than a monthly newsletter... :)

Almost two months ago, I went overseas to Qingdao in Shandong, China for this educational trip in one of Qingdao's top secondary schools. I was supposed to observe classes in Qingdao No.39 Middle School, and I was grouped with a student from the above school to act as a guide. After a few days, when I had to leave, I wanted to give a farewell present to him. I did not want to buy a gift for him (It might seem insincere) so I decided to fold him an origami model.

I learned that he was very interested in and talented in Mathematics, so I decided to fold him a geometrical figure, the more complicated the better. The one I thought appropriate was a regular Icosahedron, so I had to create one as fast as possible.

I managed one without much difficulty (heheh):



Not bad!
I made this model from the leftovers from the paper used to make the House shown in the exhibition at Clementi.

If you see the following diagrams, you will see that the model is mainly a tube with two closed ends. Take note that I've decided to go step by step in showing the folding method, so each of the following diagrams will be accompanied by a short explanation.



This CP lies on a 60-degree grid.

The grey area is a portion of the paper that overlaps, sealing up the gap in the "tube" formed by wrapping the paper around. Note that all the creases in the grey area are identical to those on the extreme left. The grey area can be extended or even shortened, but bear in mind the difficulties that may occur.

After finishing the above CP, the model will look something like this:



This figure has 30 sides, which is cool, but not so much as the Icosahedron.

You'll realise that the ends (far left and far right in the photo) of the figure are not very effeciently closed (in fact, the model I gave to my "buddy" had this problem and it needed two fingers to hold the ends shut, the sealing method came recently), and they open up by themselves easily. Later on in the explanation I'll be showing how to seal up the ends completely.

Now open the model up and fold the following CP:



Brace youself for the twist!
Do take note that the long horizontal crease in the middle has changed from black to red.

By doing the twist, you eliminate the 10 extra sides by compressing them into a "cap" structure, also giving the model its proper shape. The twist also serves to lock the overlapping areas together. This is the hardest step in the model, the rest is all easy!

The flaps that protrude inwards do not lie flat; According to the CP, you will have to bend them slightly upwards.

Now, the model will look like this:



As you can see, the shape of the Icosahedron is coming out.
Now for a zoom-in on the "cap":



The ends of the model here seem to be pretty well sealed, don't they? That's one of the functions of the cap; it bends upwards and flattens the paper in between the ends, making them inseparable.

With a heavy heart, unfold the model again and fold the following CP:



The horizontal crease has changed back to black.

The main step here is to lock the flaps in the lower end shut. Important: The locking of the overlapped areas happen as if there was only 1 layer.

This is what the locking of 1 flap will look like:



And this is what the lower end looks like from the inside after the locking of all 5 flaps (the overlapping area is counted as 1 flap).



The upper-right corner of the photo shows the overlapping area of the model.

You do not have to unfold the model again.

The last step is to do the twist and close the end of the tube. The flaps from the upper ends are carefully slotted in so they are locked by the upward-bending flaps of the twist.



All that's left now is to fold the upper half of the CP. The horizontal crease has turned back to red.

The end result:



An Icosahedron with neatly-closed ends!

This is the third creation of mine involving a 60-degreee grid, I'll be posting one of them sometime soon.

Oh, and keep an eye out for my Chinese New Year Post, it's gonna be great!


Origami as Pure as Snow
shonen