You can also make cute little trees for small figures like this iguana! He looks right at home, doesn't he?
Here's how you do it...
Step one. Start with a square piece of paper (I used pre-cut origami paper). Printer paper has about the right thickness, but you could also use wrapping, news, or magazine paper (left).
Step two. With the pretty side of the paper up (the part that you want your tree to look like) fold the paper diagonally pulling one corner up to the opposite corner (right).
Step six. Flip the paper over, so that the pretty side is now facing down (left).
Step seven. Take the bottom flat edge and fold it up to the opposite top flat edge. This will give you a horizontal fold in the square (right).
Step eleven. Here you want to pull the paper in behind that square we found in the last step. See how part of the paper gets tucked in behind the square.
You'll know you have it right when you now are holding a square 1/4 the size of the original piece of paper with the pretty side facing the outside all around. Phew! If you are still with me, then you are half way to you tree!
Step twelve. Put the 1/4 size square flat on your working surface and pull up one of the arms (origami tree's have arms!). Then open the pocket and it will look like the picture below on the left. Arm up... pocket open. Good so far?
Step thirteen. Ok, we are in the arm up... pocket open position... next step is to push down on the top of the pocket until the pocket is laying flat and press the new folds really well (right).
REPEAT Step thirteen on the remaining three arms. No arm left behind!
Step fifteen. Now we work with the feet (yes, origami trees have feet!). Take the bottom flap or foot and fold it up so that the point lines up with the center fold. It should be folded up far enough so that the fold lines up to make the top section look like a nice tree shaped triangle (left and right).
Ta da!! Origami makes a great project for kids too as it teaches them patience, hand eye coordination, how to follow instructions and leaves them with a quick sense of accomplishment!!
Now, how cute would these be with a little pom-pom glued on top or sequins and buttons attached as ornaments.. or a whole forest made up of different sizes for a table scape with a few pine cones? I even think you could use a razor or scissors to slit the top and stick a name card in them for a place setting!!
Hope you have fun with this!! Remember, if you didn't like a fold or made a wrong move, you can always unfold and fold again. After all .... it's only paper!!
Let me know if you would like to see more tutorials like this and what things you'd like to make! I think it would be fun to do a few more of these, don't you?
Calm your mind and open your heart!