This Kusudama can be considered modular origami, and it is based on a beautiful flower model, folded from a pentagon and originally created by Carmen Sprung (Germany). She calls it “carambola” perhaps because of its resemblance to a cross section of a carambola –also known as star fruit.
On her website, Happy Folding, Sara Adams (Germany) presents a video showing how to make a pentagon and how to fold the origami carambola. The folding process, as Sara demonstrates, is both easy and pleasing.
The Kusudama structure is that of a dodecahedron and made with twelve pentagonal flowers. It can be used as a holiday decoration or given as given as a handmade Christmas gift. Here is a video with instructions to put an origami Kusudama together.
Extra Tips to Make the Carambola and Kusudama:
- When folding the paper to make the pentagons, use the first piece of paper folded (picture 1) as a template by placing each of the other pieces above it and then folding (pictures 2 and 3). This will help you efficiently fold all the pieces you need to make your Kusudama.
Once the pentagons have been cut, color can be applied to the paper for added effect as in this photograph below.
The paper used was “Tant” and the color I applied to this paper was oil pastel. After laying on the color, I blended it by gentle rubbing with a cotton ball lightly dampened with a drop of -odorless- mineral spirits.- The finished piece dimension is about 13 cm (5.5 inches)
- The pentagons were made from a square 15 x 15 cm (6 x 6 inches)
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I’m a big fan of your origami art. And I want to make a video about carambola flower on my YouTube channel. How can I get permission to make a video on carambola. How can I contact with the designer Carmen Sprung?
Please, suggest me something! 🙂
Hi Bhushan. Carmen lives in Germany. Perhaps you can contact her via Origami Deuthcland, the German origami association.
por favor en español son hermosas y las quiero hacer para las fiestas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hola Liliana, por casualidad tengo un video en espannol para esta. Lo puedes ver aquí: https://www.origamispirit.com/es/2010/11/como-se-hace-un-kusudama-de-carambolas/
¿Sabías que el sitie web de Origami Spirit tiene versión en español? puedes verlo aquí https://www.origamispirit.com/es/2010/11/como-se-hace-un-kusudama-de-carambolas/
These are beautiful. I have never done this before but an intrigued by it
What’s the thickness of the paper? I looked at the Tant paper…sadly no shades of purple. So, I will look for purple with same/close thickness as Tant.
I don’t know the thickness in grams!
Hey any chance of getting an English pdf of this design? German isn’t one of my strong suits :)
I love your instructions and the oil pastels idea. Could you please share what paper you use, and if you can buy it online? Thank you!
Hi LAP,
For the kusudama with the carambola flower I used a paper called “Tant” You can find it at the OrigamiUSA shop called The Source”: http://origamiusa.org/catalog/products?keys=tant
There’s an improved video available here now: http://www.happyfolding.com/instructions-sprung-carambola-2 – an easier folding sequence, English verbal instructions, and in HD. Hope it helps!
I love paper flower i want to make it
The flower is very pretty! I love the little star in the centre of it!
Can you give step by step instructions of how to make the flower please?
i’m struck at the last foldings.
For the video on how to make the flower please visit:
http://www.happyfolding.com/instructions-sprung-carambola
i love this!
How remarkable! I was just making this Carambola yesterday, but couldn’t get past the single units. THANK YOU so VERY much! I LOVE the idea of coloring the paper and the changing of clips! I’m also glad to know what kind of glue to use (Elmer’s, right?). I’m making one for my neighbors tomorrow!
I’m happy you like it, Millie. Elmer’s glue is what I use here in the US.
This is a great idea! I like the oil pastel coloring you have incorporated in the latter set of pics, too.