Meenakshi Mukerji is a well-known designer of modular origami, where two or more pieces of paper are folded into separate units, then assembled to form one figure. In recent months, Meenakshi has been exploring origami designs with just one piece of paper as well.
Last weekend I spent some time interpreting diagrams for a few of Meenakshi Mukerji’s newest single-sheet models: the familiar suits of clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades found in a deck of playing cards.
My friend Scott Cramer, commenting on the origami-list, expressed precisely how I felt after folding these four origami playing card symbols.
With Scott’s permission I’d like to share the observations he made in that comment:
I’ve spent some pleasurable hours this weekend folding the most recent addition to OrigamiUSA’s instant download offerings, Meenakshi Mukerji’s Playing Cards Symbols. The Heart, Club, and Spade symbols are a further development of her recent Kusumita flower model, while the Diamond is folded in a unique way.
What I found intriguing about these one-sheet models is the sunken base which produces flaps that can be folded to produce not only three of the suits, but many other variations, as shown on Meenakshi’s web page here.
The sunken base itself is a very satisfying fold, and the resulting models are quite perfect. The Diamond was the biggest surprise, though, having a very different and interesting folding sequence that creates a similarly proportioned model, but by an entirely different method.
I have long been a fan of Ms. Mukerji’s modular models, so it’s an exciting development to see her apply her unique style to single-sheet models.
If you haven’t tried OrigamiUSA’s download service yet, these origami playing card symbols are a great models to start with! Buy diagrams here.
Thank you Meenakshi, for the great model, and OUSA for making it available!
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In addition to the playing card symbols,
I’d love to see origami interpretations of other playing cards images:
How about designing an origami king, a queen, a jack and a joker?
Who wants to take up the challenge?
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Those are really cool!
Leyla, I love what you made!
It’s so lovely (>w<), I will try to make it and stick it close to my desk, so i can see it any time when I get bored with my campus tasks hahahaha~
In response to your challenge above – there is a King of Spades on this page:
http://www.giladorigami.com/PG_Games.html
Wow! and it was designed long time ago!
beautiful model!
Yes Evi, it’s up your alley!