How to inflate the Origami Windmill or Smart Waterbomb

Here I offer some additional suggestions and a video with tips on how to give volume to the  Origami Windmill featured in my previous post (designed by Philip Chapman-Bell). This toy is made with a circular piece of paper, and it’s a lot of fun to play with children. Once all the folds have been … Read more

How to Make an Origami Windmill for Children of All Ages

Philip Chapman-Bell, an origami designer from western Massachusetts, has created a ‘Smart Waterbomb’, which he describes in this blog post. This model is made from a circular piece of paper and has only mountain and valley folds, some of which are curved. The model is economical in its folding, elegant and pleasing to make. Besides … Read more

Treasures From Patagonia in Modular Origami Boxes

As a child growing up in Colombia, Patagonia seemed an imaginary place that I always heard mentioned in statements or expressions that implied great distance. When we wanted to describe a place that was far away, we might say something like “I had to go to ‘Patagonia’ to pick up my shoes. It took forever … Read more

Fold a Flapping Bird with Recycled Paper -Which is Best?

Say YES to a Simple Joy! Say YES to Play! The origami Flapping Bird is a classical origami figure which is easy to make and a great source of joy. People of all ages always enjoy receiving this origami bird and experiencing the magic of pulling its tail to have its wings flap. All you … Read more

4 Esquinas: The Progress of Origami en Latin America

The diagrams for this sheep (Román Díaz – Uruguay) and some other models are published in 4 Esquinas (4 Corners), a free online magazine about origami in Latin America. This publication is a labor of love and published by four talented origami practitioners: Mateo Diaz (Colombia), Román Díaz (Uruguay, Nicolás Gajardo (Chile) and Eric Madrigal … Read more

An Eco-Friendly Box Made of Recycled Material

plastic box made of recycled coke bottle with origami lucky stars inside

When my friend Tricia Tait attended an origami convention in Brazil, she learned to make the box in the photograph. It is made from a coke bottle cut in a half. It could be used for many purposes, but for the paper folders, it is a perfect container to carry and protect small models. Here … Read more