These earrings are made from a variation of the sonobe units, created by Mitsonobu Sonobe. They are easy to make and look very elegant. They actually look much prettier that this :) My photographic skills at fault here.

They are made up of 3 modules each. Each module takes about a minute to make, so creating the unit takes about 10 minutes maximum! Add a couple of beads and earring hooks and voila! You have a very nice pair of earrings.

I initially tried making it with 1 inch squares, but they turned out to be too small and all details were lost. This is made from 1.5 inch squares. I guess even 2 inch squares will look good.

Model Details:

Model: Diamond Earrings from Sonobe Units 

Creator: Mitsonobu Sonobe

Difficulty Level: Simple

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 1.5 inches

Modules: 3

Tutorial: Youtube 

The spiral star is very elegant, intricate-looking origami which is surprisingly easy to make. Assembling the piece is quite easy if you use a cheat's way out.. some paper clips to hold the sides together :D

The modules start with a bird base. They are then twisted into spirals and then the modules are attached along the arms.

I loved the colour combination of red and white that I had chosen for this piece. And I loved the way the photographs have come out too.

Model Details:

Model: Spiral Star 

Creator: Grzegorz Bubniak

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 5 inches

Modules: 6

Crease Pattern: Gregorigami

Tutorial: Youtube 

There are plenty of origami vases, ranging from the ultra simple to the super complex. This vase is a simple one and shouldn't take a few minutes to complete.

As with a lot of my origami, I folded this from wrapper paper. I love how both these vases turned out! The glossiness in the paper adds a shine which looks great in my opinion.

The vase does require glue to hold the folds in place, but is still a good design to fold.

Now all that remains is making the roses/flowers that should go into the vase :)

Model Details:

Model: Chinese Vase 

Origin: Traditional

Difficulty Level: Simple

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 6 inches

Tutorial: Youtube 

So, remember the kiddie bracelets that I had made about a month back? For my daughter and her friends? And remember I promised a tutorial for that?? So here is my promised tutorial. It is quite simple to make, so have a go..

What you will need:

• Rectangular pieces of paper. You will need an even number of pieces. Around 20 - 22 pieces works for a regular size. You might need more or less depending on the size of the pieces.
• If the paper you are using is thick (like copy paper, handmade paper, wrapper paper) and if the edges are smooth (if you have used scissors or a paper cutter, then the edges will be smooth), then cut out rectangles in the ratio 1:4. 1 inches by 4 inches is a good size to start with.
• If the paper you are using is thin (like most magazine paper) or if the paper does not have even edges, then cut out rectangles in the ratio 1:2. 2 inches by 4 inches is the usual size I use for bracelets I make for adults. 1.5 inches by 3 inches works well for my daughter's bracelets.
• Tweezers or something sharp to help insert the last bit

Instructions:

Making the Unit - Type 1

If you have cut rectangles in the ratio 1:4, then make units following these steps (Click the picture above for a larger image):

1. I have used 3 colours for the bracelet. White, black/white, black.
2. Fold the rectangle in half, along the longer edge.
3. Fold in half to form a smaller version of the long rectangle. This is the completed unit. Repeat the same steps for the remaining units as well.

Making the Unit - Type 2

If you have cut rectangles in the ratio 1:2, then make units following these steps. There are a couple more steps involved, but the resulting braclet is sturdier than the first one. (Click the picture above for a larger image):

1. I used wrapper paper with a blue design on the front and plain blue on the back. I have started with the plain blue at the top.
2. Fold in half length-wise.
3. Unfold.
4. Fold the right edge to the central crease from Step 2.
5. Repeat with the left edge.
6. Refold along the central crease from Step 2.
7. Fold in half, from top to bottom. This is the completed unit. Repeat for the remaining units.

Making the Bracelet Chain

1. All the units beautifully folded before making the bracelet! :)
2. Hold one unit vertically and fold another unit around it horizontally, leaving enough space for inserting another unit. In the picture, the white is wrapped around the black.
3. Fold the leg of the vertical piece as shown. The leg will now aligned with the horizontal unit.
4. Fold the triangular leg back so that it lies on the horizontal unit. The clip is not necessary. I just needed something to hold the fold in place while photographing it!
5. Flip over so that the edge AB becomes BA. The leg is now at the top.
6. Repeat Step 3 again, as in the picture.
7. Fold over the triangular leg as in Step 4.
8. Add the next unit, this time horizontally.
9. Repeat the steps, folding the traingular bit and folding back over the previous unit.
10. Flip over, so AB becomes BA. And repeat the steps. Continue till you have the required length of bracelet.

Completing the Bracelet: 

1. Once you have completed the required length of bracelet, you will need to complete your bracelet. For this, take the last legs of the unit and insert into the space you left in the first unit of the bracelet.
2. You will need to put in a little effort, along with efforts from a tweezer in all probability, to ensure that all the bits and pieces are pushed into the little space.
3. You will need to repeat the same steps, to form the triangle and fold back.
4. You will need to repeat the same steps, to form the triangle and fold back.
5. The bit that is standing out has to be pushed behind the unit below that. Repeat the same with the other leg. This will go on the inside. A little more effort than the front leg, but not too difficult.
6. Annnnnd... Tada!! Your bracelet is complete :)

The first time I saw pics of this basket on google, I badly wanted to make it, but couldn't find the instructions anywhere. And when I finally found them a few days back on bloomize (link below), I just had to try them out and they came out quite well too..

These baskets look best when made in double sided paper that is thicker than the regular origami paper. The basket came out well, though I had some problem making the handle and finally had to resort to glue. The orange and white basket is made from single sided paper. Both the baskets were made from 10 inch paper and as you can see, it came out quite big and broad.

And in addition to being cute, they also serve well as Easter baskets and for carrying little toys :)

Model Details:

Model: Wide Basket 

Difficulty Level: Simple

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 10 inches

Tutorial: Bloomize 

I had first tried out J C Nolan's braided paper when I had initially started doing origami. Turns out it is not for a newbie!

I recently found the diagram for his Andrea's Rose and tried it out. The difficulty level is intermediate but still, it can be tried out by a beginner but requires some practise. The braided paper is still on the cards though. Maybe in a few months time..

The paper to be used should be thin but strong. The design involves making a lot of sink folds (the more levels of sinks there are, the better the rose looks) and if the paper isn't strong enough, it will tear very easily. The paper I had used for the rose above was regular printer paper. After 5 levels of sinking, the paper became too fragile. I had also tried with gift wrapper (my favourite for origami!) and with another solid coloured single sided paper. I was able to do upto 6 levels of sinks. J C Nolan's challenge is to make the rose with a 10 inch paper and have 8 levels of sinks!

Model Details:

Model: Andrea's Rose 

Creator: J C Nolan

Book: Creating Origami
 
Author: J C Nolan
 
Difficulty Level: High Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 10 inches

Diagram: Origami CZ 

The electra icosidodecahedron, created by David Mitchell, is made up of 30 electra modules, a relatively easy module to make.

I made them with green and yellow squares of 5 inches each. The band of yellow running between the green is something that I saw in one of the videos on origaminut and I have been thinking of implementing it in one of my ornaments ever since. So here I finally got the chance to do it.

Model Details:

Model: Electra 

Creator: David Mitchell

Book: Paper Crystals

Author: David Mitchell

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 5 inches

Modules: 30

Tutorial: Youtube
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This super cute pyramid box is easy to make and looks different from the traditional square or rectangle boxes. This looks especially cute when the box and the lock are done in contrasting colours. It would make an ideal gift box for presenting chocolates and other small things. Just add a string/loop at the top and you have a lovely box that can be hung from a Christmas tree perhaps.

A possible variation for the lock is Tomoko Fuse's stopper from the variety of stoppers from the book 'Home Decorating with Origami'. I have used the heart shaped stopper.

Model Details:

Model: Pyramid Box 

Difficulty Level: Simple

Paper Ratio: Square

Tutorial: Youtube 

Michael LaFosse is known for his origami butterflies and I think this Alexander Swallowtail Butterfly is by far the most beautiful of his designs. His website features quite a few of his designs. In addition, the tutorial for this butterfly is also available there.

Though I am a beginner origamist, I found the tutorial to be very useful and in spite of the design being of the intermediate level of complexity, I was able to complete it quite easily, thanks to the detailed tutorial.

The butterfly can be done in a large number of sizes, from 2-3 inches square to 6 inches squares. Duo coloured paper works best, as it brings out the change in colour in the body of the butterfly.

If you are fascinated with origami butteflies, then the book, 'Michael LaFosse's Origami Butterflies is a great find. The book describes Michael LaFosse's system for folding an unlimited variety of origami butterflies. It is an absolutely fascinating book that starts by describing the variations for creating your own unique butterfly design and ends with the diagrams for some of LaFosse's beautiful butterflies including the Alexander Swallowtail and Alexander Aztec butterflies.

Model Details:

Model: Alexander Swallowtail Butterfly

Creator: Michael LaFosse

Book: Origami Butterflies
 
Authors: Michael G. LaFosse and Richard L. Alexander
 
Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 5 inches

Model Size: ~5 inches in diameter

Tutorial: PEM Origami. To reach the tutorial, just go to the link -> Fold more models -> Origami Now! -> Butterflys. 

The bird base rose, created by James Sakoda, is an easy rose to make, comparatively speaking :) Turns out quite well. I think the rose looks best when the paper size is around 4-5 inches. I first tried it with a 6 inch paper and it turned out a bit too big.

As the name says, the model starts with a bird base, which is the starting point for folding origami birds such as the crane and the flapping bird. The bird base rose is an extension of the bird base.

Model Details:

Model: Bird Base Rose 

Creator: James Sakoda

Book: Origami Flowers

Author: James Sakoda

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 4-6 inches

Tutorial: Youtube 

Assembling 8 units of Tung Ken Lam's jitterbug modules results in cubactohedron. I like the paper I have used for this model - 8 pieces of printed origami paper, 3 inches square. But overall, I did not like the outcome. I just was not able to get crisp sides, no matter how well I creased.

As far as stability goes, the model is quite stable. 4 units are made with 2 corners folded in and 4 with 1 corner folded in. The folded in part forms the pocket. The corners slot into the pockets very well and the connections are very strong. So I used no glue.

Model Details:

Model: Jitterbug Cuboctahedron

Creator: Tung Ken Lam (creator of jitterbug units)

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper size: 3 inches

Number of modules: 8

Tutorial: Origaminut.com

The origami gyroscope, created by Lewis Simon, is actually an octahedron skeleton with a cube-shaped opening in the center. It is an easy modular origami and can be attempted by those new to origami.. It is made up of 6 square bases and 6 waterbomb bases. The square bases are placed over the waterbomb bases and connected together.

And by the way, the square bases are the only ones that are visible in the completed gyroscope. The waterbomb bases are not visible at all. When I had made it for the first time, I thought that both the bases will be visible and had used contrasting paper for them. And after assembling a couple of units, I realised that the waterbombs are not going to be seen at all! So you might want to just use white paper for creating the waterbombs :)

Model Details:

Model: Gyroscope

Creator: Lewis Simon

Book: Modular Origami Polyhedra

Authors: Lewis Simon, Bennett Arnstein, Rona Gurkewitz

Difficulty Level: Simple

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 4 inches

Number of Modules: 12

Tutorial: Youtube