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