The TUVWXYZ star is a complex modular planar model, designed by the amazing Meenakshi Mukerji.

The model consists of 7 intersecting stars, each star made of 6 arms. All the stars meet at the centre of the model. A total of 42 modules are required for the star, 7 colours and 6 modules in each colour. Folding the modules is quite simple, though time consuming.

Assembling the star is a good puzzle! I had trouble in understanding when to start adding the 7th colour, since you actually start with 6 colours. I eventually did figure it out :) The 7th star is the first one to get completed. In the picture, this was the orange coloured one.

Model Details:

Model: TUVWXYZ Star

Creator: Meenakshi Mukerji

Book: Ornamental Origami

Author: Meenakshi Mukerji

Difficulty Level: Complex

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 4 inches

Instructions: http://britishorigami.info/academic/davidpetty/origamiemporium/images/mm_tuvwxyz.gif

Number of Modules: 42

Robin Glynn's 6-sided star box turned out to be quite interesting! I rather liked the way the 2D module is turned into a 3D piece. The modules link well together. The lock for the base is slightly difficult to do, but it ensures that no glue is required.

The box should be done using stiff paper. Else it doesn't hold the shape well. Solid colours, in alternate colours, would be better for the box I think. But I can never forgo a chance to use wrapper paper, so that is what I used :)

Model Details:

Model: Star Box 

Creator: Robin Glynn

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 5 inch squares

Modules: 12

Tutorial: Youtube (Base and Lid)

Diagram: Origami Diagram


I have previously made triangular boxes from 3 modules and wanted to try out one from a single sheet of paper. And found out Thoki Yenn's triangular box, where both the box and the lid are made from a single sheet of A4 size paper.

I love how economical the box and lid is! The box is made from half the A4 paper and the lid from half a square from the same sheet. The instructions sound quite complex, but making these boxes is actually quite simple.

Model Details:

Model: Triangular Boxes

Creator: Thoki Yenn

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: A4

Instructions: Erik Demaine

I like making boxes from single sheets of paper. For one thing, they are quite economical and for another, you can just grab a piece of paper and start working on the box!

This pentagonal box is designed by Rikki Donachie and is made from a single A4 sheet of paper. It is quite easy to fold. I folded the base such that the height was a little more than the lid. Otherwise, both base and lid were the same.

Model Details:

Model: Pentagonal Boxes

Creator: Rikki Donachie

Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: A4

Paper Size: 7 inches

Tutorial: Youtube

Butterfly earrings are not very easy to make, but the earrings that result from them are quite beautiful. Well, what else would you expect from a butterfly? :)

I liked the green earrings that I made. I had included green butterfly beads as well and loved how the whole thing turned out! Another of my earrings that I ended up keeping with me, since I couldn't bear to part with them!




I hadn't come across any 5-sided modular boxes until recently. Modular pentagonal boxes are not very common and one of the first pentagonal box I came across was Dennis Walker's Cherry Blossom Box.

A very pretty box to fold, it ends up with a star shape in the top and 5 petals on top of the star. It folds best with 80 gsm paper. I had this beautiful gift wrapper paper which worked out very well.

Model Details:

Model: Cherry Blossom Box

Creator: Dennis Walker

Difficulty Level: High Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 4 inches

Instructions: Lid, Base

Number of Modules: 10 (5 for lid and 5 for base)

This spider from Eric Keneeway's book 'Complete Origami' is a fairly easy origami to do. But a little bit of kirigami also comes into play, so origami purists would not be keen on folding this little guy, I suppose.

The origami starts with a a frog base and builds up on that. I folded this from 8-inch square 60 gsm paper. It should be mentioned that there are plenty of layers of folds that go into the model. So thin paper is an absolute must.

Model Details:

Model: Spider 

Creator: Bob Allen

Book: Complete Origami
 
 
Difficulty Level: Low Intermediate

Paper Ratio: Square

Paper Size: 6 inches

Model Size: ~3 inches in length