Origami Flowers - Michael G Lafosse

Contents
Book One
Origami Symbols Key
Preliminary Posy
Alexander’s Tulip
Fresh Cut Daisy
Lantern Blossom
Square Bud
Multi-Piece Pinwheel Flower
Pinwheel Flower
Simple Tulip
Plant Base One
Lily
Water Lily
Lotus
Lily Pad
Dazzle
Bamboo
Leaf One—Bamboo
Hexagon Blossoms
Button Bud
Cherry Blossom
Leaf Wreath
Plant Base Two
Book Two
Origami Symbols Key
Trumpet Flower
Blossom
Star Flower
Striped Star Flower
Christine’s Morning Glory
Leaf Two
Aster
Chrysanthemum
Blooming Cactus
Plant Base Three
Preliminary Rose
Quickie Rose
Quickie Rose Leaf
Leaf Three
Two Lip Plant
Poinsettia
Magnolia Blossom
Plant Base Four
Thistle
Snapdragon
Origami Flowers
Book One
Michael G. LaFosse
TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo | Rutland, Vermont | Singapore
The Tuttle Story: “Books to Span the East and West”
Most people are surprised to learn that the world’s largest publisher of books on Asia had its
humble beginnings in the tiny American state of Vermont. The company’s founder, Charles E.
Tuttle, belonged to a New England family steeped in publishing. And his first love was naturally
books—especially old and rare editions.
Immediately after WW II, serving in Tokyo under General Douglas MacArthur, Tuttle was
tasked with reviving the Japanese publishing industry. He later founded the Charles E. Tuttle
Publishing Company, which thrives today as one of the world’s leading independent publishers.
Though a westerner, Tuttle was hugely instrumental in bringing a knowledge of Japan and
Asia to a world hungry for information about the East. By the time of his death in 1993, Tuttle had
published over 6,000 books on Asian culture, history and art—a legacy honored by the Japanese
emperor with the “Order of the Sacred Treasure,” the highest tribute Japan can bestow upon a non-
Japanese.
With a backlist of 1,500 titles, Tuttle Publishing is more active today than at any time in its
past—inspired by Charles Tuttle’s core mission to publish fine books to span the East and West and
provide a greater understanding of each.
Published in the United States in 2004 by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK)
Ltd.
www.tuttlepublishing.com
Copyright © 2004 by Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
LCC card No. 2005272572

ISBN 978-0-8048-3535-0
ISBN 978-1-4629-1586-6 (ebook)
Distributed by
North America, Latin America, and Europe, Tuttle Publishing, 364 Innovation Drive, North
Clarendon, VT 05759-9436 Tel: 1 (802) 773-8930; Fax: 1 (802) 773-6993 |
[email protected]; www.tuttlepublishing.com
Japan, Tuttle Publishing, Yaekari Bldg., 3F, 5-4-12 Ōsaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032 Tel: (81)
3 5437-0171; Fax: (81) 3 5437-0755 | [email protected] | www.tuttle.co.jp
Asia Pacific, BerBerkeley Books Pte. Ltd., 61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12, Singapore 368357 Tel:
(65) 6280-1330; Fax: (65) 6280-6290 | [email protected] | www.periplus.com
First edition 16 15 14 13 12 13 12 11 10 9 1210EP Printed in Hong Kong
Diagrams by Michael G. LaFosse | Photographs by Richard L. Alexander

Cover illustrations by Masturah Jeffrey | Design by Jill Feron
TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus

Editions (HK) Ltd.
Contents
Origami Symbols Key
Preliminary Posy
Alexander’s Tulip
Fresh Cut Daisy
Lantern Blossom
Square Bud
Pinwheel Flower
Simple Tulip
Plant Base One
Lily
Water Lily
Lotus
Lily Pad
Dazzle
Bamboo
Leaf One—Bamboo
Hexagon Blossoms
Button Bud
Cherry Blossom
Leaf Wreath
Plant Base Two
Origami Symbols Key
Preliminary Posy
Designed by many modern folders.
1. Use a single square of paper for the blossom and one square a
quarter of that size, in green paper, for the calyx.
For the Blossom
2. Valley-fold larger paper in half edge to edge, both ways, on the

white side. Valley-fold in half corner to corner, both ways, on the
color side.
3. Mountain- and valley-fold to bring all corners together.
4. The finished Preliminary Posy blossom.
For the Calyx
5. Valley-fold smaller paper in half edge to edge, both ways, on the

green side.
7. The finished Preliminary Posy calyx.
8. Insert the bottom of the blossom into the calyx. Use glue if you
wish.
9. The finished Preliminary Posy. This looks nice combined with Leaf
Two.
Alexander’s Tulip
Designed by Richard L. Alexander
1. Use paper colored on both like sides. Begin white side up if using
origami paper. Fold up the bottom right corner to touch to top edge.
Look ahead at step two.
2. Notice that the top right corner has an equal amount of edge
showing. Unfold.
3. Fold the right corner to touch the left edge. Align the first crease
upon itself. Unfold. Repeat with the remaining two edges.
4. The crease pattern will look
5. Mountain and valley-fold each of the pleated quarters to make a

cupped form.
6. Fold over the inner corners to lock the form.

7. The finished Alexander’s Tulip. This flower looks good combined
with Leaf One.
Fresh Cut Daisy
Traditional fold and cut techniques
1. Valley-fold in half edge to edge, both ways, on the white side.

Valley-fold in half corner to corner, both ways, on the colored side.

3. Lift corner E up and center it. Flatten E down, letting the two
layers of paper move to the outside left and right.
4. Repeat with the other three corners.
5. Cut out the shape outlined in dashes.
6. Open the paper and turn over, colored side up.

7. The finished Fresh Cut Daisy.
Lantern Blossom
Independently created by many modern folders.
1. Use a single square of paper for the blossom and one square a
quarter of that size, in green paper, for the calyx.
For the Blossom
2. Valley-fold larger paper in half edge to edge, both ways, on the

colored side.
4. Fold in the left and right corners, slightly above the center. Repeat
behind.
5. Fold over the right side of the top layer. Repeat behind.
For the Calyx

6. Valley-fold smaller paper in half edge to edge, both ways, on the
green side.
8. The finished Lantern Blossom calyx.
9. Insert the bottom of the blossom into the calyx. Use glue if you
wish.
10. The completed Lantern Blossom.

Square Bud
1. On the white side, valley-fold in half all corners and edges.
2. One at a time, valley-fold and unfold each edge of the square to

the center. Turn over.
3. Fold each corner to the center.
4. Unfold.
5. The creases will look like this. Turn over.
6. Fold in all edges to the center while folding in half all of the
corners.
7. Flatten all corners to the center of the paper.
8. Fold out the corners from the center.
9. The completed Square Bud.

Designed by Michael G. LaFosse
1. Use full size paper or quarter size. You will need eight pieces of
paper for this project.
2. Begin color side up. Fold in half, corner to corner. Unfold.

3. Fold bottom edges to the crease.
4. Turn over.
5. Fold up the bottom corner to the top corner.
6. The finished Multi-Piece Pinwheel Flower petal. You will need

eight for one flower.
7. Slip the bottom left corner of one petal unit into the triangle pocket
of another. Turn over and be sure that the bottom left corner is
inserted into the right-side unit.
8. On the original side, fold the top of the triangle of the left piece
behind the triangle corner of the right piece. Continue assembly and
turn over.
9. The finished Multi-Piece Pinwheel Flower.

Pinwheel Flower
1. Valley-fold in half corner to corner and edge to edge both ways.
2. Fold and unfold each edge of the square to the center. Turn over.
3. Fold all four corners to the center.
4. Open.
5. The crease pattern will look like this. Turn over.
6. Fold in the middle of the edges to the center while folding each
corner in half.
7. Fold each corner over to make a pinwheel shape.
8. Fold over each corner to align with an edge of the pinwheel.
9. The finished Pinwheel Flower. Make another, smaller Pinwheel

Flower, and paste it into the center.
10. A finished two-piece Pinwheel Flower.

Simple Tulip
Designed by many modern folders. Combination designed by Michael G.

LaFosse.
1. Fold in half, corner to corner.
2. Fold triangle in half, corner to corner. Unfold.

3. Fold up the bottom corners. Look at step four for the shape.
4. The finished Simple Tulip blossom.
5. Slip the bottom of the tulip into the top of Plant Base One.
6. The finished Simple Tulip.

Plant Base One
Created by many modern folders.
1. Fold in half, bottom corner to top.
2. Fold in half, corner to corner, and unfold.
3. Fold up the bottom left and right corners to the top corner.
4. Turn over, left to right.
5. Fold in the bottom edge to the center crease; allow the corners
come from the back to the front.
6. Fold up the bottom corner. Turn over.
7. The finished Plant Base One. Insert the Simple Tulip into the top
corner for a beautiful combination. This plant will stand on a table.
Lily
Traditional Japanese design
1. On the white side of the paper, make mountain folds, corner to

corner, and valley folds, edge to edge. Valley-fold and unfold the four
corners to the center.
2. Mountain-fold the C and D corners, bringing B, C and D up to A.

3. Lift corner E, open the layers and flatten it. Look ahead at step 4.
4. Repeat behind, and then with the two inside corners, turning the
layers to reveal them.
5. Move the middle edge towards the bottom, while folding in the top
edges. Repeat behind, and then with the two inside layers. Look
ahead to step 6 for the shape.
6. Fold the corner up. Repeat with the other three.

7. Fold the top layer of the right side over to the left. Repeat behind.
8. Fold the bottom left and the bottom right edges to the crease.
Repeat behind and with the middle layers.
9. Fold down the front and back petals. Repeat with the other two.
10. Open petals out.

11. Curl the petals. The finished Lily.
Water Lily
1. Fold up the bottom corner to lay next to the top corner.
2. Your paper will look like this.

3. Fold up the left and right bottom corners.
4. Turn over.
5. Fold up the bottom corner. Turn over.
6. The finished Water Lily. This lily will stand up on a table top.
Combine it with the Lily Pad project for a complete display.
Lotus
1. Fold in half, corner to corner, both ways to make crossing creases.

Unfold.
2. Fold all corners to meet at the center.

3. Fold corners to the center. Turn over.
4. Fold corners to the center.
5. Fold out each corner beyond the edges of the square.
6. Turn over.
7. Fold out corners.
8. Fold out corners.
9. The finished Lotus. Combine with the Lily Pad.

Lily Pad
Created independently by many modern folders.
1. Fold in half, edge to edge, corners. both ways to make crossing

creases. Unfold.
2. Fold opposite corners to the center.

3. Fold in half, bottom to top.
4. Fold up the left and right
5. Mountain-fold left and right corners under.
6. Mountain-fold corners behind.

7. The finished Lily Pad. Use this leaf with the Lotus, Lily, or Water
Lily.
Dazzle
1. Cut paper into quarters, approximately three inches square. You

will need eight pieces of paper for one flower.
2. Fold in half, corner to corner. Unfold.

3. Fold in the bottom right edge to the crease. Turn over, left to right.
4. Fold in the top right edge to the center crease.
5. Fold up the bottom corner, making sure that the crease hits the
corner on the right.
6. The finished petal. You will need eight to make one flower.
7. Slip the bottom left corner of one petal unit into the triangle corner
of another. Turn over.
8. Mountain-fold the left corner of the top piece behind the right flap
of paper of the bottom piece. Mountain-fold the loose corner behind.
Turn over and continue to add more petal units.
9. The finished Dazzle.

Bamboo
1. Cut a piece of square paper in half or in equal thirds to make

several rectangular strips.
2. First, fold in half, short edge to short edge and unfold. Next, fold
up the bottom edge to the center crease. Unfold.
3. Fold up, placing bottom crease on the center crease.
4. Fold up the folded edge to the first crease. Unfold the entire strip
of paper.
5. Fold in the outermost creases to meet at the center crease line.

6. Your paper will look like this. Turn over.
7. Fold in each corner to the center crease. Unfold.
8. Push in each corner. Turn over.
9. Fold outside edges in.
10. Turn over. Repeat with the other strips.

11. Connect segments by slipping the short end of one piece into the
long end of another. Arrange with Leaf One to complete the project.
Leaf One—Bamboo
2. Fold in bottom edges to the center crease.

3. Fold in left and right corners.
4. Fold in left and right top edges.
5. Turn over.
6. The finished Leaf One—Bamboo.

Hexagon Blossoms
Traditional fold and cut techniques.
1. Fold in half, corner to corner.
3. Fold the right and left corners to overlap each other in equal
thirds.
4. Cut off the top corners. Open.
5. Valley-fold across all corners and mountain-fold across the middle

of all edges.
6. Cut the shape outlined in dashes. Experiment with other shapes of

cut for more blossom designs.
7. Valley-fold the right edge of the top layer and mountain-fold the
left edge of the top layer. Repeat behind, and fold in the two middle
edges in the same fashion.
8. Open.
9. The finished Hexagon Blossoms.

Button Bud
Designed by Christine Clement
1. On the white side, valley-fold in half all corners and edges.
2. One at a time, valley-fold and unfold each edge of the square to

the center. Turn over.
3. Fold each corner to the center.
4. Unfold.
5. The creases will look like this. Turn over.
6. Fold in all edges to the center while folding in half all of the
corners.
7. Flatten all corners to the center of the paper.
8. Fold under each corner, making an octagon.
9. Curl out each of the corners from the center.
10. The finished Button Bud.

Cherry Blossom
1. Use full sized origami paper or quarter size. You will need five
pieces for each blossom. Glue is required for assembly.
2. Begin with the colored side up. Fold and unfold in half, corner to
corner, both ways.
3. Fold up the bottom corner to the center, and unfold. Mountain-fold
the top corner to the center of the back.
4. First, fold the bottom corner to the crossing creases, just above.
Fold up the bottom edge.
5. Turn over.
6. Fold up the left and right sides to the edges of the triangle flap.
7. Fold in the left and right edges to the center, tucking the corners
behind the white paper.
8. You will need five petal units for one flower. Turn over.
9. Shape the petal by folding in half while pulling up the white paper
edge. Valley-fold a notch at the top of the petal (optional).
10. Apply a small amount of glue on one side of the outside of the
white paper pocket. Add a petal and continue.
11. The finished Cherry Blossom.
Leaf Wreath
Use full size paper or quarter size. You will need ten pieces of paper for this
project.
1. Begin color side up if using origami paper. Fold in half, bottom

edge to top edge.
2. Fold down the right side of the first layer, matching it to the bottom
edge.
3. Turn over, top to bottom.
4. Fold up the right edge, matching the top edge. Unfold.
5. Fold up the right side, matching the crease to the top edge.
7. Fold up the left corner. Make sure that the crease runs from the
square corner of the triangle flap up to the notch on the left.
8. Fold up the bottom corner.
9. Turn over to see the front side. You need ten units for one wreath.
10. Insert the bottom corner of one leaf into the pocket of another.
Continue with the remaining pieces to form a wreath.
11. The finished Leaf Wreath.

Plant Base Two
1. Fold in half, bottom corner to top.
3. Fold up the bottom left and right corners to the top corner.
5. Fold in the bottom edge to the center crease; allow the corners to
6. Turn over.
7. Fold the right and left sides in, covering some of the center shape.
8. The finished Plant Base Two. Insert the Simple Tulip into the top
corner for a beautiful combination.
Origami Flowers
Book Two
Michael G. LaFosse
TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo | Rutland, Vermont | Singapore
The Tuttle Story: “Books to Span the East and West”
Most people are surprised to learn that the world’s largest publisher of books on Asia had its
humble beginnings in the tiny American state of Vermont. The company’s founder, Charles E.
Tuttle, belonged to a New England family steeped in publishing. And his first love was naturally
books—especially old and rare editions.
Immediately after WW II, serving in Tokyo under General Douglas MacArthur, Tuttle was
tasked with reviving the Japanese publishing industry. He later founded the Charles E. Tuttle
Publishing Company, which thrives today as one of the world’s leading independent publishers.
Though a westerner, Tuttle was hugely instrumental in bringing a knowledge of Japan and
Asia to a world hungry for information about the East. By the time of his death in 1993, Tuttle had
published over 6,000 books on Asian culture, history and art—a legacy honored by the Japanese
emperor with the “Order of the Sacred Treasure,” the highest tribute Japan can bestow upon a non-
Japanese.
With a backlist of 1,500 titles, Tuttle Publishing is more active today than at any time in its
past—inspired by Charles Tuttle’s core mission to publish fine books to span the East and West and
provide a greater understanding of each.
Published in the United States in 2004 by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK)
Ltd.
www.tuttlepublishing.com
Copyright © 2004 by Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
LCC card No. 2005272572

ISBN 978-0-8048-3535-0
ISBN 978-1-4629-1586-6 (ebook)
Distributed by
North America, Latin America, and Europe, Tuttle Publishing, 364 Innovation Drive, North
Clarendon, VT 05759-9436 Tel: 1 (802) 773-8930; Fax: 1 (802) 773-6993 |
[email protected]; www.tuttlepublishing.com
Japan, Tuttle Publishing, Yaekari Bldg., 3F, 5-4-12 Ōsaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032 Tel: (81)
3 5437-0171; Fax: (81) 3 5437-0755 | [email protected] | www.tuttle.co.jp
Asia Pacific, BerBerkeley Books Pte. Ltd., 61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12, Singapore 368357 Tel:
(65) 6280-1330; Fax: (65) 6280-6290 | [email protected] | www.periplus.com
First edition 16 15 14 13 12 13 12 11 10 9 1210EP Printed in Hong Kong
Diagrams by Michael G. LaFosse | Photographs by Richard L. Alexander

Cover illustrations by Masturah Jeffrey | Design by Jill Feron
TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus

Editions (HK) Ltd.
Contents
Origami Symbols Key
Trumpet Flower
Blossom
Star Flower
Striped Star Flower
Leaf Two
Aster
Chrysanthemum
Blooming Cactus
Plant Base Three
Preliminary Rose
Quickie Rose
Quickie Rose Leaf
Leaf Three
Two Lip Plant
Poinsettia
Magnolia Blossom
Plant Base Four
Thistle
Snapdragon
Origami Symbols Key
Trumpet Flower
1. Use full size or quarter sized paper. One square makes one
flower.

Valley-fold in half corner to corner, both ways, on the colored side.
3. Mountain and valley-fold to bring all corners together.
4. Valley-fold the bottom right edge of the first layer to the front.
Mountain-fold the bottom left edge of the first layer behind. Repeat
behind.
5. Open.
6. The finished Trumpet Flower. Combine with any of the leaf

projects.
Blossom

will need six pieces of paper for one flower.

3. First, fold in the bottom right edge to the crease. Fold down the
top corner, half way to the square corner.
4. Fold in the top left edge to the center crease. Turn the paper over,
left to right.
5. Fold up the bottom corner, making sure that the crease hits the
corner on the right.
6. The finished petal. You will need six to make one flower.
7. Slip the bottom left corner of one petal unit into the triangle corner
of another. Turn over.
8. Mountain-fold the left corner of the top piece behind the right flap
of paper of the bottom piece. Mountain-fold the loose corner. Turn
over and continue to add more petal units.
9. The finished Blossom.

Star Flower
1. Begin with full size or quarter sized paper. You will need eight
pieces for this project.
3. Fold in the top left and right edges to the crease.

4. Mountain-fold the bottom left and right edges the center of the
back.
6. The finished petal. You will need eight for one flower.
7. Slip the bottom left corner of one unit into the triangle pocket of
another. Turn over.
8. Tuck the bottom left corner in. Turn over and add another unit.
Continue with the remaining units.
9. The completed Star Flower.

Striped Star Flower
1. Begin with full size or quarter sized paper. You will need eight
pieces for this project.

3. Fold in the top left and right edges to the crease.
4. Fold corners in to the crease lines.
5. Fold top edges to the crease lines and fold over again.
6. Mountain-fold the bottom left and right edges the center of the
back.
9. Slip the bottom left corner of one unit into the triangle pocket of
another. Turn over.
10. Tuck the bottom left corner in. Turn over and add another unit.
Continue with the remaining units.
11. The completed Striped Star Flower.
Designed by Christine Clement
Use a full size sheet of origami paper, green on one side and white on the
other.

Valley-fold in half corner to corner, both ways, on the green side.

3. Lift corner E up and center it. Flatten E down, letting the two
layers of paper move to the outside left and right.
4. Repeat with the other three corners.
5. Fold over the right top layer to the left. Repeat on the other side.
6. Fold out the two inside corners, turning them inside-out, from
white to green; as far as they will go.
7. Fold down the front layer. Repeat behind.
8. Fold under the four inside corners. Twist the outside corners.
9. The finished Christine’s Morning Glory.

Leaf Two
1. Begin with the colored side up. Fold in half, corner to corner.
Unfold.
2. Fold in bottom edges to the center crease.

3. Turn over.
4. Fold in left and right long edges.
5. Turn over.
6. Open out the left and right corners.
7. The finished Leaf Two. Use it to add foliage to any suitable

blossom.
Aster


3. Fold bottom edges to the crease. Unfold.
4. Fold corners to the nearest crease.
5. Fold in to meet at the center crease.
6. Turn over.
7. Fold bottom corner up, level with the side corners of the kite.
8. You will need eight. Turn over to begin assembly.
9. Tuck in left corner. Turn over.
10. Tuck in left corner. Mountain fold top left layer, follow the line of
the triangle point.
11. Eight pieces assembled, back and front views.
Chrysanthemum


3. Fold in the top edges to the center crease.
4. Turn over.
5. Fold in the bottom edges to the center.
6. Fold down the top corner.

7. Fold in half.
8. Pull out the inner corner.
9. You will need eight petal units to make one flower. Apply a small
amount of glue inside the top edge and on one side of the outside
top edge.
10. Glue all eight together, as shown. Bring the outside edges
together with glue.
11. The finished Chrysanthemum.
Blooming Cactus

will need at least six pieces of paper for the cactus plant and three or
more pieces for the flowers.
For the Blossom
2. Fold in half, bottom corner to top corner.

4. Fold up the left and right corners to the top corner.
6. Fold in the bottom left and right edges, allowing the corners at the
back to come out to the front.
7. Turn over.
8. Fold in the left and right edges, covering some of the center
shape.
9. The finished Blooming Cactus blossom.
For the Base
10. Begin color side up if using origami paper. Fold in half, bottom
edge to top edge.
11. Fold down the right side of the first layer, matching it to the
bottom edge.
13. Fold up the right edge, matching the top edge. Unfold.
14. Fold up the right side, matching the crease to the top edge.
16. Fold up the left corner. Make sure that the crease runs from the
square corner of the triangle flap up to the notch on the left.
18. The finished Blooming Cactus base. There are two places where
you can fit other pieces into the back. Turn over to see the front side.
19. Be creative! Fit together as many segments as you like, adding

cactus blossoms at the ends. You may use glue to make your cactus
design permanent.
Plant Base Three
1. Valley-fold in half corner to corner, both ways, on the white side.

Valley-fold in half edge to edge, both ways, on the colored side.
3. Fold the left half over to the right half.

4. Fold corner A to the left.
5. Fold corner C to the left, but not as far.
6. Fold corner D to the left, but not as far.
7. The completed plant. Insert the Blooming Cactus flower, the

Simple Tulip, or the Lantern Blossom, for a beautiful flowering plant.
Preliminary Rose

Mountain-fold in half corner to corner, both ways, on the colored
side.

3. Fold the bottom right edges up to the top left edges. Unfold.
Repeat behind.
4. Fold the bottom left edges up to the top right edges. Unfold.
Repeat behind.
5. Create a twist by folding just the top layer of each lower left edge
to the upper right edge, so that corner A meets corner B. Make a
vertical crease halfway down the square so the edge lies flat, then
unfold. Repeat on the back and then on each of the sides. Form the
rose by letting the creases fall back into place.
6. Push in the top of the center point and pinch the sides in, making
an X-shaped pocket. Curl downward each of the eight corners to
form graceful petals.
7. The finished Preliminary Rose. Combine it with Leaf Three or with

the Quickie Rose Leaf.
Quickie Rose
Designed by Gay Merrill Gross
1. Use a piece of square paper colored on both sides. You can place
origami paper back to back if you wish. Fold in half, corner to corner,
both ways. Unfold.
2. Fold all four corners to the center.

3. Valley-fold in half, edge to edge, both ways. Mountain-fold in half,
corner to corner, both ways. Use these creases to form the shape
shown in step four. Use the letters, A through F, as a guide.
4. Valley fold corner B to the top. Mountain-fold corner A to the top.

Repeat behind with C and D. You will be forming a pinwheel shape,
so be sure that each corner is folded in the correct direction. Look
ahead at step five for the shape.
5. Gently open out the four corners that you folded in step four until
the folds you made form right angles. Pull out the four corners of the
original square of paper to meet the sides.
6. Shape the corners evenly and you will have a good beginning
form. Push in the top of the center point, making a X-shaped pocket
in the center of the blossom.
7. Gracefully curl the petals! Add the Quickie Rose leaf for the final
effect.
Quickie Rose Leaf
Designed by Gay Merrill Gross
1. Begin with green origami paper, white side up. Fold in half, corner
to corner, and unfold. Fold in bottom edges to the center crease.
2. Fold bottom corner up to the green corners. Unfold.

3. Fold in half.
4. Beginning at the crease mark, mountain and valley fold to make

leaf veins. Open paper.
5. Mountain fold bottom corner to the back.
6. Fold in the side and bottom corners to round the shape. Turn over.
7. Pinch the top layer corner in half and bend it down to one side to
form a spike.
8. Fold the long edges of spike over to make it thinner. Stand the
spike straight up.
9. The finished Quickie Rose Leaf. Place a Quickie Rose, or other

blossom, on the spike.
Leaf Three

4. Fold in half, right to left.
5. Fold top layer to the right, at an angle.
6. Turn over.
7. The finished Leaf Three. Use it to add foliage to any suitable
blossom.
Two Lip Plant
1. Use green and red papers, back to back. Begin with the red side
up. Fold in half, bottom corner to top corner.
2. Fold in half and unfold.

3. Fold up the bottom left and right corners.
4. Turn over.
5. Fold in the bottom edge to the center crease; allow the corners to
6. Turn over.
7. Fold down the first layer of the top corner.

8. Mountain-fold the top and bottom red corners behind.
9. Fold the right and left sides in, with some of the paper going
behind the center shape. Dent in the top of the upper lip.
10. The completed Two Lip Plant. Insert a written message between
the lips!
Poinsettia
1. Use full size or quarter size papers. You will need eight pieces to
make one flower.

3. Fold in the bottom right edge to the crease. Turn over.
4. Fold in the bottom right edge to the crease.
5. Fold up the bottom corner to match the white square corner.
7. Slip the bottom left corner of one petal unit into the triangle pocket
of another.
8. Mountain-fold corner behind, making the fold run parallel to the

center crease of the top unit. Be sure to take the triangular point of
the paper behind when performing this step.
9. Two units joined. Glue is not required. Add the remaining units.
10. The completed Poinsettia.

Magnolia Blossom
Created by Michael G. LaFosse
1. Use full size paper or quarter size. You will need five or six pieces
of paper for this project.
2. Begin color side up. Fold in half, corner to corner, and unfold.
3. Fold in the left and the right corners to the center.

4. Mountain-fold the left and right bottom edges to the middle of the
back.
6. The completed petal. Make five or six for one flower.
7. Apply a small amount of glue to the bottom left corner of a petal

unit. Slip this corner into the triangle pocket of another unit.
8. Valley-fold to make a hinge. Add additional petal units.
9. The completed Magnolia Blossom.

Plant Base Four

4. Fold in to meet at the center crease.
5. Mountain-fold top corner behind. Fold up bottom corner to the top

edge.
6. The finished Plant Base Four. Insert any flat blossom for a
beautiful presentation!
Thistle


3. Fold in the top edges to the center crease.
4. Turn over.
5. Fold in the bottom edges to the center.
6. Fold down the top corner.

7. Fold in half.
8. Pull out the inner corner.
9. You will need eight petals to make one flower. Apply a small
amount of glue to one side of the outside top edge.
10. Glue all eight together, as shown. Bring the outside edges
together with glue.
11. The finished Thistle.
Snapdragon
1. Begin with quarter sized paper. One square makes one flower.
You can group several blossoms into a cluster, to resemble a spike
of snapdragons.
2. Begin colored side up. Fold in half, edge to edge. Unfold.

3. Valley-fold the top corners to the center of the front. Mountain-fold
the bottom corners to the center of the back.
4. Your paper will look like this.
5. Mountain-fold the top corner to the center of the back.
6. Mountain-fold in half and rotate the bottom corner to the left.
7. Fold up the bottom corner while pulling open the right flap. Repeat
behind.
8. The finished Snapdragon.

Origami Flowers - Michael G Lafosse

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Copyright © 2004 by Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.

LCC card No. 2005272572

First edition 16 15 14 13 12 13 12 11 10 9 1210EP Printed in Hong Kong

Diagrams by Michael G. LaFosse | Photographs by Richard L. Alexander

TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus

Designed by many modern folders.

For the Blossom

2. Valley-fold larger paper in half edge to edge, both ways, on the

4. The finished Preliminary Posy blossom.

For the Calyx

5. Valley-fold smaller paper in half edge to edge, both ways, on the

7. The finished Preliminary Posy calyx.

Designed by Richard L. Alexander

4. The crease pattern will look

5. Mountain and valley-fold each of the pleated quarters to make a

6. Fold over the inner corners to lock the form.

Traditional fold and cut techniques

1. Valley-fold in half edge to edge, both ways, on the white side.

2. Mountain- and valley-fold to bring all corners together.

4. Repeat with the other three corners.

5. Cut out the shape outlined in dashes.

6. Open the paper and turn over, colored side up.

Independently created by many modern folders.

For the Blossom

2. Valley-fold larger paper in half edge to edge, both ways, on the

For the Calyx

7. Mountain- and valley-fold to bring all corners together.

8. The finished Lantern Blossom calyx.

10. The completed Lantern Blossom.

Designed by many modern folders.

1. On the white side, valley-fold in half all corners and edges.

2. One at a time, valley-fold and unfold each edge of the square to

5. The creases will look like this. Turn over.

8. Fold out the corners from the center.

9. The completed Square Bud.

Designed by Michael G. LaFosse

2. Begin color side up. Fold in half, corner to corner. Unfold.

5. Fold up the bottom corner to the top corner.

6. The finished Multi-Piece Pinwheel Flower petal. You will need

9. The finished Multi-Piece Pinwheel Flower.

Designed by Michael G. LaFosse

1. Valley-fold in half corner to corner and edge to edge both ways.

5. The crease pattern will look like this. Turn over.

8. Fold over each corner to align with an edge of the pinwheel.

9. The finished Pinwheel Flower. Make another, smaller Pinwheel

10. A finished two-piece Pinwheel Flower.

Designed by many modern folders. Combination designed by Michael G.

1. Fold in half, corner to corner.

2. Fold triangle in half, corner to corner. Unfold.

4. The finished Simple Tulip blossom.

6. The finished Simple Tulip.

Created by many modern folders.

1. Fold in half, bottom corner to top.

2. Fold in half, corner to corner, and unfold.

6. Fold up the bottom corner. Turn over.

Traditional Japanese design

1. On the white side of the paper, make mountain folds, corner to

2. Mountain-fold the C and D corners, bringing B, C and D up to A.