Origami Fish Mobile

How to make an attractive fish mobile from paper.

Step 1:

All of the fish are made from paper. As a demonstration I will use plain paper but for the mobile I recommend you use wrapping paper in your favourite design.

The steps are illustrated in the following photographs.

Step 2:

You will need some scissors, wrapping or plain paper, bamboo barbecue skewers and some cotton thread.

Step 3:

You need to make the paper into a square by folding into a triangle and cutting off the rectangle. See the pictures for details.

Step 4:

With the folded edge towards you fold up the right hand corner to meet the point.

Repeat with the other corner.

Step 5:

Turn the diamond round so the open end is towards you and fold up the top flap to meet the top point

Repeat with the other flap.

Step 6:

Fold down the top right hand flap to the side - this makes the fish's fin.

Repeat with the left hand flap.

Step 7:

Fold up the bottom to about half way between the top point and the middle of the shape.

Make another fold up to the middle as in the pictures - this makes the fish's gills.

Step 8:

Fold the bottom flap behind to make a shape called a Samurai hat.

Step 9:

The next step is a bit confusing - so follow the photographs and put the samurai hat on your thumb. Then squash the hat sideways to form another diamond shape.

Step 10:

This is the hardest part - to make the tail you will need to cut the back section.

That is NOT the part with the gill fold - cut half way up on each side.

NOTE this is 2 cuts, 1 under each flap

Step 11:

Put the fish back on your thumb.

Place the other thumb in the middle of the tail and pull the tip towards you making a reverse fold in the tail where it is cut.

Step 12:

Almost finished - Turn the bottom edge of the fish in to make a flat bottom on each side.

This gives the fish a 3D look.

You can now add eyes a and a mouth if you like.

Step 13:

To make the mobile you will need to make several fish.

Try making the different sizes to make it more interesting and out of different patterned paper.

Glue or pass a length of thread through the body so you can hang the fish on the bamboo skewers.

Several fish in different sizes can be arranged to balance and make an interesting visual effect as they swing and swim in the breeze.

The mobile pictured hangs in my sun room.