Back towards the end of May I posted a picture of a very tiny set of origami that I made using bond paper and my fingers and the question was asked, “How do you make them?”
Apparently claiming magic is frowned upon by the Instructables community.
I believe the following instructable will help to answer your questions.
Folding small models is, in many ways similar to folding regular sized models. Really there are two main challenges to it. First is paper thickness. We take for granted that paper is..well...paper thn! It makes it easy to fold because it is thin relative to the overall size. Once we get down to small scales the ratio of paper thickness to paper width is much less generous. Add to that the fact that each time you fold over you double your thickness and this is like folding a phone book.
I was considering demonstrating this through an interpritave dance, but I went for the instructional video.
Part 1: I introduce some basic ideas and fold the first large model
Apparently claiming magic is frowned upon by the Instructables community.
I believe the following instructable will help to answer your questions.
Folding small models is, in many ways similar to folding regular sized models. Really there are two main challenges to it. First is paper thickness. We take for granted that paper is..well...paper thn! It makes it easy to fold because it is thin relative to the overall size. Once we get down to small scales the ratio of paper thickness to paper width is much less generous. Add to that the fact that each time you fold over you double your thickness and this is like folding a phone book.
I was considering demonstrating this through an interpritave dance, but I went for the instructional video.
Part 1: I introduce some basic ideas and fold the first large model
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The second problem you will run into is your giant meat hooks. Even if you are a petitie little wisp, at these scales you might as well be folding with your elbows.
This also makes it hard to demonstrate techniques because my own fingers get in the way of seeing the paper. You will need to practice this. It is helpful to practice folding without looking because so much of this will be based on your sense of touch.
I'm going to throw back over to the video here where you can see this on the first small scale model. The fox model is from Origami Omnibus by Kunihiko Kasahara, which has the full instructions and so much more.
Part 2: I go down to the smaller scales with a model of a Fox
This also makes it hard to demonstrate techniques because my own fingers get in the way of seeing the paper. You will need to practice this. It is helpful to practice folding without looking because so much of this will be based on your sense of touch.
I'm going to throw back over to the video here where you can see this on the first small scale model. The fox model is from Origami Omnibus by Kunihiko Kasahara, which has the full instructions and so much more.
Part 2: I go down to the smaller scales with a model of a Fox
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I've done small origami before but these techniques were great.
I've used post-it notes (yellow) and receipts (white).
These are the smallest I've made. The last one is the smallest.
All are full cranes.
No tools, no eye magnifiers
Did you make them before or after reading/watching?
But I have done small stuff before like the crane and Japanese box with legs out of paper tabs on the end of the string on tea bags.
I started some small cranes last October'11 out of thermal receipt paper.
I'm always doing cranes to help with stress relief.
These definitely take more effort.
The reverse folds for the head and tails are the worst. Have to keep the fold intact on the wings while reversing the rest of the fold.
Funny is they keep getting blown away on my desk.
I used the dime as a reference because I wanted to compare to JC Nolan's foil cranes (http://www.creatingorigami.com/gallery/photos-html/index.html).
I also recently received his book from the kick starter project he had (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1925886496/creating-origami-a-foldable-sonata-in-paper).
I like the challenge of it. How small without tools.
I make a lot of them from the paper wrappers for silverware at restaraunts, but the sticky parts pose a challenge.
Though not anywhere close to the smallness of your models, your video did give me the reassurance and confidence to make something smaller than I thought I could. I'm excited to try other models and to keep shrinking them down :)