Introduction: Origami Mini Book
Miniature origami books. Need I say more? These books can be made under 10 minutes if made correctly, and they can be used as decoration or you can put then to use. Although thhey have only 12 pages to write on, its made with no cuts, glue or tape. It is a small little achievement for those us who cant make a rocket or a nuclear based timer - clock. I hope you like it.
Step 1: Supplies & 1st Folds
IMPORTANT!!! FOLLOW THE PICTURES!!! YOU WILL BE LOST WITHOUT THEM!!!
a. Find yourself some origami paper. You dont have to have it, but it'll make your life a whole lot easier. The thinner the better, although this can be done with printer paper. I used 8 & 1/2" square paper from Michaels or Hobby Lobby. You are looking for the kind with color or patternes on one side and white on the other.
b. Lay the paper white-side up. This will be the pages' color in the book. Make 3 valley folds (so it makes a valley if viewed from the side) to divide the paper in 4.
c. Make 4 mountian folds between each fold you made in b. this will divide the paper into 8ths.
d. Turn the paper 90 degrees so the folds you just made are horizontal. Make 2 valley folds, dividing the paper into thirds.
e. make 3 mountian folds, each between the folds you made in d. you should now have it divided into 6 sections.
f. you should have a total of 48 sections. Be sure to leave the paper in the same position as the last picture.
Step 2: 1st Complex Folds
a. Make valley folds where you see the dark lines.
b. Fold the large and small flaps down at a 90 degree angle.
c. This will probally be the hardest part of this instructable. You're going to fold the folds you mase in a, and in step 1. It should collapse, and form what you see in the last picture.
Step 3: Finishing the Book
a. On the 'long' side, fold the 2 flaps on either side over.
b. Open it back up, but not all the way.
c. from the third picture, fold the bottom flap up twards you. (pic. 4). Do the same again, flip the flap up over itself. so it looks like the 5th picture.
d. If you open the sides ever so slightly, you will notice little flaps. Tuck the paper in front of it into those flaps.
e. Collapse the book, so it looks like the 9th picture. fold the 2 white flaps over and flatten it very well.
f. Now, fold over the blue flaps, AT THE SAME TIME, so that it is not distorted. flatten this whole thing VERY WELL. When you're done, you should get something similar to the last picture.
Step 4: The Cover
Ah, just about the last step. The cover will take a lot less time than the book. You'll need to use a Piece that is 75% the size of the paper you used for the book.
a. Make 2 diagonal mountian folds, with the colored or ptterned side face down.
b. Fold all the corners to the center.
c. Fold a third of the square over, being just a bit longer than the geight of the book.
d. Fold the bottom half up.
e. Tuck the bottom flap's corners into the pockets in the top half. FLATTEN.
f. make 2 small folds, 90 degrees, to make what you see in the 7th picture. This small gap should be the same thickness of your book.
g. fold the 2 long flaps over, about halfway, to make the book cover. Slip it onto the book and you're done!
Step 5: Final Thoughts
Wow. That sall I could think when I first made this. you might want to put the book under some pressure so that it does not flay 'open' all the time. This was my 1st instructable, and hopefully not my last. If anyone out there makes one, i'd love to see you post a picture of it. See yall 'gin soon!!!
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55 Comments
14 years ago on Step 2
you should make a video. and you shold make better pictures. i dont undrestand at all
Reply 14 years ago on Step 2
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
really really sorry but i don't know how to make it
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
i didn't really get it
Reply 13 years ago on Step 2
that vid makes no sense to me. when they folded the little triangle and it went over the paper mine lined up with the paper (1:38). also when they started folding it into the little squares mine folded into triangles... (2:19)
Reply 13 years ago on Step 2
tnks!
8 years ago on Introduction
that really helped
8 years ago on Introduction
Hey guys! I found an easier version for this mini book. Heres the link. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tBgpLhtZHkw
11 years ago on Step 5
it's to hard. I crumpled my paper . :(
12 years ago on Step 5
Mine looked great!
Gotta go make 10 more covers that each have the title of a famous book!
12 years ago on Introduction
It show that you deleted it?
13 years ago on Introduction
I know it is almost sacred among origami practictioners to use only hands for folding the paper, but when making folds in several layers of paper, good application of a "bone folder" will really help.
For your first effort at an instructable, you chose a VERY difficult project and I think you did a good job. don't give up posting projects!
13 years ago on Introduction
Very nice, thanks! Mine, sadly, had covers too short -- but I fixed it with the slide-on cover. All was well.
Very, very nice indeed. Five stars.
The 'accordian' step was a little difficult, but I eventually grokked it.
13 years ago on Step 2
im with u. i cannot figure this out.so if u make a video it will help some of us out. so make a vid.(even if u don't ill still give you 4 stars)
14 years ago on Introduction
Hey man, really cool instructable! Maybe you can add some graphics to the pages using this website somehow? I made a couple of these pocket mods...although you need a pair of scissors to make one!
http://www.pocketmod.com
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
You could print ti out on paper beforehand using an image editor such as Photoshop (or GIMP). You can use this scan as a guide, divide a square into 8x6 sections, and print & fold it. .
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
This and other models for books and many many things can be found in Kunihiko Kasahara's book "origami Omnibus" I found mine either @ Border's or Barne's & Nobel (I cant remember) but u should be able 2 find it on amazon. The thing's like 2.5-3" thick & FULL of awesome things 2 fold, even a bookcase that fits the books. I just finally filled mine completely full. (o_0) The most difficult fold in this pattern is the preliminary step1-d fold into 3rds. with practice it gets pretty easy from there sry for the long winded post
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
can u post the bookcase plz ty
13 years ago on Step 3
Hi ! I'm sorry but I don't understand step d. If I don't do that step my book seems just like yours, but I'm sure this step has his importance. which side are you talking, and which flap ? because i've found a flap but if I tuck it in the paper just in front of it, 2 pages of the book are stuck together, so I think it's the wrong flap... and I can't see on the picture... Could you help me ? The others explanations are very clear ! Thank you for that !
15 years ago on Introduction
man can u please post a video or something. its really really hard to follow a few of the pictures. esp the ones in the second set