Step 1: What You'll Need...

-A piece of any kind of paper, square or rectangle -Scissors (optional) -Two hands you can control

Step 2: Squaring Off

If your piece of paper is square, skip this step. If your paper is rectangular, like mine, you'll need to hear this. First, take the corner of your paper and bring it flush to the other side, making sure you make a triangle. Now, make a good crease and cut off the excess.

Step 3: The Base

Now that your paper is square, we need to make the base of our bird. Unfold your paper and there should be an inverted slanted line. You need to fold again in the opposite direction as shown. Now that you have an X on your paper turn it over and make a + into fourths as shown.

Step 4: This Is Going to Get Tricky

This part is one that took me a while to get. So I'll make this as painless as possible. First look at the first picture on this step and make sure yours is laid out like mine. Next, take the outside corners and bring them to the bottom. After you've done that, there will be an odd shaped "flap" sticking up.Fold it along the previously made crease. NOTE: if you keep ending up with a triangle, turn the paper over and try again.

Step 5: Forming the Body ( the Other Tricky Part)

Now that we got through the tricky part, we need to start forming a body on our crane. This may be confusing at first but bare with me. Fold all the outside corners flush against the inside crease. Then fold the triangle that is on top. Unfold. Now for the tricky part, take the bottom corner of the top layer and squash fold it until the sides are symmetrical.Do this to both sides. NOTE: This may take more than one try for it is not well explainable in black and white.

Step 6: Head, Tail, Wings

CONGRATULATIONS! You've made it through the worst part! Now is when you really see your bird coming to life. First, take the outside of the lower part of the body and fold it in half. Repeat on all sides. Now open up one of the flaps and there will be a pre creased line. Fold your part up and into it while folding it in half. Repeat on other side.

Step 7: Almost There

Now for the fun part. Fold the wings down the the desired heights and crease for the head.

Step 8: And Now You Have a Paper Crane

Now that you have made your paper crane you can do whatever you want with it. Throw it at your friends is always the fun way to go. ;) Remember, every crane will be different, and if you didn't get it the first time, comment any questions and I will try to help. Origami is an art, and takes a little practice. An old Japanese legend says that a gift of a paper crane is a sign of true friend ship, and that if one folds 1000 and gives them to true friends with true hearts, they will get a wish. Fold away. <3