Oversized Origami - Larger Than Life House Cat

Sooner or later most people try some sort of origami (probably a paper crane) made from ordinary paper at a scale that is useful in most applications. That's perfectly fine, but there may come a time in your life that you feel you need to make a bigger, more impressive paper folded marvel. If so, continue reading and learn from my trial and error...

Step 1: Supplies

You really only need paper for origami, and in my humble opinion, bigger paper is better paper. You'll want to go where the giant paper variety is the best. A few good resources are art/craft suppliers, teacher suppliers, and sometimes restaurant suppliers.

Art supply stores (especially online versions) often carry wide rolls of paper. The ideal paper is very strong but very thin. Cotton content is usually a good thing for strength. Depending on what you're making transparency, prints or textures can enhance your design, so choose carefully.

Teacher supply stores often have big rolls of paper used for covering bulletin boards and similar applications. These can be cost effective, but do be aware that they will often be prone to fading and not made to last.

Restaurant supply stores carry butcher paper, and that can be a great material, too.

I used a 48 inch wide black paper made by Spectra Art: http://www.dickblick.com/products/spectra-artkraft-duo-finish-art-paper/

Step 2: Practice and Scale

Decide what you would like to make, then make it with ordinary size origami (or typing) paper. Make it a few times, until you really understand it. Folding giant paper is hard so it's not a great time to experiment. There are hundreds of books and websites on the topic if you don't already have a design planned. I used a variation on this: http://www.origami-diagram.com/cat

This is a good time for very complicate forms, and for improvising in some extra detail folds. You'll probably be working 5x larger or more, so play around with some extras. 

Unless you have a very sturdy paper or are willing to glue in extra supports (did you hear the origami purists gasp?) choosing a sturdy design with lots of layers is best. A paper crane will probably be really floppy and limp, whereas a heavily layered elephant will be more likely to stand up well.

When you have a model you like chosen and tested, you can use a bit of math to determine what size of finished model a piece of giant paper will result in. If a 6 inch square makes a 2 inch tall kitty, a 48 inch square will make a 16 inch tall kitty. If the final size is very important to you it's easy to calculate it this way.

Step 3: Cut the Paper

If you paper isn't square when you get it (and I can't imagine why it would be) you'll have to cut it and make sure it's square.

Unroll enough paper to fold it along the diagonal into a rough square area.

Fold on the diagonal, but it a bit further out.

Fold that in half, again on the diagonal, aligning the edge very accurately.

Fold it in half one more time.

Use something square to cut it all off neatly, then unfold your perfect square, ready to use!

Step 4: Fold the Giant Version

Clear lots of space on the floor (or large table if you have one.) Lots. If I laid down on my paper on the diagonal it was bigger than I am tall.

Fold this paper the same as the small, being sure to use a lot of care to align well. What would be a tiny error in normal paper is now a giant error.

Step 5: Display Time!

Set your model up somewhere, mount it on a wall, place it in a display case, whatever. Sun and water are the primary enemies, keep it clear of those. If you're having structural issues you can prop, tape or glue in extra support. Glue can cause wrinkling so test it first. Scaling up these sorts of designs can create very dramatic statement decorative pieces. This could also be used to make vases or boxes large enough for substantial objects.