How to Fold Hello Kitty Origami Paper Set for Beginners

Quick Answer

Start with a single square from your Hello Kitty Origami Paper Set and follow the basic crane fold as your first project. This guide walks you through the essential folds step by step.

Step-by-Step: Your First Hello Kitty Origami Crane

1. Step 1: Prepare Your Square: Choose one sheet from your Hello Kitty Origami Paper Set. Place it pattern-side down on a clean, flat surface. Align the edges with your work surface to ensure your folds stay straight. A common mistake is using a wrinkled or creased sheet; smooth it with your palm first.
2. Step 2: Fold the Paper in Half Diagonally: Bring the bottom right corner to the top left corner, matching edges exactly. Crease firmly with your fingernail, then unfold. Repeat with the remaining diagonal to create an X-shaped crease. Weak creases cause the final model to collapse; use a ruler or bone folder for a sharp fold.
3. Step 3: Fold in Half Both Ways: Fold the paper in half horizontally and vertically, creasing each time and then unfolding. You should now have a grid of four squares with diagonal lines crossing. If you skip unfolding after each fold, the next step becomes confusing. Unfold completely before moving on.
4. Step 4: Create the Preliminary Base: Bring all four corners to the center by pushing the sides inward along the creases. Flatten the paper into a smaller square with two flaps on each side. This is called the square base in origami. It's easy to tear the paper if you rush. Go slowly and let the creases guide the folds naturally.
5. Step 5: Fold Edges to the Center Line: With the square base pointy end up, fold the right and left edges of the top layer to meet the vertical center line. Crease well, then fold the top point down. Unfold all three folds. Make sure the edges align exactly; misaligned folds cause the neck and tail to look uneven later.
6. Step 6: Pull Up the Inner Layer: Lift the top layer of the bottom point while pressing the side creases inwards. Flatten into a diamond shape—one corner points up, the other points down. Flip the paper and repeat on the other side. If the paper feels stuck, check that you unfolded the previous folds completely before lifting.
7. Step 7: Form the Neck and Tail: Fold the top two flaps of the diamond outward and upward at a slight angle so they resemble a neck and tail. Crease firmly, then reverse-fold each one by pushing the fold inside and flattening. Common mistake: folding both flaps at the same angle. The neck should be slightly higher than the tail to get the classic crane silhouette.

What You Get with the Hello Kitty Origami Paper Set

• Hello Kitty Origami Paper Set: Each pad includes 2 designs with 10 sheets each, measuring 6" x 6". The standard origami size works well for hands of all ages, and having multiple sheets lets you practice the same fold until it clicks.