How To Make a Paper Crane

It’s hard not to love a classic paper crane. Have you ever seen them strung together as a delicate garland? En masse as decor for a party? As far as we’re concerned, learning how to fold a paper crane is almost as life-empowering as learning to fold paper airplanes. Take five minutes. Learn how to make your own. It’s a fun party trick and a skill that comes in handy at the most unusual times.

For the best results, go slowly, line up the edges of your origami paper carefully, and use the edge of your fingernail to make firm creases. You won’t need anything more than that.

1. Use a square piece of paper to make your crane. If one side is colorful, lie it flat, colorful side up. Fold it in half on the diagonal to create a triangle. Then unfold it and refold it on the other diagonal. Open the paper and lie it flat.

2. Flip the paper so the opposite side is up (the colored side will be down). Fold the paper in half to create a rectangle. Unfold and refold on the opposite side to create a ‘+’ in the paper.

3. Using both hands, refold the paper along all of the creases at once. The premade folds will guide the colorful side to be on the outside. It will collapse to become a square.

4. With the open end of the square facing you, fold the top layers toward the center. It will look like a kite or the start of a paper airplane. Turn the crane over and repeat.

5. Fold the tip of the paper down over the folds. Create a firm crease. Then, release the fold and turn the paper over. Repeat the fold on the other side.

6. Unfold the creases you made in steps four, five and six. The creases you made will come in handy, but for now, it is just a square with the open end facing you.

7. Lift the top layer of paper at the bottom corner. Following the pre-made creases, pull this bottom corner straight above the top corner.

8. Flip and repeat on the other side. It now looks like a diamond shape.

9. Make the diamond even narrower by folding the two edges in to meet the center crease.

10. Turn over and repeat.

11. Without opening any of the new creases, flip the top layer on the right edge of the diamond so it folds to touch the left edge. (It’ll feel like turning the page of a book.)

12. Turn the crane over and repeat the same action, folding the "page" from right to left.

13. Lift and fold the top layer of the lower point. It will meet the top point (or, at least, it will be very close). Turn the crane over and repeat with the other side.

14. Fold the top layer to the left (again, like turning the page of a book). Turn it over and repeat.

15. Fold the wings, creating a crease on each side. Then, bend the head so the crane forms a beak.

16. Hold both wings close to the body of the crane and pull them outward. This will extend the body so it can stand on its own.