Can You Fold It? It is possible to do Origami with Many Different Materials.
Towelgami?? Photo by Ivan Minov
Beyond Paper Squares. Don't Limit Your Folding to Paper Squares
Look outside the box...or even the square. Inspiration is everywhere.
Wire mesh origami cranes
Paper is Great to Create Origami, but....
There are so many other possiblities to explore!
But somewhere along the line of trying to fold 1000 cranes from paper, I began to wonder about folding fabric. Shortly after I began working with polymer clay, I was asking myself, "Can I fold a crane from clay?" Eventually, the answer was, "Yes!!"
After folding several thousand cranes from polymer clay, and several other forms, I have learned many of the ins and outs of what is unique about folding clay. And I have deepened my understanding of origami along the way.
Each material offers it's own challenges. Some materials will conform more easily to what would be challenging folds in paper, but, they present other challenges.
Clay sticks to itself, cannot be made as thin as paper, and has limits to how much it can be handled.
Fabric needs to be pressed, and a stiffener to stay in it's folds. Felt needs to be needle felted to lock into position. Metal faces failure on the fold if manipulated too much, and the edges of wire mesh can be a threat to your fingers.
Other paper variations present challenges as well. Dollar bills have a different proportion, but the paper is strong. Business cards are a different proportion, and bulkier. Vellum will leave very visible crease marks in the paper.
Folding different materials presents new challenges. How do you overcome these potential hurdles. But, that can stir up the creative juices. And many of the other materials are more durable than many forms of paper.
One of the appeals to me in folding polymer clay is that I can make any color I want, or do surface designs on the clay sheet using millefiore techniques to create pattern. Or I can screen print, use metal leaf, or acrylic paint on the surface of the clay to make it visually more appealing. I often spend more time preparing and decorating the clay surface than I do folding a form from the clay.
Origami without Paper squares
No packaged paper squares here. Polymer clay, felt, fabric and business cards.
A field of flowers. Many colors. hanging or sitting.
exclusive design for 2008. Many colorways. hanging or sitting
Inspired by the year I spent working in the
Exclusive design for 2008, hanging or sitting, many colorways.
Crackled silver leaf on white clay
Napkin ring, folded from polymer clay.
Folded from business cards, regular and inverted.
Surface design needle felted onto purchased felt. Needle felted to hold folds i...
Folded from polymer clay following the instructions in The Origami Source book b...
Fear Not
When I began, many attempts were squashed, and begun again. Even today, some things just were not meant to be. The materials are not that precious. Enjoy yourself and the process.
Start with simple forms, or forms that you know very well.
Practice
Practice makes perfect...or at least much better!
What Can Be Folded?
Can I have that ticket stub?
- Dollar bills
- Ticket stubs
- business cards
- playing cards
- vellum
- acetate
- fabric
- felt
- polymer clay
- air dry clay
- phyllo dough
- metal clay sheet form
- ???
"You really
fold the clay??"
How to Fold Polymer Clay into a Crane, Part 1
Part 1, Folding Polymer Clay Cranes
How to fold a sheet of polymer clay into the classic origami form.
Runtime: 7:24
9541 views
10 Comments:
Folding Origami Cranes from Polymer clay, Part 2
A continuation of the first video.
Part 2, Folding Polymer Clay Cranes
How to fold a sheet of polymer clay into the classic origami form.
Runtime: 5:52
4937 views
10 Comments:
Everything You Need to Start Folding Polymer Clay Cranes
Makin's Professional Ultimate Clay Machine
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 07/05/2009) 
Professional Ultimate Clay Machine Motor
Amazon Price: $72.00 (as of 07/05/2009)
Sculpey Premo Beige 5092
Amazon Price: $1.95 (as of 07/05/2009)
Premo! Sculpey- White One Pound Bar
Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
Tin Plate Mini Muffin Pan, 10 X 7.5 Inch
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
"Where
can I learn
more??"
Other Places on the Web to Learn about Unique Forms of Origami
Money, edibles, fabric, tea bags....
- Money Origami
- A terrific site with lots of models for how to fold dollar bills into other forms. A great way to make a gift of money more special.
- Origami Good Enough to Eat
- Chocolate origami?!? Seaweed, fondant, and much more. You have got to see it to beleive it!
- Fabric Origami Treasure Boxes
- Detailed instructions to fold a treasure box from fabric.
- Fabric Origami Quilt Blocks
- Folded flowers that can be incorporated into a quilt.
- Fabric Origami flowers
- A looser interpretation of flowers, but some wonderful ideas for what to do with fabric origami.
- Tea Bag Folding
- The little wrappers that a bag of tea comes in can be folded into some charming modular forms.
A Trio of Polymer Clay Cranes
New Amazon Voting (Plexo)
The Buck Book: All Sorts of Things to do with a Dollar Bill-Besides Spend It by Anne Akers Johnson
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Folded Flowers: Fabric Origami with a Twist of Silk Ribbon by Kumiko Sudo
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Fun with Folded Fabric Boxes: All No-Sew Projects Fat-Quarter Friendly Elegance in Minutes by Arnold Tubis, Crystal Mills
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The Lost Art of Towel Origami by Ivy Press, Alison Jenkins
From the lost ancient art of towel folding (yes, t more...0 points
Napkin Origami: 25 Creative and Fun Ideas for Napkin Folding
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How to Make a Towel Monkey and other Cruise Ship Favorites by Carol Mulanax
Step by step instruction on how to make 8 towel an more...0 points
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This fanciful application of clever origami techni more...0 points
What do you think?
Have you folded other materials, or are you ready to try?
thereviewerguy wrote...
Sorry, I just realised that I didn't include a link to that blog... here is my comment again.
Hi Judy, I did a course on 'towelgami' a few years ago. It was a really interesting experience! It's actually called napkin folding and the course was with a restaurant manager.
This is a very impressive lens... I hope you keep working at it! I especially like the videos. Incidentally, I wrote an article on how origami reduces stress at the 'How to Do Origami' (http://www.howtodoorigami.net) blog as a guest poster (unfortunately no byline or credit...). I would replicate it here but I think I gave away the copyright when I wrote the article. Anyway, take a look!
Posted May 15, 2009
thereviewerguy wrote...
Hi Judy, I did a course on 'towelgami' a few years ago. It was a really interesting experience! It's actually called napkin folding and the course was with a restaurant manager.
This is a very impressive lens... I hope you keep working at it! I especially like the videos. Incidentally, I wrote an article on how origami reduces stress at the 'How to Do Origami' blog as a guest poster (unfortunately no byline or credit...). I would replicate it here but I think I gave away the copyright when I wrote the article. Anyway, take a look!
Posted May 15, 2009
JudyDunn wrote...
in reply to Erin Erin, Thank you for sharing your story. I am so sorry for the loss you have experienced, but, like you, I have seen how the cranes have been a wonderful source of inspiration for many. Have you seen my other lenses about cranes? One about why I fold the cranes...stories like your sister's, and a memorial project I am working on for those who have lost their lives in the Iraq war. All the best for you in this difficult time.
Posted March 10, 2009
Erin wrote
In November, 2008, my daughter Melissa came up with the idea to fold 1000 by Christmas, for my sister,as a wish for peace and health. Cara had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She loved them and we placed the strings of them from every corner in her home. Cara passed away March 1, 2009, receiving the wish of peace. Now we share the cranes with all those that miss and loved her. I kept many.
Her Sister- Erin
Posted March 10, 2009
Pastiche wrote...
Oh, those clay origami cranes would make beautiful holiday ornaments or window hangers ... thanks for sharing! 5*
Posted January 18, 2009
awelldressedbullet wrote...
Absolutely fasinating Judy, who knew! Well obviously you did, and now you have let us know! Great lens! - Kathy
Posted December 23, 2008
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
Have a wonderful Christmas from the Totally Awesome Lenses Group.
Lizzy
Posted December 23, 2008
PattB wrote...
Wow, I've seen the towel folding, and was quite amused when I was in Mexico. But the clay cranes are beautiful! Really enjoyed the videos. 5*****!
Posted December 17, 2008
Margo_Arrowsmith wrote...
Judy! I can see the towels, but you do origami with clay?!? Wow! ***** and more if I could!
Posted December 02, 2008
Susan52 wrote...
Those cranes are absolutely gorgeous! I'd love to try that., and art is definitely not one of my gifts. Thanks for making it look relatively easy!
Posted December 01, 2008
