Let Your Creativity Bloom By Making an Origami Flower

Historians aren’t exactly sure when the paper flower made its way into cultures around the world. It’s likely paper crafts were brought into the world by the Chinese who invented paper back in 105 AD. This material soon found its way into different countries, including Japan, which is still known for having invented the art of paper folding: origami.

Since then, origami flowers have been a popular choice among paper folding artists. With their crisp folds, colorful varieties, and complex creases, making a flower is a wonderful first step when learning origami.

With so many flowers to choose from, it’s not always easy to separate an easy origami flower from a more complicated one. The origami lily is as stunning as it is simple, which is why it’s a great choice for both beginners and advanced learners.

The Meaning of the Origami Flower

Depending on their color, lilies can represent a wide range of meanings. From rebirth to femininity to love, your paper color choice will influence in part what your origami lily will represent. Overall, origami flowers are symbols of everlasting love and life since unlike fresh flowers they will never droop or die.

How to Make an Origami Lily

Making an origami lily might seem overwhelming at first because of all of its steps. Since the lily is symmetrical, many of the folds you make will be repeated and improved upon as you advance through every step.

If this is your first time making an origami flower, channel your inner peace lily and focus on the benefits of stepping away from your busy life and diving into a creative craft.

1. Create Your Folding Guide

A blank square piece of paper with overlapping “X” shaped folds sits on a white background. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin HutsonFolding your piece of paper vertically, horizontally, and diagonally will help make future steps even easier.

To facilitate the next step, you’re going to first do some folding and unfolding. First, fold and unfold your paper diagonally to the left and then to the right to create an “X” shape in the middle. Then, fold and unfold the top edge of your paper down to the bottom edge and your right edge over to your left edge to create another “X.”

This should split your paper into eight right angle triangles.

2. Fold Your Creases

Two hands push two corners of a square piece of paper toward its bottom right corner. The white side of the paper is facing up and slivers of the blue back of the paper peek out from underneath. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin HutsonAllow the paper to fold along the creases you made in the last step.

Now you’re going to fold a lot of those creases at once. Take the top right corner and the bottom left corner and bring them toward the bottom right corner. Your piece should naturally fold as you do so.

3. Align Your Points

Two hands push two corners of a square piece of paper to align with its bottom corner. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson The two side corners should line up perfectly with the bottom point.

Once the top right point, the bottom left point, and the bottom right point have all aligned, flatten the top layer of paper down toward the flat surface you’re working on.

4. Create a Square

A thumb presses down on the center of a folded, multi-layer, blue square while a pointer finger sits right between the first and second layers of paper. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Can you guess where the petals might appear from?

Finally, press the fourth corner down toward where the rest of the corners meet and you should have created a flattened square shape. You can press it down until the square stays flat on its own. You should now have two flaps to the left of your center crease and two on the right.

5. Create a Right Angle Triangle

A hand holds down a blue paper diamond against a blue background. The top right folded flap of the diamond is folded down to form a right triangle. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin HutsonEach flap is made up of two layers of paper.

Next, you’re going to create another crease by folding the right edge of the top right flap toward the center of your square. Once you’ve created that indent, you can unfold.

6. Separate Your Top Layers

Two hands hold down an origami diamond with a cone-shaped fold in its center. The first four fingers on the left hand hold down the left side of the diamond and the thumb holds down the bottom point. The pointer finger on the right hand also holds down the bottom point. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin HutsonOpening up the top right flap will create this upside down cone shape.

Using the same flap you just creased, you’re going to separate its two layers from one another. You can do this by putting your index finger between the two layers and pushing down toward the bottom point.

7. Push Down Your Triangle

Two hands hold down a blue paper diamond. Its top layer is shaped like an upside down kite and is part white and part blue. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Making crisp creases will help create a clean flower.

Push down the remaining part of the layer so that two adjacent triangle shapes form and lay completely flat on your work surface. The center crease of the top triangle should line up with the center crease from the bottom triangle. This is called a squash fold.

Next, flip over your diamond and repeat the steps five through seven to create the same shape on the other side of your origami paper.

8. Book Fold

The left hand holds down the left layer of a blue paper diamond. The right hand folds down the top right flap of the form onto the left with its thumb. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson It’s no wonder this origami fold is called a book fold.

Now fold the top right flap onto the left as if you’re turning a book page. This type of fold is called a book fold.

A hand holds down a fold on a blue paper diamond with multiple layers. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson If your origami figure won’t lay flat, hold it down for a few extra seconds.

Push it all the way down until it lays flat like it does in the picture above.

9. Squash The Right Top Layer

A hand holds down the left side of a blue paper diamond while another hand holds one of the paper folds. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Focus on getting your squash fold to lay completely flat.

Take the flap to the right of the fold you just made, and separate its layers. Again, push down and create another squash fold.

A diamond shaped folded piece of paper has one large blue triangle layer on its top and multiple smaller white triangle layers on its bottom. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Now is a good place to check in on all of your folds. Are they all lying flat?

You should now have a diamond shape like this.

10. Crease Your Diamond

Two hands fold down the top point of a paper diamond. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin HutsonMaking creases like this one is a great way to prime for future folds.

Take the top point of your diamond and fold it down so it lines up with the bottom point. Then,

unfold it.

11. Create Side Creases

A diamond shaped piece of folded paper sits on a white surface. Two bottom triangle-shaped folds create an extra layer on the bottom part of the diamond. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Try to get the top points of your triangles to line up in the center of the diamond.

Fold the top bottom right layer up toward the center so its right bottom edge lines up the center crease. Then, fold the top bottom left layer toward the center so its left bottom edge lines up with the center crease. Now, unfold both.

12. Separate the Top and Bottom Layers

Two hands hold down the top part of a folded paper diamond while the thumbs tuck themselves between the first and second layer of the figure. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Folds like this one can get a little tricky so give it as many tries as you need.

Put your thumb into the center opening to separate the top layer from the rest of the piece. Fold it upward so that it folds along the crease you made in step ten.

13. Push Down Your Diamond

Two hands press down on the top layer of a folded blue paper diamond. The top layer protrudes upward while two thumbs push down near the bottom points of the diamond. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Use your two thumbs to push down near the bottom left and right points of the diamond.

Push the sides of that center opening toward each other.

Two hands push down on the top layer of a blue paper diamond creating a kite-like shape. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin HutsonOnce you’ve completed the last two steps your shape should look like this.

Lay the top point of the smaller diamond shape down and lay this entire layer flat.

14. Fold Down Your Diamond Flap

A diamond shaped blue paper diamond sits on a white surface. Its top layer contains three different triangle shapes folded next to one another. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson You’re getting close to completing your very first petal.

Fold the top point of the smaller diamond down to create this shape, which is your first petal. Next, you’re going to flip your piece over and repeat the last five steps to form this exact same shape again.

15. Double Book Fold

Two fingers from the left hand hold down the left side of the figure while the right hand slips two fingers under the top right layer. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin HutsonTime to bring back the book fold.

Now continuing on this side of your form, take the top right flap of your diamond and fold it to the left creating another book fold.

A multi-layered blue paper diamond sits on a white surface. Another paper layer is visible on the left side of the diamond as well as a few layers on the bottom. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin HutsonThis figure might give you déjà vu since you’ve already seen it in step twelve.

Again, take the top right flap of your diamond form and fold it to the left until your form looks like this. Repeat steps ten through fourteen.

Once your piece looks like the image in step fourteen turn your piece over and complete step fifteen again.

16. Repeat Steps Eleven through Fourteen

Two fingers hold down a blue and white paper diamond shape. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson You’ve already got the last few steps down and now it’s time to really master them.

Then, your form should look like this and should already have that top crease so you’ll just complete steps eleven through fourteen on this side.

Again, you’ll flip the entire form over and repeat steps eleven through fourteen on that side.

17. Single Layer Book Fold

Two hands hold down a multi-layered blue paper diamond. One hand holds down the right layer and the other holds down the left layer. One layer sticks upward. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Practice definitely makes perfect with this paper flower exercise.

You've finished all of your petal forms! Now take the top flap on the right side of this diamond shape and fold it over the left side creating another book fold. Next, turn your form over and repeat this step on that side.

18. Rotate Your Form

Two hands tuck their fingers between the first and second layer of a paper diamond near the top point. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Can you see your flower beginning to bloom?

Rotate the diamond 180 degrees clockwise so that the layered points are at the top now.

19. Fold Up Your Bottom Edges

A folded diamond with a thinner diamond folded on top of it sits on a white surface. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin HutsonYou’re close to becoming a folded diamond making expert.

Take the first flap from bottom right and fold its right edge into the center crease. Repeat this on the left side. Then, turn it over and repeat this step on the other side.

20. Another Double Book Fold

Two hands touch a blue paper diamond sitting on a white surface. The left hand uses the pointer finger and thumb to hold down the paper form while the pointer finger on the right hand touches the right point of the diamond. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson A few book folds and you’ll be on your way to the next step.

Fold the top right flap over to the left and lay it flat. Then fold the new top right flap over the left again and lay it flat. Turn it over and repeat this step on the other side.

21. Repeat Step Nineteen

A folded diamond-shaped blue piece of paper sits on a blank white surface. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson After the last few steps, your form should lay completely flat on the surface you’re working on.

Finally, repeat step nineteen on both sides until it looks like this.

22. Folding Flaps

A hand holds a blue cone-shaped folded piece of paper. Two petal-shaped forms stick off the top of the cone. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson You’ve come so far already. Take a moment to stop and smell the *lilies* and admire what you’ve made.

Take the top point of the top flap and fold it down as far as it goes. Repeat this step on the other side.

23. Single Book Fold

Two hands hold a folded diamond shaped form made of blue paper. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Soon your flower will bloom before your eyes.

Fold the right flap over onto the left flap and repeat step twenty two on that side. You’ll need to fold open up the final flap like you did in this step and then repeat step twenty two on that side.

24. Open Up Your Leaves

A hand holds a blue origami lily with four pointed petals sticking out on the top, bottom, left, and right. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson You’re one step away from having your origami flower all finished.

Finally, lift all of those folds up to make a ninety degree angle with your flower base.

25. Curl Your Leaves

One hand holds an origami lily by its base. Another hand twists one of the paper petals around a paintbrush to curl its edges. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson A smooth pen will also work great for curling your petals.

Using a tool with a long, thin shape, like a paint brush, curl your leaves outwards by placing the paint brush under the tip of your leaf and rolling the brush toward the center of your flower.

26. Finish Up

A finished blue origami lily sits on a table with four pointed petals and a small folded base. — Still from Skillshare Class Origami Basics: Learn to Fold 3 Origami Flowers by Kevin Hutson Where will this origami flower flourish in your home?

With this step complete, all of your leaves are curled. Your origami lily is complete!

The Power of the Origami Flower

Now that you know how to make an origami lily, try getting creative with your piece. Attaching a pipe cleaner like you would when making paper flowers can give your lily even more life. You can also place a few lilies on a string to make a flower garland. This week, try making your first origami lily and seeing how it inspires future projects. Then, before you know it you’ll be ready to try another flower like the origami lotus flower!

Written By

Calli Zarpas

Producer & Writer by occupation. Ceramicist & Newsletter Editor by avocation.