Author: Jo Nakashima

How to make an origami Cockatiel
Designed by Jo Nakashima (2019/05)
Difficulty level: complex

This is a small parrot with a distinctive crest and it’s also known as weiro bird or quarrion.

If you like birds, see also my origami Java Sparrow. The steps are almost the same as the origami Cockatiel, but with a different head. If you want to make a easier model, try the origami Pigeon.

Paper

The paper used in the tutorial is a 20cm x 20cm sheet of Golden Tissue-foil, a very nice paper from origami-shop. Special paper is not required and you can use standard origami paper as well.

Diagrams

See also the video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_l6X_OnaK8

Support my work!

If you like my work, please consider visiting and subscribing to my YouTube channel! You’ll find all my work, including models that are not in this website and also models from other origami artists. The easiest way to support my work is simply watching my videos, clicking the like button, leaving comments and subscribing to my channel!

You can also contribute with small donations on Patreon or YouTube Channel Membership. It’s basically like paying me a tip as a thanks for my work and get some rewards in return, like early access to my tutorials and your name in the video (the “thank you” list). They work with Recurring payments, but you can cancel anytime so one-time donations are also possible.

How to make an origami Pigeon
Designed by Jo Nakashima (05/2019)
Difficulty level: easy

This is my easiest origami bird. Its base, with some modifications, is used to make other birds like the Cockatiel and the Java Sparrow.

Paper

In this tutorial I’m using a 15cm x 15cm sheet of origami paper. It’s a simple model, so it works well even with smaller sizes.

Diagrams

If you like this origami pigeon, please leave a comment and like on my video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY_Ja3p6e5I

Support my work!

If you like my work, please consider visiting and subscribing to my YouTube channel! You’ll find all my work, including models that are not in this website and also models from other origami artists. The easiest way to support my work is simply watching my videos, clicking the like button, leaving comments and subscribing to my channel!

You can also contribute with small donations on Patreon or YouTube Channel Membership. It’s basically like paying me a tip as a thanks for my work and get some rewards in return, like early access to my tutorials and your name in the video (the “thank you” list). They work with Recurring payments, but you can cancel anytime so one-time donations are also possible.

Learn how to make an origami Mount Fuji.

Designed by Jo Nakashima (03/2019)
Difficulty level: simple
My paper: 17.5cm x 17.5cm origami paper

Diagrams

Notice: at first I’ve made these diagrams only for the video, not to be published separately. For this reason, some transitions or steps might not be so clear. If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.

Learn how to fold an origami crane (tsuru) using toilet paper.

Designed by Jo Nakashima (21/Apr/2018)
Difficulty level: low intermediate (it’s a bit difficult to make origami from toilet paper)
My paper: toilet paper

Diagrams

Notice: at first I’ve made these diagrams only for the video, not to be published separately. For this reason, some transitions or steps might not be so clear. If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.

Support my work!

If you like my work, please consider visiting and subscribing to my YouTube channel! You’ll find all my work, including models that are not in this website and also models from other origami artists. The easiest way to support my work is simply watching my videos, clicking the like button, leaving comments and subscribing to my channel!

You can also contribute with small donations on Patreon or YouTube Channel Membership. It’s basically like paying me a tip as a thanks for my work and get some rewards in return, like early access to my tutorials and your name in the video (the “thank you” list). They work with recurring payments, but you can cancel anytime so one-time donations are also possible.

Learn how to make the origami Flapping Winged Heart, an action model for Valentine’s Day! I created two different types of wings but I couldn’t decide witch one was the best, so I made both versions!

This origami requires a rectangle with ratio 4:1, so in the beginning of the tutorials/diagrams I just show how to get the proper size from a standard square sheet. I recommend 24cm x 6cm sheet of paper.

Designed by Jo Nakashima (29/Jan/2019)
Difficulty level: low intermediate

Flapping Winged Heart tutorials

Diagrams

Notice: at first I’ve made these diagrams only for the video, not to be published separately. For this reason, some transitions or steps might not be so clear. If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.

Watch the video to learn how to operate it!

Support my work!

If you like my work, please consider visiting and subscribing to my YouTube channel! You’ll find all my work, including models that are not in this website and also models from other origami artists. The easiest way to support my work is simply watching my videos, clicking the like button, leaving comments and subscribing to my channel!

You can also contribute with small donations on Patreon or YouTube Channel Membership. It’s basically like paying me a tip as a thanks for my work and get some rewards in return, like early access to my tutorials and your name in the video (the “thank you” list). They work with recurring payments, but you can cancel anytime so one-time donations are also possible.

2019 is the year of the pig in the Chinese zodiac! Learn how to fold my origami Pig.

Origami Pig
Designed by Jo Nakashima (09/Oct/2018)
Difficulty level: intermediate
My paper: 18cm x 18cm origami paper
Suggested paper: Tant (https://www.origami-shop.com/fiche_article.php?ref=8&products_id=10045&affiliate_banner_id=1)

Diagrams

I’ve made this origami Maneki Neko for Japan’s Culture Day. The head looks the same as in my original Neko but I did an easier way to make the ears (that was a bit troublesome step for beginners in the original design).

Origami Maneki Neko
Designed by Jo Nakashima (09/2018)
Difficulty level: low intermediate
My paper: copper tissue-foil (buy it here)

Diagrams

If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.

Origami Squirrel
Designed by Jo Nakashima (15/Sep/2018)
Difficulty level: intermediate
My paper:
First squirrel: Alios Kraft 15cm x 15cm (buy it here)
Tutorial: Copper Tissue-foil 20cm x 20cm (buy it here)

Diagrams

If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.

Learn how to make an origami Golden Snitch from Harry Potter books/movies! This is an inflatable model and you just need a single uncut square sheet of paper. No magic required to make this model, so even Muggles can fold it! However, it can’t fly unless you cast a Wingardium Leviosa on it.

Designed by Jo Nakashima (07/07/2018)
Difficulty level: Low intermediate
My paper: 20cm x 20cm Gold Tissue-foil (click here to buy it)

Origami Golden Snitch Diagrams

Notice: at first I’ve made these diagrams only for the video, not to be published separately. For this reason, some transitions or steps might not be so clear. If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.

Support my work!

If you like my work, please consider visiting and subscribing to my YouTube channel! You’ll find all my work, including models that are not in this website and also models from other origami artists. The easiest way to support my work is simply watching my videos, clicking the like button, leaving comments and subscribing to my channel!

You can also contribute with small donations on Patreon or YouTube Channel Membership. It’s basically like paying me a tip as a thanks for my work and get some rewards in return, like early access to my tutorials and your name in the video (the “thank you” list). They work with recurring payments, but you can cancel anytime so one-time donations are also possible.

Learn how to make an origami Dragon Bookmark
Designed by Jo Nakashima (03/May/2018)
Difficulty level: High intermediate

Now you can have a cute little dragon sitting and guarding the page of your favorite book!

In 2015 I’ve created the original non-bookmark version of the Dragon v1 from a combination of crane and frog bases. But only in 2018, after the creation of the Crane Boomark, many of my viewers requested to do the same with the dragon – and it worked pretty well!

If you think this model is too hard, try also the simplified version: Origami Chibi Dragon Bookmark.

Paper

For this model you’ll need a rectangle with 2:1 ratio (half of a square). I recommend 20cm x 10cm.

It works best if you use a very thin paper, otherwise the layers on one of the sides of the dragon will get too thick and hard to fold or keep the shape. It does work with printer paper for test fold and learning, but don’t expect very good results from it.

These are the papers used in my video tutorial:

• First dragon: 20cm x 10cm Shadow Fold (buy it). This is my recommended size, but it requires good thin paper
• Tutorial: 30cm x 15cm Red Tissue-foil (buy it)

Diagrams

Notice: at first I’ve made these diagrams only for the video, not to be published separately. For this reason, some transitions or steps might not be so clear. If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.

It looks like a simple Crane sitting on a book, but it’s actually an origami Tsuru Bookmark! Diagrams and video available!

Designed by Jo Nakashima (21/Apr/2018)
Difficulty level: low intermediate
My paper: 10cm x 20cm Copper Tissue-Foil
Buy this paper: Origami-shop

Diagrams

Notice: at first I’ve made these diagrams only for the video, not to be published separately. For this reason, some transitions or steps might not be so clear. If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.

Use a rectangle sheet of paper with ratio 1:2 (half of a square). I recommend 10cm x 20cm). It works best with thin paper because one of the sides will have many layers.

This new version of my origami Slinky can be folded from a single long strip of paper (you can use register or calculator rolls for example). In theory it can be as long as you want, but in practice it is difficult to keep the precision after folding many levels of the spiral.
See also the modular version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ErCU013v0k

Designed by Jo Nakashima (03/2018)
Difficulty level: low intermediate
My paper: Thermal paper roll 8cm wide (receipt, adding machine, register or calculator Rolls). For a 8cm wide strip, each lap will use 20cm. My slinky has 15 laps, so it is 15×20 = 300cm long

Diagrams

Notice: at first I’ve made these diagrams only for the video, not to be published separately. For this reason, some transitions or steps might not be so clear. If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.

Learn how to make my new origami heart (named “Nakashima Heart” after the suggestion of my followers on Facebook). At first glance It looks like the simple traditional origami heart, but this one has two clean sides with no loose flaps nor unwanted creases. I’m really happy with the result and the folding sequence.

Designed by Jo Nakashima (31/Jan/2018)
Difficulty level: low intermediate
My paper: 15cm x 15cm kraft paper

Diagrams

If you find some step difficult, you can find more detailed instructions in the video tutorial.
Notice: the version in this diagrams is a little different from the video after step 35. Some of the steps to make the tabs/locking weren’t necessary, so I’ve simplified this part.