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30 minutes
So-so

Origami Crane Earrings (with Crane Tutorial!)

  • Completed Project: Origami Crane Earrings (with Crane Tutorial!) Picture #1
  • Completed Project: Origami Crane Earrings (with Crane Tutorial!) Picture #2

Warning: very picture heavy!
 <  Image 1 of 2  > 

Sorry that this is so late. I was asked for a tut for my earrings a looong time ago.

It took forever to take pictures of each steps so sorry about the many pictures! I hope it's easy to follow and feel free to ask me any questions (:

/runs off to cut nails

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  1. Step 1

    Step 1

    Start with a perfect square piece of paper. I use small origami paper that was precut. If there's a color you want to use, place the color side down.

  2. Step 2

    Step 2

    Hold the paper in half diagonally.


  3. Step 3

    Step 3

    Fold it in half again.

  4. Step 4

    Step 4

    Rotate so that the open ends face you and unfold to here.


  5. Step 5

    Step 5

    Fold one side so that it aligns with the middle crease.

  6. Step 6

    Step 6

    Repeat on other side.

  7. Step 7

    Step 7

    Unfold to here.

  8. Step 8

    Step 8

    Open one side but make sure you do not open past the middle crease.

  9. Step 9

    Step 9

    Open it wider, using a fingertip to secure the corner...

  10. Step 10

    Step 10

    ...squash it down until the tips touch.

  11. Step 11

    Step 11

    Press it down and crease. Repeat steps 8-10 for the other side.

  12. Step 12

    Step 12

    Fold one corner so that it aligns with the middle crease.

  13. Step 13

    Step 13

    Repeat on other side and crease.

  14. Step 14

    Step 14

    Fold top tip down and crease.

  15. Step 15

    Step 15

    Unfold the folds you just made. Flip over and repeat on the other side.

  16. Step 16

    Step 16

    Open the bottom but do not open past the top crease.

  17. Step 17

    Step 17

    Push in the side along the crease you made earlier. It should lay along the middle crease.

  18. Step 18

    Step 18

    Follow the crease all the way to the top and press down.

  19. Step 19

    Step 19

    Repeat on other side.

  20. Step 20

    Step 20

    Reinforce creases and press down. Flip over and repeat on other side.

  21. Step 21

    Step 21

    Fold one flap so it aligns with the middle crease.

  22. Step 22

    Step 22

    Repeat on other side. Flip over and repeat.

  23. Step 23

    Step 23

    Separate two flaps you just folded...

  24. Step 24

    Step 24

    ...and fold the front flap over.

  25. Step 25

    Step 25

    Repeat on other side.

  26. Step 26

    Step 26

    Fold the bottom tip up...

  27. Step 27

    Step 27

    ...until it meets the other tips. Crease.

  28. Step 28

    Step 28

    Flip and repeat on other side.

  29. Step 29

    Step 29

    Separate the flaps again...

  30. Step 30

    Step 30

    ...fold down and crease.

  31. Step 31

    Step 31

    Hold the paper so you can see one of the skinny tips. This is the "neck" of the crane.

  32. Step 32

    Step 32

    Open the neck a little and fold the tip down...

  33. Step 33

    Step 33

    ...and fold the neck close again. This is the head and beak of the crane! Yaaay.

  34. Step 34

    Step 34

    Grab the two large flaps and slowly pull apart...

  35. Step 35

    Step 35

    ...and the body will inflate! Your crane is now done! Yaay (:

  36. Step 36

    Step 36

    Now, if you're making earrings, grab a pin and two beads. Place one on the pin.

  37. Step 37

    Step 37

    Flip the crane over and you can see a small hole in the bottom. Put the pin in the hole.

  38. Step 38

    Step 38

    CAREFULLY push the pin through the body.

  39. Step 39

    Step 39

    Pull the pin all the way through and put the other bead on the pin. These beads will keep the crane from moving and the bottom one will keep the crane on the pin.

  40. Step 40

    Step 40

    Grab your pliers and bend the wire...

  41. Step 41

    Step 41

    ...and very carefully create a loop. Be careful! It is paper after all. If you find it a little difficult, you can fold down the tail so it's out of the way. My crane's body got a little crushed and my pliers scratched the wire. Whoops. Haha.

  42. Step 42

    Step 42

    Twist open a jump ring and slip it through the loop.

  43. Step 43

    Step 43

    Take an earring attachment and slip the jump ring through it too.

  44. Step 44

    Step 44

    Twist the jump ring closed and enjoy your earring! Now to make one more...

  45. Step 45

    Step 45

    ACTION SHOT. Hahaha.

    Wooo! Thanks for reading my tutorial. Hopefully it was easy to follow. I tried to take a lot of pictures for every step and I hope it was worth it <3

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People who love this project (59)See All »

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Dolly

Dolly

07 Aug 20:30

AWESOME Tut.! Thank you bunches!

Tami

Tami

07 Aug 21:12

You're quite welcome (:

acacia a.

acacia a.

07 Aug 23:35

coolness!!!

Shivi

Shivi

08 Aug 07:00

My friend K@ti made me some of these a while ago. I'll have to post a pic. She also made some out of starburst wrappers.

sammejj

sammejj

08 Aug 13:04

these are so cool thanks

Tammy M.

Tammy M.

08 Aug 14:28

Great step by step. Thanks!

Tami

Tami

08 Aug 14:29

Thanks for the lovely comments <3

I made some out of Starburst wrappers too with my first crane ones o_o;;

There's a picture of them on the site somewhere...

Nicky Love

Nicky Love

08 Aug 14:50

Awesome!!!

terryann

terryann

11 Aug 14:23

nice! I love these cranes and use them for everything!

Missy El

Missy El

11 Aug 18:10

I recently bought a friend of mine Paper Crane earrings from Tokyo, thinking that it was IMPOSSIBLE for any PERSON to actually make Paper Crane earrings. Now you've posed a challenge for me!

Tami

Tami

12 Aug 16:37

They're really easy to make once you learn how to fold cranes. I can make these in my sleep @_@;;

Chelsea

Chelsea

01 Dec 09:54

OH! Awesome! Is there like a type of spray you can put on the paper to make it hard? Cause otherwise mine will get wrecked after the first wear hahaha.

RogueSister

RogueSister

13 Jun 15:21

OMG! thats amazing.
i had some girl guides come and stay at my house from japan and they taught me how to make these. There is now like 100 folded away in little envolopes doind nothing and now i can do something with them!! thanks so much! xxxx

Tami Posted By:
Tami »
August 07, 2008 20:06
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Popular tags: Painting & Decorating, Dressmaking / Tailoring, Revamping, Gothic, Embellishing, Clothing & Fabric, Christmas, and Beadwork

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