https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/flapping-bird-envelopes • Posted by Tuttle Publishing
Whenever you receive a nicely wrapped gift, don’t throw away the gift wrap! Say “Thank You!” by folding a sample square into this lovely and fun envelope. A 10-inch square (25 cm) works well. Birds folded from stronger papers flap better and last longer. The design allows for plenty of artistic and creative modification.
Whenever you receive a nicely wrapped gift, don’t throw away the gift wrap! Say “Thank You!” by folding a sample square into this lovely and fun envelope. A 10-inch square (25 cm) works well. Birds folded from stronger papers flap better and last longer. The design allows for plenty of artistic and creative modification.
Begin with the display side of the paper facing down. White side up if using origami paper. Fold in half corner to corner both ways. Unfold.
Fold all four corners to meet at the center where the creases cross.
(1) Unfold only the bottom flap. (2) Turn the paper over, left to right.
One at a time, fold and unfold the bottom edges. Use the left and right obtuse corners to help: they should each touch the center crossing creases.
You now have a mountain and valley crease pattern that will let you move the bottom three corners to meet at the crossing creases in the middle of the paper. Look ahead at the next drawing to see the shape.
Turn the paper over, top to bottom.
Unfold the bottom flap.
Pull out the indicated left and right flaps to fold the bottom area up and flat. Look ahead.
Your paper should look like this. Turn over, left to right.
A flat item can be inserted now or later. Fold the top flap down, into the envelope. This flap would also cover the inserted item.
Pre-crease for a petal fold: 1. Fold the bottom left and right edges of the center shape to meet at the middle. Unfold. 2. Fold down the top corner at the level of the top of the creases just formed. Unfold.
Petal-fold: lift the top layer up and fold in the sides as you flatten the shape into a tall diamond.
Inside-reverse fold the indicated points to form the neck and the tail of the flapping bird. A large flap of paper is attached to each and will follow.
Fold the left and right corners inward and behind the flaps, locking the envelope.
Install the fold in the wing, toward the head. (The head will be formed at the point in the circle on the right.) You could use the left side point for the head, and fold the wing toward the left.
Inside-reverse fold the tip of the right point down for the head. Fold the excess flap behind the head.
The finished Flapping Bird Envelope. Hold the envelope at the base of the bird’s neck, then pull the tail in and out to make the wing flap. Now that’s airmail!