Buzz
A one-dollar bill becomes much more interesting when folded into a simple heart. With a more advanced origami technique, you can even add a coin pouch inside the heart. After completing the fold, attach it to a birthday or holiday card for a delightful surprise for the recipient!
Steps
Fold a Simple Heart from a One Dollar Bill
Place the one-dollar bill face down and fold the bottom edge up about 0.6 cm. Position the bill with the back side (the side without the image of George Washington) facing up. Fold the bottom edge upward until the text “One Dollar” from the opposite side just begins to show.
Tip: Choose a new, flat bill for easier folding.
Fold the bill in half horizontally, then unfold it. Fold the right edge of the bill over to the left edge and crease firmly to create a center fold. Unfold the bill to return it to its original flat position.
- Ensure the edges are perfectly aligned before pressing down so that the fold runs straight through the center of the bill.
Fold the bottom edges up to align with the center crease. Fold the left bottom edge inward to meet the center of the bill, forming a 45-degree angle with the bottom edge. Do the same with the right edge, shaping the bottom of the heart.
- Align the edges precisely with the crease. Avoid overlapping the edges or leaving gaps in the middle.
Flip the heart over and fold the two middle sections down to the edges. After flipping the heart over with George Washington facing up, fold the left corner of the middle section down to align with the top edge of the triangle. Repeat on the right side.
- Check if the folds create a V-shaped gap at the top center of the heart.
Fold the two outer edges at the top down to align with the edges. Similar to the folds made earlier, fold the top left corner down to the right so that the edge aligns with the horizontal edge. Then fold the right corner down to the left, making sure both edges line up.
- Press your fingers along the edges to secure the folds in place.
Fold the outer corners of the heart on both the right and left to be perpendicular to the edges. Fold the left outer corner of the heart inward by about 1.3 cm, then do the same with the right outer corner. This will make the heart appear more rounded.
- Flip the heart back and forth to check the edges. If the heart looks too sharp or uneven, adjust the corner folds until you are satisfied.
Fold a heart that holds a coin
Create 4 creases by folding each corner to the opposite edge, then unfold. Start by folding the bottom-left corner upwards so that the left edge of the bill aligns with the top edge. Press down to create a crease, unfold the bill, and repeat the same for the other corners.
- For example, fold the top corners down to align with the bottom edge of the one-dollar bill.
Push the edges together to fold the bill along the creases. This will create triangles on both sides of the bill. For instance, when you pinch the top and bottom edges on the left side together, the bill will naturally fold along the previous creases. Repeat the same with the other side.
- If the bill doesn’t fold easily, unfold it and re-crease the folds.
Did you know?
This specific fold is known as the waterbomb base. It is a fundamental fold used in many origami designs.
Pull the left triangle shape back towards the bottom of the triangle on the bill. This is a mountain fold. To do this, pull the sharp left corner of the triangle away from you along the long side of the triangle.
- Alternative method: Flip the bill over and perform a valley fold where the triangle folds towards you (if you find this method easier).
Fold the bill in half horizontally so that the edges of the triangle align. Locate the centerline of the bill, which runs through the middle of George Washington's portrait. Make a crease at this point, aligning the two long edges of the triangle.
- Press firmly along the crease after aligning the edges to secure the bill's shape.
Fold the top and bottom corners of each triangle outwards. Each triangle will have an upper layer. Starting with the left, fold the lower corner of the top layer outward to the far left, then fold the top corner downward. This will form a small square atop the triangle. Repeat the same process on the right side.
- Align the bottom edges with the center of the triangle when making these folds.
Lift each flap and press it down to form a smaller square. The previous folds created 4 small flaps on top of the triangle. Lift one flap and press the crease to allow the paper to naturally fold into a square. Repeat this process for the remaining three folds.
Did you know?
In origami, this technique is called a squash fold. The name comes from the action of prying open both sides of a fold and 'squashing' them flat into a new crease.
Fold the left and right corners of each square inward so that the edges align at the center. This forms a diamond shape. Then, pull the opposite corners of each square into the center fold, ensuring the edges align along the fold. Repeat this process for all four squares.
- Make sure the edges are aligned just enough to touch each other. Avoid overlapping edges or leaving large gaps in the center.
Lift each of the 8 new folds and press them down. Raise one of the folds on the diamond shape, then press it down to let the paper naturally fold into a small triangle. Repeat this with all 8 folds on the diamond shape.
- If you're having trouble with such small folds, use tweezers to carefully lift and press them down.
Place a coin at the center of the 8 small folds. The folds will keep the coin in place and prevent it from falling out. Position the coin so that the corners pinch around the edges of the coin.
- Smaller coins, such as a 10-cent or 1-cent coin, might slip out of the heart’s center due to their size.
Fold the lower layer down to hide it behind the top of the heart. Fold the rectangular piece behind the heart downward by about 2.5 cm. This will create a heart with two rounded peaks.
- Press firmly along the back fold to secure it in place.
Fold the small portion of paper sticking out from the bottom of the heart backward. Fold the corner of the lower layer that’s sticking out at the bottom of the heart backward to conceal it. This will create a pointed bottom for the heart.
- Press firmly with your fingers or nails along the back fold to ensure everything stays in place.
