Buzz
The paper rose is an intermediate-level origami project that results in a beautifully decorative flower. It all begins with a simple square sheet of paper, which is carefully folded into a spiral shape. The four tightly twisted petals come together around a square base, creating a stunning rose. Once you’ve mastered the first one, you’ll likely want to make more to assemble a charming bouquet of paper roses.
Steps
Create the Basic Fold
Use a square sheet of paper. Like most origami projects, the rose starts with a simple square. Choose any color you prefer, as long as there’s a contrast in color or texture between the two sides. Glossy paper will make the flower look the most realistic.
Fold the paper in half (start with the colored side facing down). Bring the bottom edge up, folding it to align perfectly with the top edge. Use your fingers to crease the fold, starting from the center and moving outward.
- In origami, this is called a "valley fold" because it creates a small valley in the paper. Almost every origami project begins with either a valley fold or its opposite—a mountain fold, which forms a ridge on the paper.
Unfold the paper. When opened, you’ll see a crease running horizontally across the center of the paper.
- Position the paper so the crease is horizontal, with the colored side facing down.
Fold the bottom half in half. Bring the bottom edge up to align with the horizontal crease in the center of the paper.
- Use your fingers to create a new crease.
Fold the top half in half. Bring the top edge down to align with the central crease.
- Use your fingers to create a new crease.
Unfold the paper again. Now, the paper will have three horizontal creases, dividing it into four equal sections.
Fold ¾ of the bottom half. Ensure the paper is positioned so that all three creases from the previous step are horizontal and the colored side faces down. Fold the bottom edge (the one closest to you) up to align with the top horizontal line, which is located a quarter of the way down from the top edge.
- Use your fingers or a folding tool to create a new crease.
- When folded correctly, the new crease will bisect the section between the central crease and the bottom crease.
- You can unfold the paper to check your work, but remember to refold it before proceeding to the next step.
Fold the bottom right corner inward. Take the bottom right corner (formed by the lowest crease) and fold it diagonally at a 45-degree angle. The fold should align the small edge on the right side of the paper with the nearest horizontal crease.
Unfold the paper again. You’ll now see four horizontal creases. Among the four original sections, the second one from the bottom will be divided in half by one of these horizontal creases. Additionally, there are two small diagonal creases on the right side of this section.
- Of these diagonal creases, one rises at a 45-degree angle from the central crease, while the other descends at the same angle.
Mark the creases. Use a pen or pencil to trace along the folds you’ve made.
Rotate the paper 180 degrees and repeat. Turn the paper so the top becomes the bottom. Then, repeat steps 7 through 10.
Rotate the paper 90 degrees and repeat. Turn the paper by 90 degrees and repeat steps 2 through 10.
Rotate the paper 180 degrees and repeat. Turn the paper another half-circle and repeat steps 7 through 10.
Create diagonal folds
Fold the paper diagonally in half. With the colored side still facing down, lift the bottom right corner to align with the top left corner. Use your fingers to crease the fold.
Unfold the paper. Open the paper to reveal the new diagonal crease.
Fold the paper diagonally in the opposite direction. Rotate the paper 90 degrees and repeat the previous two steps.
Unfold the paper. You’ll now see two diagonal creases forming an "X" shape on the paper.
Fold the top left corner. At each corner, you’ll notice a small square divided by a single diagonal line. Take the top left corner and fold it inward, creating a line perpendicular to the original diagonal.
- The corner should align with the bottom right corner of the small square.
Unfold the paper and mark all the new creases. Now, you’ll see a small "X" at the top left corner. Trace along the new crease.
Fold the bottom right corner up to the new line. Bring the bottom right corner up so its tip touches the line drawn in the previous step.
- A new crease, parallel to one of the lines forming the large "X" (specifically the one running from the bottom left to the top right), will be created.
Unfold the paper and mark. Open the paper again and draw a line along the new diagonal fold.
Rotate the paper and repeat. Turn the paper 180 degrees and repeat the previous four steps.
- At this point, you should observe three parallel folds running from the bottom left corner to the top right corner.
Rotate and repeat again. Now rotate the paper 90 degrees and repeat steps 5 through 9 (from part 2).
- Once completed, you will have three parallel lines running from the bottom left to the top right and three lines running from the top left to the bottom right.
Create texture
Fold all four corners inward. Similar to step 5 in part 2, fold all four corners of the paper inward. Avoid creating any new creases while doing this.
- The result will be an octagonal shape.
Flip the paper over. Now, the red side will be facing up.
Locate the small triangle. Along the bottom edge of the paper, you’ll find a small triangle formed by the folds. The central fold running from top to bottom makes this triangle appear as two smaller triangles sharing a vertical side.
- If you can’t find it, look for the triangle at the bottom right corner. This triangle is where the horizontal bottom edge meets the diagonal right edge of the paper.
- If the small triangle isn’t there, double-check to ensure you’ve correctly completed step 8, part 1.
Reverse fold the bottom section inward. If you’re unsure how to proceed, follow these steps:
Create another inward reverse fold.- Gently fold the central line of the triangle found in the previous step inward, creating a small valley fold.
- Simultaneously, fold the two diagonal edges of the triangle outward, forming small mountain folds.
- The small triangle should create a V-shaped notch at the paper’s edge.
- Next, add a mountain fold along the crease running from the triangle’s peak.
- This is known as an inward reverse fold.
Rotate and repeat. Turn the paper 90 degrees, then repeat steps 3 and 4. Do this for the remaining three sides.
Create the petal
Create valley folds along each petal edge.
Fold the corners in. From the side, you’ll now see four shapes resembling triangles with one tip cut off (along the valley fold). Protruding from the base is a small triangle with the white side of the paper. Fold in the right corner of each "cut-off" triangle.
- Imagine a straight line from the bottom tip of the "white" triangle and create a valley fold along it.
Open the corners and reverse fold. Unfold the valley folds you just made with the tips. Then, reverse fold so the tips are tucked inside the rose.
- If done correctly, the white triangle will disappear.
Make small valley folds. Now, the "cut-off" triangle will appear to have two clipped tips: one on the left and a tiny one on the right, created by the reverse fold. Fold the small "cut" edge upward at a 45-degree angle from the base of the "cut-off" triangle (the paper’s edge).
Unfold and reverse fold. Open the valley fold you just made and reverse fold along the same lines, tucking the small triangle created in the previous step inside the rose at all four tips.
Fold the edges down. The "cut-off" triangle will now have reverse folds at each clipped edge. These allow you to create small horizontal valley folds at the base of each shape, pulling the resulting flap outward. Repeat this for all four petals.
Form the base. Bring the petals together to create the "base." For each set of petals, pull them close so the right petal sits just behind the left one. Secure by pressing the folds down. The result is a sturdy base extending out at four corners.
Flip over and fold the base inward.- If done correctly, you’ll see little to no white on the base when viewed from the side.
Flip the flower over. The square you’re looking down at will become the top of the rose.
Push the corners in. The top square should now be divided into four corners by the folds. Gently push each corner inward, leaving mountain folds that form an "X" shape.
Rotate. Insert your fingers into each corner around the "X" and twist gently.
- This will give the top of the rose a more natural, swirled appearance instead of rigid "X" lines.
Create a twist. Use tweezers to hold the center point of what was the "X" and slowly but firmly continue twisting. Be careful not to tear the paper.
- As you do this, the center of the rose will sink inward, creating a more realistic look.
- You may need to practice a few times.
Curl the petals. Use two fingers to hold each petal at the tip and roll it inward. Release to create beautifully curved petals.
Add a stem (optional)
Use a separate sheet of paper. If you’d like to add an origami-style stem, start with a new sheet of paper, preferably green.
Place the colored side down and fold the paper in half. Create a valley fold from one corner to the opposite corner, forming two triangles, then unfold.
Fold the edges inward. Make two more valley folds, bringing the left and right corners to the center line, forming a kite shape.
Repeat. Fold the corners inward again toward the center line. Then, do this once more. You’ll now have a very sharp kite shape.
Flip and fold upward. Turn the stem over so all the edges are hidden. Then, fold the bottom tip up to meet the top tip.
Double it. Now, fold the flower stem along the vertical axis.
Fold the edges down and then reverse fold. Fold the outer part (which will become the leaf) of the paper outward, separating it from the inner part (the stem), creating two diagonal folds. Next, reverse fold the leaf away from the stem, forming a central fold.
Attach the stem to the flower. Insert the pointed end of the stem into the small hole located beneath the flower, where the "legs" meet.
Tips
- Be precise and steady when folding. Carefully align the edges before making creases.
- You can also make the stem using a straw or green-colored wire if you prefer not to use paper.
- While not necessary, colored paper can make the rose look more stunning, and if the two sides are different colors, it will be easier to track your progress.
