Flapping Crane

The Flapping Crane is one of the first origami pieces I learned. I learned it from the same book that  I learned the Crane and Square/Crane base from. This origami is simpler than the Lily. As you go through the steps you'll notice that I have you repeat steps a lot, but on the other side of the paper.

I personally love making this origami whenever I have spare paper. Unlike the Lily where I usually make them for practice or to give away, I make Flapping Cranes all the time haha. They're quick, simple, and fun to entertain people with! Seeing people look like :O makes me smile every time :)

Also, please excuse my poor quality photos this time around because it's overcast here in Provo, UT which means I don't get the best lighting. That's why I'm holding the paper up to a whiteboard so I could bounce the light off of it. This is also another reason why some pictures are blurry because the camera couldn't focus well enough no matter how hard my cameraman and I tried :(

Remember: I use asterisks * to point out any bonus steps, steps that aren't relevant to the creation of the origami.

Step 1:  Start out with the Square Base. Go here to find how to make the base.

CAUTION: It is VERY important that the open part of the base is facing TOWARDS YOU! Other wise it won't work AT ALL.

Step 2: Take the flap by the corner like in the picture and prepare to fold it. 

Step 3a: When you make the fold, line up the side of the paper with the middle crease.

Step 3b: This is a close-up of what I was talking about in Step 3a.

Step 3c: This is the result once you crease it.

Step 4a: Do the same thing to the other flap.

Step 4b:This is the result of Step 4a.

Step 5: Flip over and repeat Steps 3-4. This is the result of it.

Step 6a: Take that triangle at the top and fold it down so that the crease will match the horizontal "line" you've made with the two previous folds.

Step 6b: This is the result of Step 6a. Notice how pointed the corner  next to my right index finger is. Remember to make it nice and crisp to make the next few steps easier to execute.

Step 7: Open up the 3 folds you've made and you should  clearly see the creases you've made. If not, then I suggest you re-crease them.

Step 7a: Make sure the open part of the base is facing towards you and start lifting up the top flap with you thumb just like I am in the picture.

This is just a side view of Step 7a just to give some perspective on the positioning of the paper and you hand. 

Step 7b: Continue lifting up the flap until you hit that horizontal crease line you made in Step  6.

Step 7c: This is the result of Step 7b. Make sure you STOP at the horizontal crease or else you can't progress. NOTE: It is perfectly normal that the flap is bent towards you. We'll fix that in the next sub steps.

Step 7d: Position your thumb on the flap like I have. We're going to gently push it down.

Step 7e: Gently push your thumb down to flatten the fold.  I say "gently" because if you do it too fast you might fold it over the middle crease or something.

Step 7f: This is the result of the fold being fully pushed down.

Step 7g: Now crease the edges to make them nice and crisp. If you don't your crane won't be able to look as nice or flap as well.

Step 7h: Now repeat Steps 7b-g on the other flap.

Step 7i: Fold the flap down so it'll look like the picture. Be sure to crease the edges so they're nice and crisp. Now flip it over.

Step 8a: Now repeat all of Step 7 to this side.

Step 8b: This is the final result of Steps 7-8a. Notice how all the corners are pretty much parallel with each other. Don't worry if yours doesn't look like this the first few times because mine sure didn't haha.

Step 9a: Lift up the flap like I'm doing in the picture.

Step 9b: Basically, it should look like the Step 7h. Note where my right thumb is, we're going to fold that flap over.

Step 9c: Why are all the important pictures blurry?! Ugh we'll just have to make do.
So take only ONE flap from from that corner my right thumb is at in Step 9b, and fold it all the way over so it'll look like the picture below.

Step 9d: This is the result of Step 9c. Now flip it over.

Step 9e: Repeat Steps 9a-c.

NOTE: Make sure you take it from the RIGHT corner or else it won't work at all. If you started from the left corner, then after you flip it over do the LEFT corner as well.

Step 9f: This is the result of all of Step 9. Just for future notation, the two standing triangle looking things are the neck or tail because either one can be the head or tail.

Step 10a: Position your right thumb exactly like how I do it. So grab the right (or left if you want)  neck/tail with your thumb and index finger.

Step 10b: Now GENTLY pull it down. As you pull it down you should be seeing the same thing I am in this picture. If not, make sure your left hand isn't blocking the paper from expanding. So if you position your left thumb like mine, you should be good to go. 

Step 10c: This is a front view of Step 10b except that I've already begun to crease the folds. Just push down where the paper is expanding outward and the result should look something like this picture.

Step 10d: This is the final result of Steps 10a-c. It should be nice and creased.

Step 11a: Now do it to the other neck/tail. Notice how my left neck/tail is lower than the right. I'll explain that later. You don't have to do that though.

Step 11b: This is just another front view but of Step 11a this time.

Step 11c: This is the result of all Step 11.
Yes, this is the same exact picture as Step 11a. I didn't have a result picture for some reason, but this will suffice.

Step 12a: Now pick one of the necks/tails and position your index finger and thumb like I do in the picture. These steps will create the head.

Step 12b: This is front view of how your fingers should be positioned.

Step 12c: Now push down with your index finger like so, and it should start looking like the picture.

Step 12d: For this step, you can do whatever you want to hold the head.
Woo! An important picture that's NOT blurry! :D

Step 12e: I already kinda creased the folds so that's why I'm not pinching the head like in the previous picture. So once you finish creasing...

Step 12f: Ta-da! the head and tail are set. You can barely see it, but I always have the tail at a lower angle than the head. Idk why but I just do haha.

Step 13a: Put up those triangle flaps so that they are all the way up like in the picture; these are the wings. Notice that the wings stop at the horizontal crease you made all the way back in Steps 6a-b. 

Step 13b: Now grab the top of the wing closest to you and start bringing it down towards the HEAD. You MUST follow the rest of Step 12 if you want your crane to flap properly. 

Step 13c: Bring down the flap so that it looks like this. The MOST important part is that corner my left thumb is at. This one-corner-to-rule-them-all is quite literal. 

Step 13d: This is a zoom in of the previous picture. Once you have this corner set, your crane will have at least one wing flapping right now.

Step 13e: Crease from the corner, left to right, so you can have a flappable wing.

Step 13f: This is the result. Remember that the angle of the wing can be whatever as long as you have that crucial corner.

Step 14a: Flip over and repeat all of Step 13. Although there's an easier way... 

Step 14b: Since this is just doing the same exact thing as Step 13 but on the other wing, all you have to do is just line up the corners of the wing together and you'll be done!

Step 14c: Line up like so. You shouldn't have to worry about your crucial corner since you made that on your other wing.

A close up of Step 14c. See how the corners are perfectly aligned with each other?

Step 14d: Just crease the wing and BOOM you're done! Quick and easy huh?

Step 15: Just lift up the wings by pushing the wings up from underneath with your fingers. 

Step 15b: Your crane should look similar to this. Just make sure the wings are able to support themselves like in the picture. 

Congratulations! You have now a Flapping Crane! You've leveled up! hahaha yay video game references.
Ok so now that you've made the Flapping Crane, you want to see why it's called "Flapping" now right? Well then, just keep following the directions below!

*Step 16a: Hold the crane EXACTLY like this where you hold the chest of the crane and the tail. This is VERY important because correct hand placement allows the crane to flap.

*Step 16b: GENTLY pull the tail in the opposite direction of the head, so in this picture I pull right. Your paper might need a bit of loosening so be patient when pulling it.
NOTE:  This is a test of how well you've creased and folded because if your paper rips at the bottom of the crane, you didn't do that well of a job... Sorry but it's the truth :(

*Step 17a: Ok this exactly isn't a step... but whatever idk what else to label it.
This is what sometimes happens when your crane flaps. Don't worry, it's a super simple fix.

*Step 17b: Again with the blurriness!
To fix that pocket, just push it back in like I did in the picture. That was easy.

See, wasn't that simpler than the Lily? If not, then I should probably change my directions haha. In all seriousness, this one origami keeps me entertained so much because I just make like 3 or 4 of them with a standard 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. It's super simple, quick to make, and fun to blow the minds of those that haven't seen it flap before :)

I hope you found it simpler to make than the Lily! If not let me know in the comments below. Constructive criticism is always welcome! :)

Next time, it'll be even simpler! How? Just wait and see!

Pictures taken by Dayne Johnson.