Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Robert Homayoon. Robert Homayoon is an Origami Expert known for his engaging YouTube videos and accessible instructions. He has been teaching origami on YouTube since 2009. His channel has a following of over 676,000 subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 211 million views. Robert uses his channel to highlight his passion for teaching people origami, crafts, and how to solve puzzles. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 2007 and earned his D.M.D degree from Temple University Dental School in 2013.
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Origami is the enjoyable art of paper folding. A heart shape is a fairly simple yet effective shape to fold, and the result can be used as a Valentine's Day gift or decoration, a romantic token or to decorate anything you're making in paper craft.
Steps
Get a letter-size (or A4) piece of paper. You can also use a square 6” x 6” (15 cm x 15 cm) piece of origami paper. Thinner paper is preferable as thicker paper is harder to work with and doesn't always stay folded.[1]- Avoid using small pieces of paper on your first try, as the folds will be more difficult to make and this may be frustrating. If you'd like to make a larger sized heart, use a larger piece of paper.
- If you decide to draw a design, split it in half; it will end up in the center of the heart. A decoration can be added when the heart is finished as well.
Turn the paper to the side that is white. Then, fold the top right corner downwards so that it meets the left side of the paper. Unfold it, and do the same thing to the opposite corner; do not unfold.- If you are using A4 paper as opposed to origami paper (which has a white side), don't worry about turning the paper to the side that is white.
Advertisement- Fold the bottom part of the paper in half. Do this so that the white (or inside part of the paper) doesn't show anymore.
- Make sharp folds by sliding your nail over each fold. Neat, sharp folds will make your final product look better.
- Unfold the top part of the paper. You should now have two diagonal creases on the paper.[2]
- Make a horizontal fold. Fold the top part down horizontally, so that the fold crosses the intersection in the middle of the paper. Then, unfold it.
- Turn the paper over again. Take the left and right sides of the paper (where the horizontal crease is) and pull them toward the center of the paper. As you pull them, the other two creases should be folding, too. Pull the two sides inwards so they touch.
- It can take several tries to create the pyramid shape, especially if you are new to origami. You should end up with what looks like a triangle sitting on top of the rectangular portion at the bottom.
- Fold the bottom left corner of the top triangle so it meets the top point. Only fold the top layer, not both layers of paper. Make the same fold on the other side; you should now have a diamond shape.
- Fold over the sides to meet the diamond. Grab the left side of the paper, and fold everything that's not part of the diamond you made in the previous step toward the center. Do the same for the other side.
- Create a vertical crease. Fold the entire thing in half vertically, then unfold it and turn it over.
- Fold up the bottom corners. Take the two bottom corners and fold them upwards, so they meet at the center. Fold them so that what was once the bottom edge lines up with the vertical line running down the center.
- Fold down the top flap. Fold the large triangular flap at the top downward, as far as it can go before running into a horizontal line. At the top there should now be three individual flaps, two small ones and a big one. Fold the big one down.
- Tuck the corners. Tuck the two corners that you folded up from the bottom into the space inside the triangular flap.
- Fold down the top points. Fold the two remaining top flaps downwards at an angle.
- Tuck the corners again. Tuck the corners of those flaps into the space in the big flap.
- Check the finished heart. You should now have an origami heart.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionIs there a specific type of paper that I should use?
Robert HomayoonRobert Homayoon is an Origami Expert known for his engaging YouTube videos and accessible instructions. He has been teaching origami on YouTube since 2009. His channel has a following of over 676,000 subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 211 million views. Robert uses his channel to highlight his passion for teaching people origami, crafts, and how to solve puzzles. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 2007 and earned his D.M.D degree from Temple University Dental School in 2013.
Origami ExpertOrigami paper, designed specifically for origami, has a thinner consistency than printer paper, making it an excellent option if you have it on hand. However, if origami paper is not accessible, using printer paper is a viable alternative. The beauty of origami lies in its simplicity, transforming a piece of paper into a work of art with minimal materials. - QuestionCan you decorate the paper before you start making the heart?
Community AnswerYes. - QuestionCan I use note paper?
Community AnswerYes. You could use any paper you are able to fold.
Reader Videos
Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!
Tips
- Try writing a note on the "inside," and follow the instructions above to hide it.Thanks
- We would recommend doing it on scrap before, because a step may go wrong and you will have more practice.Thanks
- Practice. If you are new to origami, this project can be hard, and you may not get it on the first try.Thanks
Tips from our Readers 
- If you want to hang your hearts, punch holes near the edges of your hearts and then weave a string through the holes.
- If you don't have origami paper, use thin paper that's easy to fold, such as loose leaf or tracing paper.
- For a cute gift, make a bunch of mini origami hearts and place them in a small jar.
- Use printed or brightly-colored paper to create fun and festive hearts.
Things You'll Need
- A rectangular piece of paper (8.5" by 11"/22cm x 28cm letter size, or A4 or a 6” x 6” piece of origami paper
- Drawing Utensils (Markers, Crayons, Color Pencils) (Optional)
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about origami, check out our in-depth interview with Robert Homayoon.
References
About This Article
To make an origami heart, grab a piece of A4 paper and fold the top right corner down so it meets the left side of the paper. Unfold the crease and do the same thing with the top left corner, but leave it folded. Fold the bottom part of the paper up so it meets the base of the triangle you just made. Unfold the top part of the paper so you have two diagonal creases making an X shape. Fold the top of the paper down so that the fold passes through the center of the X, then unfold it. Flip the paper over and bring the right and left sides together by folding them inward along the horizontal crease. Flatten out the edges of the triangle you just created. Fold up the outer bottom corners of the triangle to make a diamond, then fold in the outer edges of the bottom of the paper so that they meet the bottom edges of the diamond. Fold the paper in half vertically and unfold it to make a crease. Fold the bottom corners up so they meet at the center, then fold the top flap down. Tuck the folded-up bottom corners inside the edges of the top flap, then fold the top points down at an angle to make the upper lobes of the heart. Finish by tucking in the corners of the flaps you just folded over.
Reader Success Stories
"This is my first project in Origami and I think I'll use it as a Christmas ornament."
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