Now, getting started in the paper-folding hobby can be a tad overwhelming especially if you have never tried making paper-folded figures before. Here are some tips to help you out.

1. Start big — and by big, I mean literally! Use a big square of paper: 8 x 8 inches is a great size.

2. Choose crisp paper. You don’t need to buy anything expensive. Any old but crisp-surfaced paper will do.

3. Learn the basic origami folds. You will encounter all of these folds in your paper-folding projects. These basic folds comprise the techniques that you will be using to make paper sculptures, from the simplest to the most complicated.

4. Start simple. Choose a figure that you can finish in 10 or fewer steps. Keep in mind that the more the steps, the more complex the folding and the instructions.

5. Fold precisely and neatly.

6. Crease sharply. To do this, go over every fold or crease with your thumbnail. Remember, your creases will serve as your guidelines.

7. Read origami instructions carefully. Don’t skip or change the order of the steps.

8. Use paper with different colors on both sides. This lets you separate the back from the front.

Finally, have fun! Remember, if you find origami instructions too tiresome to read, you can choose to watch it instead. Manuals like Easy Origami Videos simplify the process by giving you step-by-step directions via video!

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1. Fold all of the creases completely. You won’t always need to do it, but you will need to perform this step a lot of times. While you fold, it’s vital that you flatten the paper completely before starting the next step. You could use the tip of a plastic ruler in order to reinforce your crease.

2. Take it slowly at first. As with any other pastime, there’s the chance that you could become frustrated while learning the art of paper folding. This is particularly true when you’re only starting out. The best way to avoid frustrating yourself is to do things slowly but surely. Watch each step more than once so you’re sure you understand what to do. Then carefully master the step before moving onto the next step. Sure, you want to learn the art of paper folding as quickly as possible. But you will still need to do that one step at a time.  

3. Follow the instructions carefully. Fortunately for you, video instructions like Easy Origami Videos make it easier to follow origami directions. Nonetheless, it’s important that you focus on the task at hand. Make sure that you do each step and do it correctly. If you don’t understand a step, press the rewind button and watch it again. In time, you will learn how to get your folds right.

Use these tips to help you follow origami directions as accurately as possible. Soon, you will find that creating paper turtles, boxes and a cornucopia of other objects can be as easy as counting 1-2-3!

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1. Improves Hand Mobility

Medically, origami benefits patients who sustained hand injuries or have had surgery performed on their hands. By learning to fold paper and thus, making their hands “exercise”, patients can slowly

●      regain control of their hand movements.

●      build or strengthen hand muscles.

2. Develops Motor Skills

In young children, motor activity that requires the use of both hands helps develop figurative thinking and imagination. It also improves hand-eye coordination, in a way that is enriching and fun.

3. Teaches Math

Math is not always a joy to learn, especially where geometry, sequencing, and problem solving are concerned. But making origami creations can change all that. While paper folding, you will need to work with patterns, designs, fractions, symmetry, and measurement. In other words, the craft is an excellent way to demonstrate many mathematical concepts!

4. Enhances the Memory

Do you want to keep your mind nimble and your memory sharp? Learn the art of paper folding! Memory is an important aspect of the craft because you will need to remember specific sequences. And, because you have to focus on what you’re doing, the art of paper folding can improve your attentiveness, too.

5. Cultivates Patience

Paper folding is not for the impatient. You may have to spend several minutes doing nothing but fold, fold, and fold to get the shape you want. Moreover, the continuous attempts and the repetitive steps can be too much to handle. The more you persevere at paper folding, though, the more you will learn to be patient.

You benefit in many ways when you start making origami figures. Aside from being an inexpensive hobby, the craft is a great way to learn new things, develop new skills, and enhance the skills you already have!

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1. You can see the objects created in real time. It’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words. However, with so many steps involved with the art of paper folding, it’s not feasible to include a picture for every step. The book will end up being as thick and as tedious to read as an encyclopedia!

In contrast, when you take your instructions from a video guide, you can see each step in real time. This is helpful because you not only see how the paper should look after each step, but you also see the process of actually doing the folding—getting from Point A to Point B, if you will.

2. You can see the same step performed over and over again. Sometimes we need to see something done more than once, in order to learn it properly. This is another reason to buy origami video guides. When looking at a photo, you still might not be able to figure out how to make a certain fold. However, when watching a video you can rewind and see the step once again or as many times as you need.

3. You can get the right perspective. The most realistic viewpoint in a video is the stream-of-consciousness one in which it seems as though you’re looking downwards at the paper as you fold it. This vantage point is simply more difficult and less practical when using illustrations of paper art. In this case, virtual reality is more realistic.

For the best tutorial on Japanese paper art, buy origami video guides. You’ll learn quickly how to turn paper into magic. 

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