Don't you think these DIY Origami Projects are pretty cool? They are also very easy so don't be intimidated! Enjoy



Origami Lanterns

Cocktails at sundown are more memorable when you supplement the waning daylight with Asian-inspired lanterns. Those hanging from bamboo poles are origami "balloons" fashioned around battery-operated lights and finished with ribbons.

How-To



Fold a 25-inch square of vellum paper following the illustrations; blow into the bottom to expand the paper, and thread a 4-foot piece of string through the hole and out the bottom of the lantern. Tie a battery-operated candle to string 18 inches from end. Attach a large paper clip to the string about 3 inches above the candle. Pull on the other end of the string until the paper clip catches on the top of the lantern. Tie a ribbon to string at bottom of balloon; trim excess string. Tie other end of string to a pole.







Make a stand to prop up place cards. You can use these outdoors if it's not too windy.

Tools and Materials
5 1/8-inch square origami paper
Marker
Card stock

Origami Place Card Holders



How-To
1. Fold a piece of origami paper in quarters, making a smaller square. Then fold square in half. Holding with crease at the bottom, fold front and back flaps down so all edges are even.

2. Write names in marker on card stock, and set inside holders.

Origami Nesting Boxes

How-To
1. Cut book-weight paper to 11 by 17 inches; load into color copier. Striped fabrics placed diagonally onto copier will work out vertically on box. To make the largest box at left (4 by 4 by 1 1/2 inches), cut 9 3/4-inch square for bottom and 7 1/4-inch square for lid.

2. Fold the corners of each square toward the center, using a bone folder or other thin blunt tool to make precise creases. Fold one side of the bottom 1 1/2 inches toward the center; crease and unfold. Repeat for other three sides. Do same for lid, folding each side in 1/2 inch.

3. At each corner of bottom and lid, fold diagonal crease that bisects the small square created by previous folds. Unfold the two opposite sides. Refold remaining two sides of square along crease so they stand upright and form two walls of box. Fold up third side, tucking diagonal corner folds inward against it; wrap third side over folds; lay in place. Repeat for fourth side. Glue points together at the center




link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBf957XC-4k



Drink Umbrella:





It would be nearly impossible to improve on the cocktail umbrella, a staple of backyard luaus and fancy hotel bars. But the homemade parasols shown here, floating in tumblers of lemonade on the rocks, are the most elegant we've seen. Created with assorted origami paper, their cheerful tops provide a gentle shade for all your summer drinks.

How-To
A soup can makes a handy template for origami-paper umbrella tops. Cut paper with pinking shears or scallop scissors for a decorative edge. From each circle, remove a pie-slice shape measuring about 1/8 of the circumference. Fashion into a cone, slightly overlapping straight ends; use a glue stick or double-sided tape to secure. Dab white craft glue inside nose of cone, and pierce tip with a wooden skewer (snip skewer for a custom fit); allow to dry.

Try these at home and let me know how it goes!