Origami Classic Crane

1. Start with your paper colored side down, white side facing you, in a square orientation.
**Terminology: Start with colored side down (standard starting position)**

2. Fold the paper in half diagonally, bringing the bottom left corner to the top right corner. Crease and unfold.
**Terminology: Valley fold along diagonal, then unfold**

3. Fold the paper in half diagonally the other way, bringing the bottom right corner to the top left corner. Crease and unfold.
**Terminology: Valley fold along diagonal, then unfold (creates X crease pattern)**

4. Turn the paper over so the colored side is facing you.
**Terminology: Turn over - note: diagonal creases now appear as mountain folds from this side**

5. Fold the paper in half horizontally, bringing the bottom edge to the top edge. Crease and unfold.
**Terminology: Valley fold in half horizontally, then unfold**

6. Fold the paper in half vertically, bringing the left edge to the right edge. Crease and unfold.
**Terminology: Valley fold in half vertically, then unfold (completes preliminary fold crease pattern)**

7. Turn the paper back over so the white side is facing you. Using all the creases, bring all four corners together at the bottom, collapsing the paper into a small square with open flaps.
**Terminology: Collapse into preliminary base or square base (uses all existing creases to create 3D form)**

8. Position the square so the open flaps point downward. Fold the right edge of the top layer to the vertical centerline.
**Terminology: Valley fold edge to centerline**

9. Fold the left edge of the top layer to the vertical centerline.
**Terminology: Valley fold edge to centerline (creates kite shape on top layer)**

10. Fold the top triangle down over the two flaps you just folded.
**Terminology: Valley fold triangle down (creates crease for petal fold)**

11. Unfold the last three folds (steps 8, 9, and 10) to return to the square shape.
**Terminology: Unfold to return to square base**

12. Lift the top layer at the bottom point and fold it upward, using the creases you just made. The sides will fold inward automatically, creating a long diamond shape.
**Terminology: Petal fold (classic origami technique that uses existing creases)**

13. Turn the model over and repeat steps 8-12 on this side.
**Terminology: Turn over and repeat petal fold (creates symmetrical bird base)**

14. You now have the bird base. Fold the right flap of the top layer to the left, like turning a page.
**Terminology: Valley fold flap over (like turning a book page)**

15. Turn the model over and repeat step 14, folding the right flap to the left.
**Terminology: Turn over and valley fold flap over**

16. Fold the bottom right edge of the top layer to the vertical centerline.
**Terminology: Valley fold edge to centerline**

17. Fold the bottom left edge of the top layer to the vertical centerline.
**Terminology: Valley fold edge to centerline (narrows the point)**

18. Turn the model over and repeat steps 16-17 on this side.
**Terminology: Turn over and repeat valley folds to centerline**

19. Fold the right flap to the left on the top layer, like turning a page.
**Terminology: Valley fold flap over**

20. Turn the model over and repeat step 19.
**Terminology: Turn over and valley fold flap over**

21. Take the bottom right point and fold it upward at an angle to create the crane's neck. The fold should go between the two layers.
**Terminology: Inside reverse fold (involves both valley and mountain folds to invert the point upward)**

22. Repeat step 21 on the left side to create the tail.
**Terminology: Inside reverse fold (creates tail)**

23. Take the tip of the neck and fold it down to create the crane's head.
**Terminology: Inside reverse fold to create head (smaller reverse fold at tip)**

24. Gently pull the wings apart to open the body and give it dimension.
**Terminology: Open and shape model (creates 3D form)**

25. Optional: Gently curl the wings by pulling them over a pencil or your finger.
**Terminology: Shape and curve wings (optional finishing technique)**
