How to Fold an Origami Heart Bookmark

1. Create an 'X' Crease Pattern

   To begin making your origami heart bookmark, start with the patterned side of your paper face-down. If your paper is a solid color on both sides, you don't need to worry about what side is face-down.

   • Fold your paper along one of the diagonals to make a triangle shape.
   • Crease well, then unfold.
   • Fold in half along the opposite diagonal.
   • Crease well, then unfold.

   When you're finished, your paper should have an crease pattern in the shape of an X in the middle.

2. Fold the Paper in Half Horizontally

   Flip your paper over, so the patterned side is facing up. Fold it in half horizontally. The crease you make should go across the intersection of the "X" crease pattern you created in the previous step.

3. Fold the Bottom to the Middle of the Paper

   Open your paper up. Fold the bottom up to the middle crease.

4. Collapse the Paper to Create a Triangle

   Unfold the paper, and push in gently on the horizontal creases to collapse the paper into a triangle. This collapsed triangle form is known as a balloon base. It is used to create many different origami projects, including a basic origami butterfly.

5. Start Forming Your Origami Heart

   With the crease facing you, lift the top layer of the triangle upward and flatten. This will eventually become the heart embellishment on your origami bookmark.

6. Fold Down

   Flip your paper over, and fold the top triangle flap down. Fold the top horizontal edge down, so it meets the crease you created by folding down the triangle flap.

7. Flatten the Corner Pockets

   Stick a finger in each corner pocket and flatten the paper.

8. Create the Top of Your Origami Heart

   Fold the exposed corners in to create the two sides of the final heart shape. Then, fold the top left and right points down to round out the corners of the heart.

9. Complete Your Origami Heart Bookmark

   Flip your paper over and bring the triangle flap back up.

If desired, you can decorate the origami heart bookmark with stickers or write a message on it. If you use stickers, try putting a large sticker over the part where the two sides of the heart join together to prevent the reader from accidentally unfolding the bookmark. You may also want to use a glue stick to glue the top of the heart to the triangle base.