Waterlily OrigamiPop-Up Card

(art + geometry; art + social studies)

For greetings, gifts or just for fun, stu-dents will enjoy making a pop-up cardwith a lovely folded water lily tuckedinside. Using the Japanese art of origami,the flower is made with six petals cutfrom one single template and folded tounfurl as the card is opened. For an interdisciplinary math lesson, have students use geometry skills to measure anglesand create their own template (Step 1). For afaster project, use the template already created(B, below right) and simply cut out the petalpieces.

Grade Levels 5-8

Process 1. Create a pattern to follow, or use the one pro-

vided. Follow the illustration below to make thepattern: on a 4" x 4" piece of posterboard, findthe center with a ruler, and mark with a line (a).Align the center and edge of the protractor onthe edge of the card (b), then mark the follow-ing angles: 30°, 50°, 70°, 110°, 130° and 150°.Connect with pencil, using a ruler (c). Createscalloped edges between the angled lines byfreehanding or using a compass (d).

2.Cut out the patternwith scissors. It willlook like a sea-shell(B). With pencil,lightly numbereach petal, startingat the left, 1through 8.

3. Using watercolor pencils, apply color to each4" x 4" piece of watercolor paper, front andback. Use a combination of a light color with adarker color for best results (see finishedexample, above, using Yellow and Heliotrope).Use a small amount of the Glitter Glaze on abrush to moisten and blend the color. Allowfirst side to dry, then apply glaze to the second side. Use the same process to paint thecard on the inside and the outside. Allow todry.

4. Trace the pattern onto each of the six pieces ofwatercolor paper and cut out with scissors.HINT: the paper is lightweight enough to cuttwo or three pieces at a time if you need tosave time.

5. Fold each petal, origami style. Begin with thecenter fold, create a hard crease back. A bonefolder is helpful in creating a strong crease.Fold the next angle forward, and the next twoback (see B, above). Use a small piece of tapeto secure petals 1 and 8 together (see C,below), if desired.

6. On the Blank Greeting Card, measure and markthe center on the fold. Position two of the fold-ed pieces with points at the center, glue petals1 & 8 to the card (see D, above). These will bethe center pieces of the flower.

7. The remaining folded pieces will be the sides ofthe flower, and will need to be trimmed inorder for the card to close properly. On two ofthe pieces, trim away petals 1 and 2. On theother two pieces, trim away petals 7 and 8.Attach the first flower side to the right of oneof the center pieces, gluing petal 1 to the cardand 2 to the side of the center (on it's petal 2).Repeat to the right of the other center piece.Repeat with remaining flower sides on the leftof the center pieces, this time gluing petal 8 tothe card and 7 to the center pieces. Do notglue the sides of the flower together, they willoverlap as the card folds down.

8. Allow the glue to dry completely before gently folding card. Use a brush or calligraphy marker to write a message aroundthe flower and on the front of the card. Insertinto the included envelope, and it's ready tosend.

Easy Variation1. For a faster project,

use Folia OrigamiSheets (12233-1033)instead of watercolorpaper and eliminatestep 3. Glue 2 lightblue sheets to thecard first for water.Cut oval-shapedleaves from light or dark green sheets and glueon top the blue. Use the remaining colors (reds,yellows, pinks, purples) for petals. Follow steps4-8 for the lily.

Copyright © 2006 Dick Blick Art Materials. All rights reserved.

National Standards

Content Standard #1 —Understanding and applying media,techniques and processes

5-8Students intentionally takeadvantage of the qualities andcharacteristics of art media,»techniques and processes toenhance communication of theirexperience and ideas.

Content Standard #6 — Making connections between visual arts andother disciplines

5-8Students describe ways in whichthe principles and subject matterof other disciplines taught in theschool are interrelated with thevisual arts.

Materials

Strathmore Blank GreetingCards, size 5" x 7", box of 50(12940-1430), one per student

Blick Student WatercolorPaper, 90-lb (10028-2152),sheet size 22" x 30". Studentswill need six 4" x 4" pieces

6" Semicircular Protractor(55646-0006), one per student

Safe-T View Thru Rulers(55496-1012), one per student

School Pencil Compass(55491-1055), one per student

Blick Economy GraphitePencils (20302-2009) one perstudent

Blick Art Gum Erasers(21507-1024) one per student

Snippy Scissors (57040-2009)one pair per student

Blick Glue Sticks (23872-1020)

Blick Economy Posterboard,white one side (13109-1102),one 4" x 4" square per student

General’s® Kimberly®Watercolor pencils, assorted color 144-piece classpack (20502-9012)

Sargent Art Glitter Glaze(00704-1006), place in smallcups to distribute to class

Blick Economy Camel Hairbrushes, size 6 (05153-1006),one per student

Bone folder, optional (12964-0001)

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Glue petals 1 & 8 to card

Glue petals 7 & 2 together

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Secure petals 1 and 8 togetherwith a small piece of tape

For a math lesson, drawthe pattern using geometrytools, see step 1

(a) (b) (c) (d)

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(D)

(C)

Back

Back Back

Back Back

Forward Forward

This illustration may be used as a pattern to savetime. Shown at 50%, enlarge to 4" x 4" to use

(B)

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