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How to fold an origami clam

Fold a square in half and pleat the front shell up a little, so the inside of the back shell peeps out. Pleats fanning from the hinge make the ridges.

You need: 1 square sheet (15 cm), purple on one side, and a white pen. Medium, 9 steps, about 12 minutes.

Steps

  1. Round the corners. Start purple side up. Fold the two bottom corners behind and the two top corners to the front, about 3 cm each.
  2. Fold in half. Fold the top half behind, down onto the bottom half. The fold along the top is the clam's hinge.
  3. Open a crack: up. Fold just the front layer up, on a line about 2 cm below the top.
  4. Open a crack: down. Fold it back down a little higher up. The front shell is now shorter, and the pale inside of the back shell shows below it.
  5. Fold the ears. Fold both ends of the hinge behind, about 2 cm, so the hinge is shorter than the shell.
  6. Ridges 1: behind. From the middle of the top edge, fold each side behind on a slanting line, about a third of the way down the side.
  7. Ridges 1: back out. Fold each side back out on a line just inside the last one. It leaves a raised ridge fanning out from the hinge.
  8. Ridges 2: behind. From the same point, fold each side behind again on a steeper line.
  9. Ridges 2: back out. Fold each side back out on a line just inside the last one. It leaves a raised ridge fanning out from the hinge.

A clam!

Draw a little round pearl peeping out of the crack. Snap the shells shut to hide it!

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