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How to fold an origami crow

A strip cut free along the back tapers into a strong, slightly hooked beak. Tapered pleats bow the head and tip the long tail down. Black wing and folded legs are glued on.

You need: A dark grey 15 cm square, white on the back; black 10 × 4 cm; a black strip 1 × 11 cm; scissors, glue, white pen. Hard, 15 steps, about 30 minutes.

Steps

  1. Fold in half. Dark square, white side up, turned like a diamond. Fold the top corner down to the bottom corner. The long fold on top is the back.
  2. Crease a strip. Fold the top edge down 1.6 cm along its whole length, through all the layers, and crease it hard.
  3. Open it. Unfold the strip again. You will cut along its crease to free the beak.
  4. Cut the crow. Cut along the crease from the right edge to 5.6 cm right of the middle. Cut the strip to a thick beak that dips at the tip. Round the head and belly.
  5. Neck: fold in. Fold the head over to the left on a line from the back, 3 cm right of the middle, slanting down to the throat.
  6. Neck: fold out. Fold it back to the right from the same point on the back, on a line that slants less. The head bows a little.
  7. Tail: fold in. Fold the tail over to the right on a line from the back, 4 cm left of the middle, slanting down to the right.
  8. Tail: fold out. Fold it back to the left from the same point on the back, on a line that slants more. The tail now tips down.
  9. Head up. Tilt the crow so its chest rises and the beak points straight ahead.
  10. Wing: new sheet. Set the body aside. Cut the black piece into a long wing: round at the shoulder, pointed at the back end.
  11. Legs: new sheet. Set the wing aside. Take the black strip, standing tall.
  12. Fold the strip. Fold it in half lengthwise, the right edge over onto the left edge, so it is black on both sides.
  13. Two legs. Fold the top half down on a crease across the middle that rises to the right, so it swings out ahead: one leg stepping forward.
  14. Feet. Fold the last 1 cm of each leg forward along the ground.
  15. Glue it together. Glue the legs' top fold behind the belly, then the wing along the back with its tip over the tail.

Caw, caw!

Colour the beak black. Draw a white eye with a black middle.

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