How to fold an origami little hot-air balloon
A kite with its top corners folded behind makes the round balloon. Its long point folds behind and back down, so the tip hangs below as the basket.
You need: 1 square sheet, red or orange on one side. Easy, 8 steps, about 4 minutes.
Steps
- Crease the middle. Put the square white side up like a diamond. Fold the left corner onto the right corner, crease well and unfold.
- Make a kite. Fold the two lower edges in so they meet along the centre crease.
- Turn it over. Flip the kite over from side to side. The long point stays at the bottom.
- Round the top. Fold the top tip behind a little.
- Round the sides. Fold the two wide corners behind on slanted lines, so the top of the balloon gets round.
- Point behind. Fold the long bottom point up behind, about a fifth of the way up.
- Basket down. Behind, fold it back down a little higher so its tip hangs below the balloon. That's the basket.
- Flat basket. Fold the very tip of the basket behind so it has a flat bottom.
Up, up and away!
Draw two curved lines down the balloon. Hang it from a thread so it floats over your desk.