Regarded as a confession of love in the hanakotoba (the language of flowers) in Japan, the tulip is a pretty flower that also has a strength which helps signal the arrival of spring.
You will need:
1 sheet of 6in (15cm) origami paper (if you are using colouring paper, colour it in before you start folding)
Cutting mat
Craft Knife
Metal ruler
Scissors
1. Using a cutting mat, craft knife, and metal ruler, cut across the width of the paper along the edge of the square design, then turn the paper over and repeat. Retain the long edge and discard the short one.
2. With the coloured side down, fold the paper in half from side to side both ways, openingout each time, then turn the paper over and fold in half from corner to corner both ways, again opening out each time. Pick up the sheet and fold it into a square using the creases just made.
3. Fold in the outer corners of the upper flaps at an angle to equal to each other, leaving diagonal edges, and then turn the paper over and repeat.
4. Turn over the left-hand flap and fold the bottom right edge in half way to the centre line. Repeat on the left, then turn the paper over and repeat the step on the other side.
5. Carefully use the scissors to cut off the bottom tip about 1/8in (3mm) from the end.
6. Gently use a finger to open out the tulip, pressing the creases flat to create the bulb shape.
7. Take the longer length of green paper and, coloured side down, fold it in half lengthwise to make a crease, then open it out again and fold in the corners so that the ones from each end meet on the centre line. Next fold over the diagonal edges so that they also meet on the centre line.
8. Fold in the lower diagonal edges in the same way, then turn up the bottom tip, making a fold line about a third of the way down the object.
9. Fold the paper in half lengthwise, from right to left, then gently pull the two tips apart and press the new fold line flat.
10. Carefully stick the longer point into the hole cut at the base of the tulip flower.
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