Origami: The Art of Paper Folding

In Japanese, “ori” means to fold and “gami” is paper. So origami literally means paper folding. The main goal of this art is to create a representation of an object by using geometric folds and crease patterns without gluing or cutting paper and is restricted to using only one piece of paper.
Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, only uses a small number of different folds. They can be combined in a variety of ways to make intricate designs. The most well known form is probably the Japanese paper crane. Generally, these designs begin with a square sheet of paper whose sides may be in different prints or colors.
Starting with a square sheet of paper, fold the side by placing it on the diagonal line. Repeat the same by placing the adjacent side of the square on the diagonal line. Now fold the along the diagonal again. Hold the folded paper with the left hand. Use your right hand, the thumb and index finger, to hold the tip outside and pull it down. Press with your left hand thumb and index finger. Now you have made the beak of a bird. Make another fold so that you make it into a bird with a beak, neck, and body.
Familiarizing yourself with the basic steps of folding and the terminologies listed below, you can now follow instructions in origami diagrams and make hundreds of interesting things. You may also create your own models and share it with others.
1. Valley Fold: Folding the paper sheet inside.
2. Mountain Fold: This is reverse of valley fold. Instead of folding inside, you fold outside.
3. Petal Fold: The petal fold lifts a point and brings it upwards so that the two edges of the paper lie together. It is best to pre-fold both layers of paper along the valley and mountain folds before making the petal fold.
4. Rabbit Ear Fold: Pre-fold along the three valley folds first. Then fold the two sides down to the baseline. Fold the top point to one side to make the mountain fold. (Take care that you fold the top point to the right side where the mountain fold is set.)
5. Squash Fold: Pre-fold both sheets of paper along the valley and mountain fold. Then open the paper. Fold one layer of paper along the valley fold and flatten the model using the mountain fold.
6. Reverse (Inside) Fold: Pre-fold both sheets of paper in both directions (mountain and valley). Then open the model a little bit and bring the top point down so that the mountain fold edge becomes a valley fold edge.
7. Reverse (Outside) Fold: A crimp is used as a way of incorporating two reverse folds to change the direction of a flap or point. In most cases it is easiest just to make two reverse folds one after the other (pre-crease both folds before).
8. Sink Fold: The sink fold is a method of blunting a point that has no open edges. The fold should first be pre-creased. Then carefully open the model and tuck the point inside. Then, flatten the model along existing creases.
Origami is extremely easy to follow with the help of simple diagrams which are given well in all origami help books, websites, etc. One can get an elementary hold of origami by practicing the basic steps mentioned above.