Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, has been practiced for centuries and continues to delight people all over the world. With just a piece of paper and some patience, you can create intricate and beautiful designs – like an adorable origami mouse! In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of crafting your very own mouse.

Materials:

– Square sheet of origami paper (15cm x 15cm or 6in x 6in recommended)

– A flat surface, such as a table or a desk

– Optional: pen or pencil for sketching crease lines

Step 1: Prepare your paper

Begin by positioning your square sheet of origami paper on a flat surface with the colored side facing down. Ensure that all edges are aligned.

Step 2: Fold in half diagonally

Fold your paper in half diagonally, aligning the bottom right corner with the top left corner. Crease well and then unfold.

Step 3: Fold in half diagonally again

Now fold your paper in half diagonally once more, aligning the bottom left corner with the top right corner. Crease well and then unfold. You should now have an ‘X’ shape formed by two diagonal creases on your square paper.

Step 4: Create center guidelines

Fold the left edge of your paper over to meet the right edge. Crease well and unfold. Repeat this process by folding the top edge over to meet the bottom edge. After unfolding, you should see a cross-shaped guideline at center of the square.

Step 5: Collapse into a triangle

Bring all four corners to the center where guidelines intersect and flatten them down to form a smaller square. This form is known as ‘preliminary base’ in origami terms.

Step 6: Create flaps

With the open end pointing towards you, fold the right and left corners in to touch the center vertical crease. Flatten these folds, transforming your model into a kite shape.

Step 7: Form mouse’s nose

Fold the bottom tip up to meet the top point of kite shape. Crease well, ensuring that tip aligns with top point. Unfold this flap you just created.

Step 8: Inside reverse fold

Open up the model slightly and perform an inside reverse fold by folding bottom tip up again but this time tuck it inside, allowing model to form a triangular 3D shape.

Step 9: Shape the tail

Fold the bottom left edge to run parallel with central vertical crease. Then, fold triangle’s left side over to meet right side. While holding these folds in place, gently pull out tail from beneath bottom right flap and extend it straight out.

Step 10: Final touches

Pinch the tail gently along its length to give it a more defined and curved look. Optionally, draw small eyes on your mouse’s head using pen or pencil.

Congratulations! You now have an adorable origami mouse. With practice and care, you’ll soon master this design and bring joy to friends and family with your little paper creations. Happy folding!