How to Make an Easy Origami Rose

origami rose

Creedence Gerlach

Project Overview
  • Skill Level: Kid-friendly

Although origami roses are among the most popular paper-folding projects, many rose designs are far beyond a beginner's capabilities. The Kawasaki rose, for example, has 29 steps and includes both inside and outside reverse folds. It's a beautiful design but incredibly intimidating if you're just learning the basics of the art of paper folding.

If you're looking for a simple origami rose, this design fits the bill. It's a modification of a traditional model based on the origami blintz base form.

Illustration of hands folding origami rose
The Spruce / Theresa Chiechi

The easy origami rose in this project is simple enough for a child to fold,​ although most children will have better luck folding from a larger square of construction paper. Tiny folds require an attention to detail that can be frustrating for little hands.

Select the Paper

origami rose supplies
Creedence Gerlach

The project uses colored notepaper squares that are the same color on both sides. The squares should measure approximately 3 1/4 inches, which creates flowers that are about 1 1/2 inches wide. Adjust the size of the paper as you wish to change the size of the flowers.

Watch Now: How to Make an Easy Origami Rose

origami rose paper
Creedence Gerlach

Tip

If you want to make a two-tone rose, try carefully brushing the folded flower with a bit of watercolor paint. A white paper rose with flecks of red is especially pretty.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Small dowel or rod to curl paper

Materials

  • 1 Square of red notepaper
  • 1 Square of green notepaper

Instructions

  1. Fold a Blintz Base

    origami rose blintz base
    Creedence Gerlach

    Fold your paper in half horizontally.

    fold paper in half horizontally for origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach
  2. Unfold, then fold the paper in half vertically. Unfold once more. Make sure to press hard on the crease lines so they're easy to see once the paper has been unfolded.

    folding paper for origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach
    folding paper for origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach
    folding paper for origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach
  3. Fold each corner into the middle crease to make what is known in origami as a blintz base.

    fold corner of origami paper
    Creedence Gerlach
    origami rose blintz base
    Creedence Gerlach
  4. Form a Double Blintz

    double blintz
    Creedence Gerlach

    Fold each corner into the middle crease again. In origami craft, this shape is known as a double blintz.

    folding a double blintz
    Creedence Gerlach
  5. Form a Triple Blintz

    triple blintz
    Creedence Gerlach

    Fold each corner into the middle crease for a third and final time. This shape is known as a triple blintz.

    folding a triple blintz
    Creedence Gerlach

    Tip

    If you're working with small paper, these folds may be somewhat difficult to make. If necessary, press down over the folds with your fingernail to create precise creases.

  6. Make the Petals

    create petals on origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach

    Carefully curl back the layers of the paper to form petals for your rose. Here, a soft crease creates the most natural-looking flower, so in this one case, don't press down too hard on the fold.

    making petals on an origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach
    making petals on an origami rose
     Creedence Gerlach
    making petals on an origami rose
     Creedence Gerlach
    making petals on an origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach 
    making petals on an origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach 
    making petals on an origami rose
     Creedence Gerlach
  7. Begin Folding the Leaves

    origami rose step by step
    Creedence Gerlach

    To make leaves for your origami rose, you'll need a square of green paper that is the same size as the red paper you used for the rose petals.

    green paper to fold origami rose leaves
    Creedence Gerlach
  8. Make a kite base by folding the paper in half along one of the diagonals.

    origami rose step by step
    Creedence Gerlach
  9. Unfold, then fold the two opposite corners into the middle.

    origami rose step by step
    Creedence Gerlach
    folding the leaves for an origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach
    How to fold leaves for an origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach
  10. Fold the widest points in once more to make the diamond shape shown in the photo.

    origami rose step by step
    Creedence Gerlach
    origami rose step by step
    Creedence Gerlach
  11. Finish Folding the Leaves

    making leaves on an origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach

    Fold your diamond shape in half along the middle crease.

    origami rose step by step
    Creedence Gerlach
  12. Make squash folds on the left and right sides, as shown in the photo.

    making leaves on an origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach
    making leaves on an origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach 
    making leaves on an origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach
  13. Complete Your Origami Rose

    origami rose
    Creedence Gerlach

    Flip the green paper over, then glue the red rose to the middle of the triangle so it looks like the two points are leaves for the flower.

This design makes a lovely accent for a greeting card or scrapbook page. You could also add a magnet to display on your refrigerator or frame a collection of folded roses to make pretty wall art for your home.

Fun Fact

As of September 1, 2018, Abnora Fejza Idrizi of Skenderaj, Kosovo, holds the Guinness world record for creating the largest origami flower. It measures 28 feet, 6 inches in diameter.