Before you fold
Tips for Thanksgiving Origami
Pick your paper
Harvest colors do most of the work: orange for the Pumpkin, red and gold for the Maple Leaf, warm browns for the Turkey, the Squirrel and the Owl. Kraft paper folds well and already looks like the season. Most models here take a single 6 x 6 in (15 x 15 cm) square.
Set the table
Fold a Turkey, a Pumpkin or a Maple Leaf for each guest and write a name on it for a place card. Tuck a short thank-you note into an Envelope at each plate. A Kusudama Chrysanthemum makes a centerpiece on its own, and the Sanbou Box or the Lazy Susan holds nuts and candy.
Fold with kids
The Envelope, the Leaf, the Fox and the Fortune Teller are Very Easy and take under five minutes each, a good way to keep kids busy while the meal cooks. Write something you are thankful for under each flap of the Fortune Teller and it becomes a game for the whole table. The Pumpkin and the Squirrel come next, about ten minutes each.
Questions
Thanksgiving Origami FAQ
Can I use printer paper instead of origami paper?
Yes. Cut it into a square first, and expect slightly softer creases than with origami paper, which is thinner and holds a fold better. Colored copy paper works well for the simpler models here. You can also paint plain printer paper with acrylics: it adds color and makes the sheet stronger once folded.
How do I make a bigger decoration?
Use a bigger square. The finished model grows with the paper, so a 10 in (25 cm) sheet gives you a model close to twice the size of one folded from 6 in (15 cm).
Can I print the instructions?
Every tutorial has a printable PDF version, laid out for paper with the same steps. The PDFs are part of Origami Friends, our membership on Patreon: $2 a month for the full library of 120+ printable diagrams.
