EASY · TRADITIONAL MODEL
Preliminary base
A traditional base, also called the square base: fold the diamond in half twice and squash the flaps flat into a square standing on one corner. This is where you learn the squash fold.
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You can read every step here. The step-by-step guide for this model, with play, pause and a replay of every fold, is in the Foldstep app for your phone, tablet, TV or computer. Included in the Party Pack and in Foldstep Complete.
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The steps, in words
Get your paper ready.
Lay a square sheet down as a diamond, with one corner pointing up and one towards you. If one side is coloured, put it face down and the white side face up.
Use smooth, properly square paper: in the next folds the corners have to meet exactly.
Fold the diamond in half, downwards.
Bring the top corner down onto the bottom corner. The fold runs from the left corner to the right corner. You get a triangle with the coloured side facing up.
Line up the corners well before pressing the fold.
Fold the triangle in half, to the left.
With both layers together, bring the right-hand corner over to the left-hand corner. The fold runs vertically from the top corner down to the bottom corner. You get a smaller triangle, with the right angle at the top and four layers.
Press this fold firmly: the next step works on these four layers.
Lift the top flap and squash it flat.
Take the two top layers, which are joined along the top edge, and lift them, hinged on the vertical fold, until they stand up. Slip a finger between those two layers, open them out and press them flat towards the right, so that the tip of the flap comes down to the bottom corner. The top edge of the flap lands on the vertical fold, leaving a coloured square standing on one corner. A triangle peeks out on the left: it is the other two layers, which do not move.
All the new creases start from the right angle at the top. Open the flap slowly, without pulling the paper.
Turn the paper over.
Turn it over from right to left, like turning the page of a book, keeping the top corner at the top. The triangle that peeked out on the left is now on the right, and its two layers are on top.
The turn is around the vertical line down the middle: the top corner stays at the top.
Lift the top flap and squash it flat, just as before.
Now the top flap is the other two layers, joined along the top edge and hinged on the vertical fold. Lift them until they stand up, slip a finger between them, open them out and press them flat towards the left, so that the tip of the flap comes down to the bottom corner. It is the same squash fold, as a mirror image.
If the first squash came out well, this one comes out the same: it covers the square you already had completely.
Your preliminary base is ready.
The drawing shows the base: a coloured square standing on one corner. The centre of the paper is at the top corner and the four loose corners are together at the bottom corner.
It is the starting base for the flapping bird and the crane.