Let's make New Year’s decorations by hand! A collection of ideas you can create with everyday materials.

Origami spinning tops you can play with during the New Year!

Here’s an origami spinning top idea you can make once you know the “zabuton fold.” You’ll use two sheets of origami paper, so prepare your favorite colors.

First, let’s fold the first sheet.

Do a zabuton fold by bringing all four corners to the center, then repeat that same fold two more times.

For the second sheet, also do the zabuton fold three times, but flip the paper over after each fold.

After the third zabuton fold, flip the paper over and open out the corners that are gathered at the center to the outside.

This will be the body of the spinning top; the first sheet will be the handle.

For the handle, squash the areas between the corners so the center stands up, then insert it inside the body of the spinning top, aligning the corners as you go.

Now your top is complete—use the handle to spin it and have fun!

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Easy and cute! Lion dance origami

[New Year Origami] Easy and Cute Lion Dance Origami / Winter Origami – Origami Lion Dance

In this idea, you use two sheets of origami paper to make a horse by separating it into the head and the body.

The head is made with steps similar to folding a kabuto (samurai helmet) at first.

First, fold the paper into a triangle, then fold both corners up to meet the top corner.

Next, flip the paper top-to-bottom, and again fold the left and right corners up to meet the top corner.

Slightly fold back the parts you just folded to the outside to form the ears, then turn the paper over.

Make the nose by making a roll fold with the top layer of the bottom corner, and fold the top corner down to create the mane.

Turn the paper over again, tuck the left and right corners inward to refine the outline, and finish the head.

The body follows steps similar to making a trick boat (damashibune).

Fold the left-right and top-bottom edges to the center to form a square, then open the pocket sections to create two boats.

Use the corners of these boats to represent the legs and the tail.

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How to Make Easy and Stylish Pochi-bukuro (Small Gift Envelopes)

[Origami] Easy and stylish money envelope tutorial 🧧 A New Year’s otoshidama pouch that fits bills perfectly 🎍

Here’s an idea for making a small money envelope (pochibukuro) out of origami.

It uses simple steps, so try it with your favorite Japanese-patterned paper.

First, place the origami with the white side facing up and fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle, aligning the top and bottom corners.

Next, fold the top corner of the triangle down to meet the center of the base.

Lift the top layer of the upside-down triangle you just created and tuck it between the layers of paper.

Then fold down about 1 centimeter along the base of the remaining bottom triangle.

Create a decorative touch by making a diagonal step fold at the top corner of the triangle, then fold the left and right corners to the back to shape it into a pochibukuro.

You’re done!

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Easy! Mount Fuji Origami

New Year’s origami: Easy Mount Fuji origami [with audio commentary]

Here’s an idea inspired by Mt.

Fuji, a well-known New Year’s good-luck motif.

It’s easy to make with simple steps, so feel free to use it as a decorative accent on your crafts or as a wall display piece.

First, place the origami paper with the white side facing up and fold it in half into a triangle, aligning the top and bottom corners.

Next, lift the top corner of the upper layer and fold it down to meet the base.

Then fold the corners up to align with the base of the triangle, and open it back up after creasing.

Fold again so that the base of the triangle lines up with the crease, and fold the corner down once more along the crease.

Fold the corner up again along the crease, then tuck the top corner of the remaining white triangle at the top to the back—and you’re done! You’ve made a lovely Mt.

Fuji topped with snow.

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Quick and easy! Origami kagami mochi

[Origami] Easy! New Year Decoration: How to Make Kagami Mochi

During the New Year, we display kagami mochi to welcome the Toshigami deity.

Let’s make that kagami mochi using orange origami.

First, place the white side of the paper facing up, fold it into a triangle, crease, and open.

Next, fold up the bottom corner slightly into a small triangle, then roll-fold once more to form the mandarin orange.

Turn the paper over, fold both side edges of the mandarin to meet the first crease, then flip the paper top-to-bottom and fold up the remaining corners.

From here, use step folds to create the kagami mochi shape, tuck in the corners to round it out, and you’re done.

Instructions for making the sanpō stand and gohei paper streamers are also included, so make them together as a set.

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