Lee’s Culture – Making Tanabata decorations with origami

Today, I’ll tell you how to make some of these decorations!


 
Tanzaku (short sheets) for writing wishes
 
Here are the steps!
1)  Find or make a rectangular strip of paper (cut an origami sheet into 1/4)
2)  On one side of the strip, fold the paper about 1cm in, and glue
3)  Use a hole-punch to make a hole in the folded area
4)  Write your wish on the tanzaku and attach to the bamboo tree using a string.
 

 
Kaikazari (the ‘shell’ design)
1)  Fold in half
2)  Insert straight cuts from one side at 2cm intervals. 

Don’t cut all the way through; leave about 1cm.
3)  Unfold and spread open
4)  Join up the diagonal corners, and attach those corners with flue. 

You’re finished!
 

 
Amikazari (the ‘fishing net’ design)
1)  Fold in half
2)  Fold in half again – you should now have a long strip
3)  Insert straight cuts from one side at 1cm intervals. 

Don’t cut all the way through; leave about 5mm.
4)  From the other side, insert straight cuts in the gaps of the cuts from the other side. 

Again, don’t cut all the way through and leave about 5mm
5)  Unfold and spread open, and gently pull on the paper. 

You’re finished!