To me, an origami heart is the purest, simplest way to say ‘I love you.’ I fold them so often, sometimes without even realizing my hands are moving, just to leave little reminders of affection for the people I care about. Today I’ll teach you three easy folds, including one perfectly designed to slip into a shirt pocket, right next to their heart.
None of the three need anything beyond paper and a marker, and once you know the folds, each one takes five to ten minutes. The pocket version is the one built to disappear into a shirt pocket until the right moment.
This is one of my many origami heart tutorials, and a lovely addition to our Valentine’s Day crafts collection.
Origami Hearts at a Glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Time: 15 to 30 minutes for all three
- Cost: Under $5 (paper and a marker)
- Ages: 8 and up, with help on the tucking steps for the pocket and note hearts
- Best for: Valentine’s Day cards, gift toppers, and love notes
What You Need to Fold Origami Hearts
Materials
- Craft paper or origami paper, a square sheet for the classic and pocket hearts, and a strip cut to roughly a 4:1 ratio (about 20cm x 5cm) for the note heart.
- A dark marker or sharpie, for writing your note inside the note and pocket hearts.
Tools
- Ruler and pencil, only needed if you’re measuring and cutting your own paper instead of using pre-cut origami sheets.
- Scissors, to trim paper down to size.
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Watch How to Fold the Origami Note Heart
This clip walks through the note heart, the version that opens to reveal a hidden message. The classic heart and the pocket heart use a similar base fold, and both are covered step by step below.
How to Fold Origami Hearts
The Classic Heart
Let’s start with the classic. This is the one I find myself folding out of receipts or scrap paper when my mind is wandering. It only takes a few folds.
Step 1: Make the Diagonal Base Fold
Start with a square sheet of paper. Fold it in half diagonally to make a crease, then unfold. Take either corner along that crease and fold it in so its point touches the middle of the crease. Then fold the opposite corner in so its point meets the middle of the far edge.
Step 2: Shape the Heart’s Base
Fold the whole shape in half and unfold it again to set a center crease. Fold the wider bottom section’s right half over so its edge lines up with that center crease, then do the same on the left. Flip the paper over to the other side.
Step 3: Fold In the Top Corners
Fold about 1 cm of the top right corner inward, then do the same on the left. Fold about 1 cm in from both side edges too, then unfold just those two side folds, leaving the crease lines behind for the next step.
Step 4: Tuck the Corners to Finish
Open each side slightly and tuck the corner in along the crease lines you just made, working one side and then the other. Flip the heart over and the classic origami heart is done.
The Secret Message Heart
Once you have the basic folds down, we can step it up just a little bit. This one is the Secret Message heart. It’s perfect if you want to write a tiny note inside before you fold it up…
Step 1: Crease the Strip Into Fourths
Cut your paper into a strip about 20cm by 5cm. Fold it in half lengthwise, then unfold. Fold each side in to meet that center crease, then unfold those too. You’ll be left with crease lines dividing the strip into four equal squares.
Step 2: Fold the Side Squares Inward
Take the second square from the right and fold it in half so its outer crease lines up with the center crease, then unfold it and fold the whole outer rectangle in half instead. Repeat the same sequence on the left side of the strip.
Step 3: Fold In the First Set of Corners
Flip the strip over. Fold in all four corners of the square that’s now sitting on top. Unfold two of those corners, the ones along the outer edge, and fold them back inward on their own.
Step 4: Flatten the Middle Section
Hold the middle part of the corners you just folded in and pull it outward, then press it flat against the base shape underneath. Do the same on the other side, then flip the whole piece over.
Step 5: Fold the Right and Left Squares
Fold the right square in half vertically, then fold the left square in half the same way. Flip the piece over, then fold the bottom right corner up to meet the adjacent edge on a diagonal.
Step 6: Shape the Top Corners
Fold the top left corner in on that same side, then fold the outer right corner over to complete the right half of the heart. Fold the top corner in slightly, then repeat the whole sequence on the left side.
Step 7: Close the Heart Around Your Note
Write your message along the middle strip before you close it up. Fold the inner edge of the right side in along the center crease, then do the same on the left so the two inner edges meet and seal your note inside.
The Pocket Heart (The Grand Finale)
And finally, my absolute favorite. This is the Pocket Heart. I love this one because of a quote I once read: ‘I folded my heart into origami, just so you can keep it in your shirt’s pocket, right where your heart is.’ Let me show you how to make it…
Step 1: Fold the Preliminary Base
Start with a square sheet. Fold it in half diagonally on both sides, then flip the paper over. Make a vertical and a horizontal half-fold as well, then unfold both. Flip the paper again, push the horizontal and vertical creases inward, and draw the center point up so the paper collapses into a smaller square with one flap on each side. Hold it by the corner.
Tip: Keep track of which side is facing up before you flip the paper each time. This fold is easy to lose track of if you flip it more than the steps call for.
Step 2: Tuck In the Side Pockets
Fold the open corner of one flap over to meet the corner on the opposite side, then unfold it and tuck that open half of the flap inward. Turn the shape over and tuck in the flap on that side the same way. Rotate the piece so the two divided sections point up, then fold the open corner of each one in to meet the corner on its own open side.
Step 3: Shape the Top Right Corner
Unfold the last two folds you just made and open them slightly. Tuck the folded parts back in, this time keeping them along the crease lines from the previous step so the corner sits flat.
Step 4: Fold the Second Base Half
Now start the matching half: take a second square sheet and fold it in half diagonally on both sides. Flip it over, make a vertical and a horizontal half-fold, then flip it again and push those creases inward, drawing the center point up the same way you did in step one.
Step 5: Fold In the Final Corners
Fold the other side of this second base the same way you folded the first. Fold the top corners in by about 1 cm, then do the same with the side corners. Turn the finished heart over and it’s ready. Slide a small folded note or a tiny gift into the pocket before you give it away.
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Tips for Folding Origami Hearts
- Light to medium-weight craft paper holds a crisp crease without tearing at the folds; go thicker if you want a bigger, sturdier heart for the pocket or note version.
- Patterned paper on the front side turns a plain heart into a small gift on its own, worth trying once you’ve got the base folds down.
- Crease each fold firmly before moving to the next step; a soft crease is the most common reason a finished heart ends up looking lopsided.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of paper works best for these origami hearts?
Light to medium-weight craft paper or standard origami paper works best because it creases sharply without tearing. Cardstock is too stiff for the tucking steps in the pocket and note hearts, and thin paper like tissue won’t hold a crisp point.
Do I need a printable template to fold these origami hearts?
No, none of these three hearts need a printable template. The classic and pocket hearts start from a plain square of paper, and the note heart starts from a rectangular strip cut to roughly a 4:1 ratio, both easy to measure and cut yourself with a ruler.
How long does it take to fold all three origami hearts?
Once you know the folds, each heart takes about five to ten minutes, so all three together run around 15 to 30 minutes. The pocket and note hearts take a little longer than the classic heart because of the extra tucking steps.
Can I make a bigger or smaller origami heart?
Yes, all three hearts scale up or down with the size of paper you start with. Keep the same proportions when you resize (a 1:1 square for the classic and pocket hearts, roughly a 4:1 strip for the note heart), since that ratio is what makes the folds line up correctly.
How is this different from your gum wrapper heart tutorial?
Our gum wrapper heart is built around the narrow shape of an actual candy or gum wrapper, while these three hearts fold from standard square or rectangular craft paper using three different construction methods. Fold the gum wrapper version if you want something pocket-sized that reuses a real wrapper; fold these if you want a larger heart, a hidden note, or a gift pocket.
Can I use these as Valentine’s Day cards?
Yes, the note heart works especially well as a mini card since it opens to reveal a message you write inside, and the pocket heart can hold a small folded note or a tiny treat. Glue the finished heart to the front of a folded cardstock base if you want a sturdier card to hand someone.
More Origami Tutorials
Browse our full origami tutorials collection, or try one of these next:
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