Craft a beautiful and realistic origami lotus flower with our step-by-step video tutorial and photo guide. Perfect for home decor, gifting, or peaceful paper crafting fun!
Hello Craftaholics! 🪷
Did you know the lotus flower is a symbol of peace, rebirth, and purity in many cultures? It rises from muddy waters and blooms with grace. And that’s exactly the kind of quiet magic this craft brings.
Probably that’s why the lotus is one of the most popular origami flower projects all over the world. We’ve made a simple origami lotus before, but this time, we wanted to take things a step further.
So in today’s tutorial, I’ll show you how to make a realistic origami lotus that looks almost lifelike, with layered pink petals, soft gradients, and lush green outer leaves. It’s absolutely stunning in person and photographs beautifully!
We’ve even used ours as props for photography, but you can display yours as home decor, a handmade gift, a party centerpiece, or even a relaxing desk ornament.
If you’re a beginner, don’t worry, it may look fancy, but once you get the hang of the folds, it’s easier than you’d think. Let’s dive into this beautiful project together.
If You’re Crafting for Peace
This origami lotus is a calming “zen break” that eases stress and clears your mind. If you’re making this origami lotus as a calming or therapeutic activity, I gently suggest skipping the video. Read through the full tutorial first, put your phone away, play some peaceful music, and let each fold come from within. This flower has a quiet beauty, and I hope, like me, you’ll find a little peace with every crease.
How to Make Origami Lotus
Things You’ll Need
Materials
- Origami papers or craft papers (normal papers won’t be strong enough)
- Elastic band (to hold the petals)
- Pencil
Tools
- Ruler
- Scissors
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Watch & Fold: Lotus Tutorial with Visual Steps
Start by watching the full video once (unless you’re doing this as a mindful craft). It’ll give you a clear picture. Then follow the steps at your own pace. Whether you’re brand new or just need a quick refresher, this will make your lotus flower bloom beautifully!
Step 1: Preparing the Papers
For this origami project, you’ll need 15″ x 30″ sheets of paper. For each group/ part, you’ll need 1 green, 1 magenta, and 2 light pink sheets. To form the lotus pattern, you’ll need 4 groups of sheets, each consisting of 4 sheets.
Step 2: Vertical Half Folds
Take any one of the rectangular sheets and fold it in half, lengthwise (vertical). Unfold the half fold, and it will leave a crease along the middle.
Step 3: Folding Corner on a Side
Hold any one of the corners of the rectangular sheet and fold it inside. Alight the corner’s side with the vertical middle crease. Similarly, fold the adjacent corner along the other side of the crease.
Step 4: Folding a Longer Side
Now, fold in the corners of the opposite side. Fold a longer side of the current pattern along the middle crease.
Step 5: Fold Along the Middle Crease
Similarly, fold the opposite longer side along the other side of the middle crease. Then, fold the current pattern along the middle crease.
Step 6: How to Fold the Petal Pattern
Fold the current pattern along the initial middle crease, keeping the open sides of the folds facing outwards.
Step 7: Fold the Green Paper
Take any one of the green sheets and follow steps 2 to 5. Follow the video instructions to do the half fold.
Step 8: How to Fold the Green Pattern
When folding along the middle crease, keep the open sides of the folds facing inwards.
Step 9: Forming the Petal and Leaf Group
Fold the petal patterns with their open sides facing out, and fold the leaf pattern with its open side facing in. Group the origami patterns as per the following sequence: green, 2 light pink, and 1 magenta pattern. You will need a total of 4 groups.
Step 10: How to Group the Origami Patterns
Take the green pattern and make sure that it is folded in half with its open sides facing in. Join the green pattern with 2 light pink patterns, and then join the magenta pattern.
Step 11: How to Assemble the Groups
Hold the 4 groups side by side together, making sure that their open ends are leveled neatly.
Step 12: Secure the Assembled Groups
Hold the assembled pattern groups firmly and tie a rubber band in the middle to secure them together.
Step 13: Turn the Groups to the Other Side
Secured the groups with a rubber band? Now, turn it to the other side.
Step 14: Spread the Open Parts
Fold out the open sides of the secured patterns. There should be a total of 8 open sides.
Step 15: Fold Up a Petal
Hold any one of the light pink open ends on top and fold it up, slowly and gently, making sure not to tear or wrinkle the paper pattern. Fold up all 8 light pink patterns of the top.
Step 16: Fold Up the 1st and 2nd Layers
Similarly, fold up the 8 pink patterns of the second layer from the top.Keep the 1st and 2nd layer adjacent to each other.
Step 17: Fold Up the 3rd Layer
The 3rd layer of magenta patterns should also be folded up like the previous ones. Keep the 3rd layer adjacent to the 2nd layer.
Step 18: Fold Up the Green Layer
Now, fold up the green layer. Keep a half-inch gap between the green patterns and the 3rd layer.
Tips for Beginners: Origami Lotus Making
If you’re new to intermediate-level origami folding and find this tutorial hard to craft, you can follow some tips for a neat lotus pattern.
👉 Tip 1: Use Lightweight Paper:
Choose thin origami or craft paper that’s easy to fold. Heavier paper can make the folds bulky and tricky to handle, especially when assembling all 16 pieces.
👉 Tip 2: Cut Papers to the Same Size:
The lotus needs 16 identical papers (15 cm x 30 cm each). Make sure your papers are cut evenly—mismatched pieces make the flower look uneven and harder to assemble.
👉 Tip 3: Pre-Fold for Precision:
Before starting, lightly fold and crease your papers to get comfortable with the pattern. Practicing one piece first can help you get the hang of the process.
👉 Tip 4: Keep Your Creases Sharp:
Use a ruler or a folding tool (like a popsicle stick or bone folder) to get neat, sharp creases—this will make assembling the lotus much easier.
👉 Tip 5: Work in a Clean Area:
Since you’ll be working with multiple pieces and folds, a clutter-free space helps you stay organized and stress-free.
👉 Tip 6: Use an Elastic Band with Care:
Once all 16 units are folded, stack and wrap them gently with the elastic band. Avoid pulling too tightly—just enough to hold everything in place so you can adjust and spread the petals easily.
👉 Tip 7: Be Patient with Folding
The final lotus shape comes together as you spread and rotate the petals—take your time with this part and adjust gently to avoid tearing.
👉 Tip 8: Watch the Video if You’re Stuck:
Sometimes pictures just don’t do justice to a fold! If you’re confused at any step, hop over to the video tutorial for a visual walkthrough.
Did you enjoy today’s origami project? You might like some of our other origami projects. Do spare a few minutes to check them out.
- How to Make an Origami Heart Bookmark
- How to Make an Origami Panda
- How to Make a Paper Bow
- How to Make Easy Origami Shamrock
We hope you had a blooming good time crafting this origami lotus with us! It’s always amazing to see a few simple paper folds turn into something so pretty. Whether you’re using it as a handmade gift, a décor piece, or just for fun, this lotus is sure to add a magical handmade touch.
Don’t forget to share your version of the origami lotus with us on social media and tag us using #thecraftaholicwitch—we LOVE seeing your creative takes! 💖
