How to make origami bats | How About Orange

October 13, 2011

How to make origami bats

Wet-fold realistic 3D bats for Halloween! Michael LaFosse has a video demonstration at the Peabody Essex Museum's origami site. To get to the bat video, click "Fold more models," then "Origami Now" and you'll see the "Happy Goodluck Bat." (They will ward off the zombies and vampires that might try to get you.) Click the bat picture.

Even if you don't make any bats yourself, it's mesmerizing to watch an expert do origami. He makes it look so easy, with none of the consternation, fumbling, and frustrated sighs I like to incorporate into my origami attempts.

32 comments:

Grandma G said...

Aww, make a video of your fumbling. It'd be so much more realistic! ;)

Mum

Phoebe Dancing Cat said...

Wow!

Those origami bats look delicious! Uh...I mean...well made. ^~~^

http://phoebedancingcat.blogspot.com/

Jessica Jones said...

Hey, that reminds me. I ate bat once.

We met a Tibetan couple at Kinkos a few years ago, and they invited us to a Tibetan celebration. Fun. Then they invited us to a barbecue in their back yard, where they grilled lots of interesting things. I was offered a charred thing with tiny bones and not much meat, which our friend said was bat (purchased in Chinatown). It tasted like chicken.

Grandma G said...

EEEUUUWWWWWWW!!!

(lia) said...

So awesome. I wish he told us what the NAME of that type of paper is. He talks a lot about its properties but doesn't say what it actually IS! LOL

Jessica Jones said...

I know! The wet-folding link has some info about paper types (including a common Canson watercolor brand), but I wanted Mr. LaFosse to say, "This is XYZ paper that I bought at ABC place."

Alexa said...

The narwhal is AWESOME, too, but definitely NOT for beginners. For beginners and those folding for small children, try the penguin. He uses "story-gami" to demonstrate it, making it much easier to remember the method.

Rose Clearfield said...

Fun tutorial! I'm sure that I would be fumbling, too.

Mo Ironport said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rilojane said...

I love these!! I can't get the video to play all the way through and it's killing me!!
Thanks for the link. Hopefully I'll get my internet up to snuff and get the whole thing to play right. :-/

Papilio polyxena said...

I made a lotus using this site. Not too shabby considering I used office paper. :) Not even going to try the bat. My lotus doesn't look perfect, so I would hate to see what my bat looked like.

Jessica Jones said...

Well, I think mutant bats would still say "Halloween."

Mariya said...

Grandiosely! My kids will love

Sharon said...

Okay that is awesome. I'm trying this. I love an origami challenge.

The Lost Werebunny said...

I love Halloween and I love bats! I'll try making these. :)

And congratulations on Blogs of Note!

Jessica Jones said...

Um, thanks! What's Blogs of Note?

Grandma G said...

Only a blog that Blogger thinks is awesome enough to point out to everybody. Not a biggie. ;)

I believe you can find it on a tab on your Blogger dashboard.

Mum/proudagain!

Belta said...

Wow!
Origami" is one of Japan's unique traditional arts.

I have been familiar with origami since my childhood.

"Happy Goodluck Bat"is so cute!

Surviors said...

yes!make a video..

Surviors said...

yes!make a video..

hebdenjoy said...

Your blog has a great look !

Jessica said...

I really love these bats - though I don't think my origami is up to doing them justice... anyone else tried yet?

Frieda Anderson said...

I love Halloween stuff. Very fun.

Anonymous said...

how cute

Casey said...

I'd love to make a bunch of these and string them up on a garland! I'll try making one when I get home and see if making multiples will be feasible, or even possible! I was hoping the instructor described the type of paper in the video. It looks like I may have to experiment a little bit. Thanks for the link!

David Russo said...

Nice Bats!

http://www.comicdaverusso.blogspot.com

AMR said...

Love the bat!
This is long but names a couple sources for paper...including Michael LaFosse/Origamido Studio.
http://www.langorigami.com/info/paper/wetfolding_papers.php4

Carolyn said...

i LOVE this!

Anonymous said...

As of now, I've got a plain white origami bat keeping me company in the office. Love it! But it took a lot of skipping back and rewatching to do it.

Did it with a thinner, dry paper btw. Works, but it won't harden.

Anonymous said...

As of now, I've got a plain white origami bat keeping me company in the office. Love it! But it took a lot of skipping back and rewatching to do it.

Did it with a thinner, dry paper btw. Works, but it won't harden.

Jessica Jones said...

Cool: Casey Starks just shared some newly folded bats with me on Twitter. Have a peek!

Origami Dragon said...

I should have seen this before halloween. What a great work!