Bird base
Dashed line: fold toward you (valley). Dash-dot line: fold away (mountain). The arrow shows which way the paper moves.
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1. Fold the top corner over to the bottom corner. Press the fold flat.
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2. Fold the left corner over to the right corner. Press the fold flat.
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3. Lift the top flap so it stands straight up. Open it from the bottom and press it flat into a square, with its middle fold on the middle line.
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4. Turn the paper over, left to right.
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5. Lift the top flap so it stands straight up. Open it from the bottom and press it flat into a square, with its middle fold on the middle line.
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6. Fold the lower left edge of the front flap to the centre line. Press firmly, then unfold it again — you only need the crease.
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7. Fold the lower right edge of the front flap to the centre line. Press firmly, then unfold it again — you only need the crease.
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8. Fold the top point to down over the kite creases. Press firmly, then unfold it again — you only need the crease.
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9. Lift the bottom corner of the top layer up along the crease across the middle. As it rises, let both sides fold in along their creases until the edges meet in the middle. Press it flat.
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10. Turn the paper over, left to right.
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11. Fold the lower left edge of the front flap to the centre line. Press firmly, then unfold it again — you only need the crease.
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12. Fold the lower right edge of the front flap to the centre line. Press firmly, then unfold it again — you only need the crease.
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13. Fold the top point to down over the kite creases. Press firmly, then unfold it again — you only need the crease.
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14. Lift the bottom corner of the top layer up along the crease across the middle. As it rises, let both sides fold in along their creases until the edges meet in the middle. Press it flat.
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Done. Now you have the bird base: a long diamond, split into two flaps at the bottom.
A traditional model. The base of the crane and of many birds; two petal folds turn the square base into four long flaps. It is in the oldest folding books from Japan.