Make a Nifty Paper Ball

This article will teach you how to make a nifty paper ball out of 32 small squares of paper, no glue or staples required. Crafts/Ornaments/Nifty/Space Helmet/Origami

Steps

  1. Cut out 32 small squares of paper or just a few to start.
  2. Fold in half horizontally (side-to-side).
  3. Open and then fold in half horizontally in the other direction.
  4. Open, flip over, and fold corner-to-corner.
  5. Open and fold corner-to-corner in the other direction.
  6. Flip over and press middle to 'pop' it in.
  7. Bring corners together, forcing sides out.
  8. Lay flat (should be square) and press folds.
  9. Open and fold 2 opposite corners into the middle.
  10. Bring it back to position from #8 (with those corners still folded in).
  11. Open again and select one of the outside (single paper thick) edges.
  12. Fold this edge into line with the center line of the adjacent outer corner that runs to the middle.
  13. Press fold until the first crease that you reach and not any further (the center line from one of the short sides to the middle).
  14. Then resume position from #8 and press all flat.
  15. Follow steps 11-14 on the opposite side.
  16. Press all creases by folding flat (#8) and folding the 4 'flaps' around the shape.
  17. Hold flat so that the large flaps are outside, and the folded portions are inside.
  18. Open slightly and fold the point of one of the flaps to the center.
  19. Repeat for other side.
  20. You should now have a small 4 sided triangle shape, like the 4 edges of a pyramid, with 2 long sides and 2 short ones.
  21. Repeat preceding steps for all 32 triangles.
  22. Take 5 of the triangle shapes. Place one of the points into the pocket created by one of the short sides.
  23. Place the next point in line into another pocket.
  24. Continue until you have the 5 put together, with a pentagon inside, and no points sticking in!
  25. Flip over (onto peaks). This is your base, the bottom of the ball.
  26. Continue putting the shapes together; there should be 5 triangles created (3 pieces each) on each side of the pentagon, and another pentagon from each corner of the base pentagon. Once you have created the next 5 pentagons, your ball will be half finished, and you just have to follow the pattern for the rest.

Tips

  • You can save yourself trouble and get the ball to work considerably better if you do all of your folds precisely and crease them really well with a fingernail or ruler
  • Once you get to step 26, you may find it helpful to build it over an upside down bowl, or inside of a bowl
  • Steps 11-19 are the most difficult and are absolutely necessary to get right.
  • Use about 2"-4" squares first, 12" ones may be difficult.
  • You may want to try the initial and most difficult folds (steps 1-19) on a larger square, like 8.5"
  • Don't bother out of idle curiosity, this one takes forever.

Things You'll Need

  • A bunch of paper
  • Even more free time

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