Origami Peace Dove

For best results – fold on a table and make good strong creases.

1. Square piece of paper – To make a square from a rectangle – fold a short edge over to align with a long edge – forming a triangle – cut along the edge of the triangle – unfold the triangle – you will have a square and an excess strip.

2. Position the paper so a corner with the crease is pointing towards you – paper is now the shape of a diamond.

3. Fold the bottom corner point to the top corner point – folding it in half. The paper takes the shape of a triangle.

4. Fold triangle in half – right side to left side. Unfold just that step.

5. Paper is still in the shape of a triangle. Fold both top points of the triangle straight down 2/3rds OVER the bottom edge. You might want to turn the paper over to make certain the center crease lines match. Turn the paper back over to the original side. Your paper looks like one large upside down triangle with two small triangles one on each side. I hope you are still with me – the position of the paper is with the top triangle pointing towards you.

6. Notice the top folded edge. And, once again, notice the two small triangles on each side. Bring the tip of the triangle – that’s pointing towards you – and only the TOP flap – bring it beyond the folded edge. Make the crease in the middle of the small side triangles. When this step is completed – you should have a diamond shape in the center of the paper with a small triangle on either side of the diamond shape. The top of the diamond shape overlaps the edge behind it and the bottom of the diamond shape overlaps behind an edge – they should both overlap equally.

7. Fold the paper in half bringing the right side over to meet the left side. After completing this fold your paper looks like a “t-square”. Let’s examine the shape of the paper. – There are two narrow horizontal flaps pointing to the left – they will be the wings. The right side has a long vertical edge with a top point and a bottom point and each are corners of a triangle. The top triangle point will become the head and beak.

8. To make the head and beak, place your thumb inside the flap – the point’s groove... and place your forefinger of the same hand on the top –the outside of the paper. Pull the point down – not all the way – just halfway. Complete the head and beak by pressing the paper flat. The beak should be poking out. The beak faces to the wings.

9. To make the wings – Rotate the paper so the wings are pointing straight down towards you and the head and beak are pointing to the left. Fold the top wing 2/3rds up OVER the back of the bird. Repeat this step on the other side. By bringing the wings up, the dove is ready to fly and bring peace. This is the completed dove.