Origami Flapping Paper Crane Mobile!

 If you didn't check out yesterday's post about the Origami Favor Box, check it out!
This one is pretty similar...
Growing up my dad always made the origami flapping crane for us kids.
I learned how to fold many things...but I couldn't remember the crane.
Ever.
I decided to teach my kids how to make one, and thus learn myself.


 Here's the step by step we found...sorry, I don't have a source.


I used double sided SQUARE paper for ease of following the pictures.
Pink on one side...green on the other!
Fold it in half 4 ways...2 long ways, 2 diagonal.


 This was the hardest part for my 10 and 9 year olds.
Squishing in the sides.

(okay, now I skipped a photo...so insert pic from yesterday)

Then open those folds and flip them inside...

 Like this.

 Then press down flat.

 Has a slit in the center.

Fold open the slits

 And it will look like this.  My kids said it looked like legs.

 Fold up the flaps away from the legs so all the points meet.

 Then gently pull the "legs" out...and crease where it looks good.
They will become the head and tail...

 Bend a crook in the head.

 Curl the wings with your fingers...
hold the neck right below the wing and gently pull on the tail...
The wings should "flap"!

 Then make 1,000!
Okay, no.  I have no desire to make 1000 paper cranes...
regardless the magical wish that might come true...but I made
enough to remember how to make them!
And I made each of my kids make 5.
 Then I used a fat needle and some fishing line...

And threaded them through, then knotted the fishing line...

and threaded on another.

And then hung them on dowels!

 I hung them on a vent, so they all fly gently when the air conditioner is on!
Peaceful and colorful!

 Not perfect, but so fun!

Linking up to THESE parties this week!