Credits and Resources:
Design and text-based Instructions copyright 2025 by Lindy van der Merwe
accessorigami.com
Instructions for many types of origami cards can be found on various sites and blogs all over the Internet, not to mention the different types of heart models out there.
If you are aware of any other source where this model or similar might be listed, please let me know so I can reference it under this heading.
Paper to be used: Square or rectangular A4 or colored construction paper; thicker paper or thin cardstock is recommended.
Folding level: Easy/Beginner
Steps: 9
Description: This model can either be folded and left flat to make a card or it can be placed in an upright position to form a stand.
In both cases, the front of the model will be easily recognizable as a heart while the back part will be a square, or rectangle, depending on the paper you use.
Note that from Step 7 onwards, you have two options: the heart with or without a bottom pocket.
Adding a bottom pocket will give you a choice for the look of the front of the card and make it possible to hide something inside the card.
You can also use this model as a photo stand, in which case the heart will form the back of the stand.
Remarks:
This card can be used in scrap books or on top of gifts.
Fold it for any occasion such as a Valentine's Day party, a wedding or a birthday to use as thank you notes or place cards.
This card is a good option for writing in braille or large print since the back of the model remains largely unfolded, thus it is available for writing, a photo, drawing or any visual or tactile embellishment.
Alternatively, a note can simply be folded into this model and decorated for a quick children's project, a simple gift or a personal touch.
It can also be used as a bookmark by sliding it over the page or pages in a book.
If using two-sided origami paper, lay your paper with the patterned or colored side down before starting to fold.
The heart will be colored or patterned and the back of the model plain or white.
Terms:
1. A valley fold is the normal way you use when folding a piece of paper by e.g. bringing the edges together. If you open the sheet again, there will be a crease or a dip in the paper representing a valley.
2. A mountain fold as it is used in Step 4 below, is just the opposite. Instead of folding the paper towards you, you will fold it away from you. If you would open the fold, the paper will stand up a little, representing a mountain.
Step 1
Place your square down on a flat surface with the edges left and right, top and bottom.
If using rectangular paper, place it with short edges top and bottom or in portrait orientation.
Step 2
Fold the paper in half by bringing the left edge to meet the right edge. Crease and unfold.
Step 3
Fold up both bottom corners to meet the center crease from the previous step.
Crease well and leave folded.
You will now have a straight edge at the top and a triangular shape at the bottom.
Step 4
Notice that the bottom triangle will have two loose points that lie next to each other at the top center of the paper.
Create a rounded shape for the top of your heart by folding these two points inwards, using a mountain fold.
You will only need to make two very small folds in order to create a shape as round as possible at the center of the paper.
Try to make these folds cymmetrical so that the points disappear. Your aim is to make the top of your heart as round as possible.
Note that you should only fold the inner, loose single-layered points of the heart, while leaving the top corners of the card itself as is.
Step 5
Turn the card over from left to right, like turning the page in a book.
Step 6
Fold both left and right edges to meet each other at the center.
Crease and leave folded.
Alternative 1 - Heart Card without bottom pocket
Step 7
Now fold the paper in half by bringing the top edge straight down so its center meets the bottom point.
Make a strong crease and leave folded.
Make sure you keep the sides of the paper straight when doing this fold. Otherwise your heart will be off-center.
You will have a rectangle or square with a smooth surface again.
Step 8
Turn the model over to reveal your very own heart card or stand.
For the card: Keep the model flat. The heart makes up the front of the card.
Write on the inside of the heart or on the back of the card.
For the stand: Let the heart stand up by pushing the back of the card away from the heart.
Both the back and the heart will stand at a slight angle and the heart will balance on its point, giving the illusion that it is floating in the air a little.
To use as a photo stand, turn the model so the heart is at the back.
Alternative 2 - Heart Card with bottom pocket
Step 7
In this step we will be folding the top edge of our model down, but this fold will not have an existing crease line. We will first have to create marks on both sides of the paper before making our fold.
So, focus on the bottom part of the long rectangle, where you will find the back folds of the heart. Measure a space of two fingers above the horizontal fold line you will find there.
Hold your place on one side and fold down the top edge of the paper, making a light crease on the side you are marking.
Now, do the same on the other side, taking care that the left and right sides are equal and that you match up the sides of the entire card. Once you are happy with your fold marks, make a strong crease along the top edge and leave folded.
You will have a rectangle or square with a smooth surface again.
Step 8
Turn the model over.
Step 9
You should now have the heart with a small space above it and a larger space below it.
Using the bottom point of the heart as your guide and keeping this point flat, fold the bottom edge of the paper straight up.
Make sure the sides match and make a strong crease along the bottom of the paper.
You have now created a bottom pocket for your heart.
For the card: Keep the model flat. The heart makes up the front of the card.
You can either leave the heart as is or you can tuck the bottom point into the pocket you have created.
The pocket also serves to keep money or a gift secure inside the card.
Write on the inside of the heart or on the back of the card.
For the stand: Let the heart stand up by pushing the back of the card away from the heart. The pocket can be pressed flat on the table to form part of the stand. You can add something heavy for a few hours so that the pocket will stay flat.
To use as a photo stand, turn the model so the heart is at the back.
Making origami accessible through text instructions.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, November 2021
Revised, March 2025
This text copyright 2025 by accessorigami.com
Design and text-based Instructions copyright 2025 by Lindy van der Merwe
accessorigami.com
Instructions for many types of origami cards can be found on various sites and blogs all over the Internet, not to mention the different types of heart models out there.
If you are aware of any other source where this model or similar might be listed, please let me know so I can reference it under this heading.
Paper to be used: Square or rectangular A4 or colored construction paper; thicker paper or thin cardstock is recommended.
Folding level: Easy/Beginner
Steps: 9
Description: This model can either be folded and left flat to make a card or it can be placed in an upright position to form a stand.
In both cases, the front of the model will be easily recognizable as a heart while the back part will be a square, or rectangle, depending on the paper you use.
Note that from Step 7 onwards, you have two options: the heart with or without a bottom pocket.
Adding a bottom pocket will give you a choice for the look of the front of the card and make it possible to hide something inside the card.
You can also use this model as a photo stand, in which case the heart will form the back of the stand.
Remarks:
This card can be used in scrap books or on top of gifts.
Fold it for any occasion such as a Valentine's Day party, a wedding or a birthday to use as thank you notes or place cards.
This card is a good option for writing in braille or large print since the back of the model remains largely unfolded, thus it is available for writing, a photo, drawing or any visual or tactile embellishment.
Alternatively, a note can simply be folded into this model and decorated for a quick children's project, a simple gift or a personal touch.
It can also be used as a bookmark by sliding it over the page or pages in a book.
If using two-sided origami paper, lay your paper with the patterned or colored side down before starting to fold.
The heart will be colored or patterned and the back of the model plain or white.
Terms:
1. A valley fold is the normal way you use when folding a piece of paper by e.g. bringing the edges together. If you open the sheet again, there will be a crease or a dip in the paper representing a valley.
2. A mountain fold as it is used in Step 4 below, is just the opposite. Instead of folding the paper towards you, you will fold it away from you. If you would open the fold, the paper will stand up a little, representing a mountain.
Step 1
Place your square down on a flat surface with the edges left and right, top and bottom.
If using rectangular paper, place it with short edges top and bottom or in portrait orientation.
Step 2
Fold the paper in half by bringing the left edge to meet the right edge. Crease and unfold.
Step 3
Fold up both bottom corners to meet the center crease from the previous step.
Crease well and leave folded.
You will now have a straight edge at the top and a triangular shape at the bottom.
Step 4
Notice that the bottom triangle will have two loose points that lie next to each other at the top center of the paper.
Create a rounded shape for the top of your heart by folding these two points inwards, using a mountain fold.
You will only need to make two very small folds in order to create a shape as round as possible at the center of the paper.
Try to make these folds cymmetrical so that the points disappear. Your aim is to make the top of your heart as round as possible.
Note that you should only fold the inner, loose single-layered points of the heart, while leaving the top corners of the card itself as is.
Step 5
Turn the card over from left to right, like turning the page in a book.
Step 6
Fold both left and right edges to meet each other at the center.
Crease and leave folded.
Alternative 1 - Heart Card without bottom pocket
Step 7
Now fold the paper in half by bringing the top edge straight down so its center meets the bottom point.
Make a strong crease and leave folded.
Make sure you keep the sides of the paper straight when doing this fold. Otherwise your heart will be off-center.
You will have a rectangle or square with a smooth surface again.
Step 8
Turn the model over to reveal your very own heart card or stand.
For the card: Keep the model flat. The heart makes up the front of the card.
Write on the inside of the heart or on the back of the card.
For the stand: Let the heart stand up by pushing the back of the card away from the heart.
Both the back and the heart will stand at a slight angle and the heart will balance on its point, giving the illusion that it is floating in the air a little.
To use as a photo stand, turn the model so the heart is at the back.
Alternative 2 - Heart Card with bottom pocket
Step 7
In this step we will be folding the top edge of our model down, but this fold will not have an existing crease line. We will first have to create marks on both sides of the paper before making our fold.
So, focus on the bottom part of the long rectangle, where you will find the back folds of the heart. Measure a space of two fingers above the horizontal fold line you will find there.
Hold your place on one side and fold down the top edge of the paper, making a light crease on the side you are marking.
Now, do the same on the other side, taking care that the left and right sides are equal and that you match up the sides of the entire card. Once you are happy with your fold marks, make a strong crease along the top edge and leave folded.
You will have a rectangle or square with a smooth surface again.
Step 8
Turn the model over.
Step 9
You should now have the heart with a small space above it and a larger space below it.
Using the bottom point of the heart as your guide and keeping this point flat, fold the bottom edge of the paper straight up.
Make sure the sides match and make a strong crease along the bottom of the paper.
You have now created a bottom pocket for your heart.
For the card: Keep the model flat. The heart makes up the front of the card.
You can either leave the heart as is or you can tuck the bottom point into the pocket you have created.
The pocket also serves to keep money or a gift secure inside the card.
Write on the inside of the heart or on the back of the card.
For the stand: Let the heart stand up by pushing the back of the card away from the heart. The pocket can be pressed flat on the table to form part of the stand. You can add something heavy for a few hours so that the pocket will stay flat.
To use as a photo stand, turn the model so the heart is at the back.
Making origami accessible through text instructions.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, November 2021
Revised, March 2025
This text copyright 2025 by accessorigami.com
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