How To Fold A Japanese Paper Ball (Kusudama)

Maybe I should make a video called "Jennifer's Hands" where I do ordinary household chores like peel potatoes and scrub pots XD

I would love watching your hands work at my house, but not doing dishes. I would watch you make those balls for my tree next yr. Come on over, I will pay you. My wife could use the company. She just said she would like to start some sort of business in crafts just last week. Seriously, I am going to show her this video. She will be thankful to you. Great video and looking forward to seeing more of your hands. ;-)

In this last step, you are not making any new folds, but allowing the paper to fold again on the folds you made earlier.

Looking at the corner of the paper, allow it to fold along the diagonal line that goes to the center. Then, allow to fold inwards so that the point you are looking at becomes slimmer. Then, fold the point down so it goes into the center. Hope this makes it a bit clearer.

Are there any pictures that I can see for this step? I promise that I will make one, but I can't if I don't know how to. Please help!

It's on YouTube, though. Search "Kusudama help", user name kaliz.

However, once I figured it out, it was easy. It's just time consuming.

hi Jennifer, i've tried to make the ballon, i had difficult at the point "tuck in the sides down at each of the four corners", could you help me in some way my address is maya9991@yahoo.it

Someone else has a paper balloon how-to video on Metacafe.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/275449/paper_balloon/

YAY!

Or if they don't, they should :)

Through this hobby I've learned to make pretty ornaments, use the video camera, and edit films on the computer.

*AND* I have now made over 100 dollars from people like you watching this film :)

y muchas gracias!

Other people have had problems with this video too, it was one of my early efforts. Sometimes I think I'm explaining clearly enough, but of course I already know how to make these things :)

Anyway, I'm glad you have figured it out :)

but the size I used to make the main Kusudama was standard origami paper, 15 x 15 cm. The small one was 5 x 5 cm

I have also given kusudama as gifts, and people really seem to like them!

If you go to the YouTube website and search "Kusudama help", user kaliz, you will find a video that I think will help you.

Happy folding, kusudama do make great gifts.

I haven't ever seen them ready-made for sale anywhere. Kits for making them are common though, which include instructions and string for hanging.

Folding can be fun! Why not give it a try? :)

I made most of the pieces for the two balls in the video while watching (well, mostly listening to) television at the same time. If one piece takes about 5 minutes to fold, you can do enough for a ball in about 3 hours. Better yet, get the whole famly folding!

I can teach grandma that too. I am looking forward to seeing how that is made. Is the cube for a tree too? Maybe if it is I can start grandma off on that first and then work her slowly into the ball? That ball looks very complicated!

The problem is it would take me 3 hours just to learn how to fold 1 of those cute balls. Imagine teaching the family? But maybe I will learn and teach my 94 yr old grandma and let her make some? She is still with it and has the time. It would make her proud if all the family had these hanging on her tree! Thanks for giving me a great idea.

A cube can be made of six pieces, so it takes a lot less time :)

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/397924/how_to_fold_a_japanese_cube_or_gift_box_tamatebako/

They must have used up a lot of paper!