Origami Page:
Crane Card Holder

Mary Ellen Palmeri

Welcome to our monthly "Origami Page". Origami is folding paper and ending up with delightful figures and models, such as flowers, boxes and animals. This feature will showcase a different origami model in each monthly issue, with diagrams and photos to help readers learn how to fold them. Most models use one square of paper, some use a rectangle, and others use more than one piece of paper.

Click for printable file.

Many place card holders are available that can be purchased from various stores. However, this one can be easily made at home and is simple, elegant, and doesn’t take long to fold. It is also practical since it is quite sturdy and holds a card securely.

The “origami crane” card-holder is useful for any festive table setting, be it a dinner party, birthday, shower, or wedding reception. It can also be used to establish seating for large group meetings!

The model is easily adapted for a turkey-like decoration on holiday tables; all you need to do is cut colorful card stock into fan-tail shapes to use instead of standard name cards. This also makes an attractive and inexpensive memento for guests to take home! Larger models can be folded and decorated for use as a centerpiece display.

Since this attractive model folds flat, it is easy to fold a bunch ahead of time and store for later use. Experiment with colors: themed decorative paper can be used for different effects, or use the same color for all the birds with different colors for the cards - or just the opposite: various colors for the cranes using cards all the same color.

An additional use for this model is displaying a business card that stands behind a small stack of cards to hand out at special events. Or it can be used to highlight a message in front of a display of items.

However you use it, enjoy making and sharing these attractive origami cranes!

Happy Folding!

Origami originated in ancient Asian cultures and has been adapted by contemporary artists worldwide to reflect their own cultures. Local artist Mary Ellen Palmeri has incorporated paper folding into many of her mixed media art paintings, and teaches origami classes locally and nationally. Some of her work can be seen in a Tucson Happenings feature here: Artist_Profile

All of her Paper Dream Paintings can be seen in her Etsy shop where custom matted art prints of her original work can be purchased. Go to: www.etsy.com/shop/LyricFineArts

Ms. Palmeri's original origami models have been published in books and magazines, she has been featured on broadcast media, and her mixed-media fine art works often include various original origami models. Origami LAFF (Lyric Arts Folding Fest) is a Tucson based club founded by Ms. Palmeri to provide a venue for sharing this art. The group meets monthly at a local library; for more details please contact the artist at info@lyric-arts.com