
Introduction:
For this origami activity, we are going to make a 3D origami of a butterfly. It may look a bit complicated to do, but it is actually easy. You only need to know the basic folds to make this origami from a dollar bill. A rectangular piece of paper will also do if you don’t have a dollar bill with you at the moment.
Difficulty Level: Easy – Intermediate
Start with a crisp dollar bill and fold it lengthwise in half. Crease it well then unfold.
Diagonally fold the dollar bill as illustrated in the top image. Take note that an end of each dashed line starts/ends at the crease line. Once folded, flip it to the other side.
Tuck the top and bottom end inside inside the quadrangle.
Fold the right part of the dollar bill to the back side.
Rotate the origami clockwise.
It should now look like the illustration above. Fold it in half and then unfold.
Diagonally fold along the dashed line as illustrated above.
Bring the top layer downwards along the dashed line. Make sure to old the top layer ONLY.
Bring the two yellow dots together (top corners of the dollar bill). Fold it along the dashed line as shown in the left image. Next, crease it well and then unfold.
Mountain fold the right side of the butterfly origami.
Crease it well, then unfold.
It should now have creases like the illustration above. Next it to mountain fold the left side of the dollar bill origami. Crease it well and unfold.
Fold the two top corners to the back. Fold it along the dashed line as illustrated in the image above.
Make a valley fold on the top part of the butterfly’s wing. Crease it well and unfold. This will create a 3D effect on its wings.
Your dollar bill origami butterfly is done!