How To Make Origami Flowers

Men who know how to make origami flowers conjure swoons, or at least fascination from the keepers of the XX chromosome. Lotuses are among the easiest variations to commit to memory and master. They're also philosophical conversation starters. If you're employing the romantic genius approach to gifting, pair your paper blooms with haiku; write them on the petals of the flowers if you tend to get compliments on your longhand.

If you don't already have it laying around, you'll need to acquire:

• A sheet of Washi paper (or square paper ) in your preferred hue, for each lotus flower.

1. Start with the white side of the Washi paper, and fold the paper diagonally from corner to corner. This will leave you with vertical and horizontal fold-creases.
2. Flatten the sheet, and fold the corners, one by one, into the center of the sheet until you have a diamond. If the folds are weak, run your fingers more firmly over the folds you've made.
3. Fold the corners of the diamond into the center. Run your finger along the folds again with more pressure to ensure they're set properly.
4. Turn the diamond over.  On this new side, fold your corners into the diamond once more.
5. Now fold the corners, just at the tips, to create very miniature triangles. These will help you know where to press for leverage during step six.
6. Press down at the center of the folds, and gently pull over one fold-choose any corner-from the opposing side. As you lift each fold corner, push in the mini folds of step five that are facing you to help give the upcoming flap from the opposite side a more hollow center when each one is pulled up and over. Repeat this step for the remaining three folds until all of them are petals reaching upward.
7. Keeping the upturned petals facing you, repeat step six for the next layer of folds on the opposite side. When all four of those flower petals are also raised, go onto step 8.
8. The last set of folds on the opposite side will act as a base for the flower. You can pull these out to their sides instead of over and upward.

Paper lotuses make strange, gorgeous and slow-fading tokens of appreciation. Arrange your origami in a bouquet. String them along several lotus chains to border-drape a window or threshold, or use one of the flowers to top a box bearing a larger gift.