Models with color change


Color-change is a technique in which both sides of the folded sheet are displayed. If the paper has two different colors on the two sides, this can be used for artistic effect and two-colored models folded even from a single sheet.

This page lists models of a single type. You might be interested in folding instructions instead.
30-60-90-Degree Star (variant B)

30-60-90-Degree Star (variant B)

A variant of 30-60-90° Star, just like the base variant, folded from triangles left over when cutting hexagons from rectangles.

Star a la Fujimoto II

Star a la Fujimoto II

Another model using my Color-Wrap Rays technique together with Shuzo Fujimoto’s Scissors (CFW 87) molecule.

Cut Surfaces of a Cube (CFW 339)

Cut Surfaces of a Cube (CFW 339)

This interesting model by Shuzo Fujimoto represents a cube with a corner cut off. Depending on the proportions of the paper strip used, the cut surface is cl...

Traditional Bracelet with Squares

Traditional Bracelet with Squares

A traditional bracelet decorated with a pattern of squares formed by color change. This model is very simple to fold, and depending on the number of iteratio...

Star Moira (variant A)

Star Moira (variant A)

It’s been a while since I last worked on modular stars, but I designed this one, along with a few variants, at the end of 2023. Variant A is rather fragile a...

Cookie Cutter - Christmas Tree

Cookie Cutter - Christmas Tree

This is an example of how the simple cookie-cutter design can be generalized by varying each side’s length and angles independently, and even applying curved...

Handle with Scissors (CFW 136)

Handle with Scissors (CFW 136)

Another star by Shuzo Fujimoto which is not even depicted in his books, just mentioned in text. It uses rays from Handle (CFW 133), but the tessellation mole...

Gear (CFW 179) (hexagonal)

Gear (CFW 179) (hexagonal)

This star by Shuzo Fujimoto has flat-capped teeth rather than sharp rays. Back side has a color change. It is possible to fold this design from a hexagon (as...

Cookie Cutter

Cookie Cutter

This simple model looks like a cookie cutter, and if made with some stiff enough material (thick metal foil perhaps), could probably actually be used as one....

Horned Heart

Horned Heart

December 13th, 2023, will mark the 130th anniversary of Stanisław Szukalski’s (1893-12-13 – 1987-05-19) birth. A brilliant and controversial artist, Szukalsk...

Handle with Thorn (CFW 135)

Handle with Thorn (CFW 135)

This star uses the same rays as Handle (CFW 133), but the tessellation molecule in the center is that of Thorn (CFW 86).

Star with Unicursal Hexagram

Star with Unicursal Hexagram

This star is decorated with a molecule of my Unicursal Hexagram Tessellation. The color-change rays are the same as in Star a la Fujimoto.

Sol with Color-Change Background

Sol with Color-Change Background

A modification of my Sol, adding a color-change background to the tessellation molecule. The gold-blue Washi looks in real life even better than in the pictu...

Handle with Hemp Leaf (CFW 137)

Handle with Hemp Leaf (CFW 137)

This star by Shuzo Fujimoto uses the same rays as his Handle (CFW 133) but the tessellation molecule is that of Hemp Leaf (CFW 88), same as independently cre...

Frog Star

Frog Star

The outline of this star is made using the same technique as various Star a la Fujimoto variants. The decoration in the center is a tessellation molecule tha...

Daffodil

Daffodil

This design is derived from Star a la Fujimoto III. Central part is raised, and has a color change, just as many kinds of real daffodil. In this fold I think...

Star with Color Change (CFW 171)

Star with Color Change (CFW 171)

This star looks similar to Daffodil (CFW 100) but incorporates a color change created by folding the corners of the hexagon inside as the initial step.

Star with Color Change (CFW 132)

Star with Color Change (CFW 132)

This is a simple star that incorporates a color change on the rays. It appears as an intermediate folding steps during the folding of Handle (CFW 133) and re...

Spiked Icosahedron (WASS with color change)

Spiked Icosahedron (WASS with color change)

A spiked icosahedron made from my Weird Asymmetric Sonobe (WASS) unit variant with color change. Since the color change’s symmetry is not aligned with the sy...

Zinnia (CFW 196)

Zinnia (CFW 196)

This star by Shuzo Fujimoto exhibits hexagonal symmetry and a color change. Basic Zinnia is CFW 196 while CFW 187 is a variant with differently shaped petals...

Star a la Fujimoto III (variant B)

Star a la Fujimoto III (variant B)

In this variant, the rays are layered “one on top of the other” rather than “every other one in a different layer”. This changes the appearance of the front ...

Star with Color Change (CFW 169)

Star with Color Change (CFW 169)

This star, designed by Shuzo Fujimoto, has an unusual symmetry, and an interesting color change. Folded from a small hexagon of Washi Deluxe, a duo-color, wr...

Spiked Icosahedra from Three Sonobe Variants

Spiked Icosahedra from Three Sonobe Variants

Comparison of three related Sonobe variants of mine, from left to right: Paper Airplane Sonobe, Checkered Sonobe, and Bow-Tie Sonobe. Each icosahedron is fol...

Handle (CFW 133)

Handle (CFW 133)

This star, designed by Shuzo Fujimoto, has untypically shaped rays which make it look like the handle of an old tap. CFW 174 is a minor variant of CFW 133.

Star Hecate

Star Hecate

It’s been a while since I posted a modular star design, so here is another, from late 2019 when I was very much into this genre. This one has octagonal symme...

Winter Cap with Crane

Winter Cap with Crane

This winter hat features a crane on the forehead and color-change “fur” around the face. You can tie the side panels below the chin, ushanka-style, or leave ...

Star a la Fujimoto III

Star a la Fujimoto III

This model belongs to a series inspired by the work of Shuzo Fujimoto. The outer edge is made with a general technique I devised that can be combined with di...

Hedgehog Star III (with proper color change)

Hedgehog Star III (with proper color change)

Since today is Polish Independence Day, I’m publishing a picture of my Hedgehog Star III folded in Polish national colors. This work uses a proper color chan...

Hedgehog Star III

Hedgehog Star III

A follow-up design to Hedgehog Star II from February. There is a color-change, but in this fold I used two kinds of metallic paper, each same color on both s...

Crane with Color Change (Left-Right)

Crane with Color Change (Left-Right)

This variant of the Traditional Crane adds a color change along the axis of symmetry. It’s a very simple change, based on blintzing, and I’m pretty certain I...

Snail

Snail

Last Friday (2022-08-19) I was folding with a bunch of friends and someone asked if I could fold a snail. I didn’t know any such model by heart, so I improvi...

Checkered Sonobe

Checkered Sonobe

A Sonobe variant derived from my Paper Airplane Sonobe.

Hedgehog Star II (proper color change)

Hedgehog Star II (proper color change)

Another fold of Hedgehog Star II, once again in Ukrainian national colors since symbolizing Ukraine’s resistance in the face of Russia’s aggression was the r...

Apple (CFW 202)

Apple (CFW 202)

Shuzo Fujimoto’s Apple is one of his best-known designs. Though one of his relatively few figurative models, structurally it is deeply geometric, being based...

In Ukrainian Steppe

In Ukrainian Steppe

The steppes of Ukraine with their endless open spaces, occasionally lined by kurgans, have long been considered a place full of mystery, mood, adventure, and...

Tryzub (Coat of Arms of Ukraine)

Tryzub (Coat of Arms of Ukraine)

The Coat of Arms of Ukraine, called the Tryzub (Тризуб), Trident. This rendition in origami is simplified due to limitations of the medium and time. The powe...

Flag of Ukraine

Flag of Ukraine

The Flag of Ukraine — a single fold on a square of yellow-blue duo color Kami paper. This way of folding national flags consisting of two parallel stripes is...

Hedgehog Star II

Hedgehog Star II

I designed and folded this spiked origami star bearing Ukrainian national colors last Monday night, after Putin’s speech. The design has a color-change, but...

Sawtooth Box (variant D)

Sawtooth Box (variant D)

Yet another variant of Sawtooth Box. This vaariant is almost identical to Tilted Square Box by Tung Ken Lam.

Star Eris 1.1 (variant A)

Star Eris 1.1 (variant A)

Yet another simple design from the time I got into modular origami stars. Unpublished version 1.0 used a less effective lock between the units.

Star Deimos (variant D)

Star Deimos (variant D)

In this variant of Star Deimos, units are modified so that there is no pocket in the top visible layer. This requires a change to the locking mechanism and r...

Weird Asymmetric Sonobe (WASS)

Weird Asymmetric Sonobe (WASS)

This modular origami unit behaves like the Sonobe unit and can be used to build similar shapes, but its structure is asymmetric, hence the name. Solids built...

Python Logo II

Python Logo II

Another approach to designing an origami Python logo. This model is folded from two separate sheets, which allows the snakes to be different colors and have ...

30-60-90-Degree Star

30-60-90-Degree Star

The units from which this star is made, are folded from triangles whose angles are 30°, 60° and 90°. Such triangles are created when you cut a hexagon from a...

Star Deimos (variant C)

Star Deimos (variant C)

A variant of Star Deimos in which the rays are asymmetrically narrowed on one side, giving the star’s outline the appearance of a saw blade.

Python Logo I

Python Logo I

When I published my origami Scala Logo a while ago, user slinkousart asked if I could design a Python logo as well. Turns out, I could, and I even designed t...

Star Deimos (variant B)

Star Deimos (variant B)

Variant B of Star Deimos differs from the base shape only by a single fold which reveals more of the white side of the paper in the center.

Bow-Tie Sonobe

Bow-Tie Sonobe

This is a Sonobe variant, derived from my Paper Airplane Sonobe by changing just a few folds.

Scala Logo II

Scala Logo II

This is my second approach to designing a Scala logo. With different colors, it could also be interpreted as Ericsson logo.

Bible

Bible

After a book with a face on the cover (called Biography), I designed a book with a Maltese Cross on the cover (aptly called Bible). This model’s design is ba...

Carrot

Carrot

Another shaping variant of Ice Cream model, this time resembling a carrot. Using white+green color combination instead of orange+green will get you parsley i...

Ladybug 1.1

Ladybug 1.1

When Sara Adams prepared a videotutorial for my Ladybug, she came up with a few improvements which not only gave the model convenient reference points for fo...

Sawtooth Box (variant C)

Sawtooth Box (variant C)

This variant of Sawtooth Box looks most similar of all my variants to the designs of two authors who had an almost identical idea before me (see the main var...

Sawtooth Box (variant B)

Sawtooth Box (variant B)

Another variant of Sawtooth Box. It differs from variant A by having the triangular flaps locked to the walls of the box. This creates a nice diagonal color-...

Sawtooth Box (variant A)

Sawtooth Box (variant A)

This is a simple box with a color change. I designed several variants (posts coming up), most with the triangular flaps (“saw teeth”) locked onto the walls. ...

Bed

Bed

A simple origami bed with color-change for the bedsheet. My design from late 2019.

Spiked Icosahedron (Paper Airplane Sonobe)

Spiked Icosahedron (Paper Airplane Sonobe)

Spiked Icosahedron made from my new Sonobe variant, Paper Airplane Sonobe. When you look at an individual unit before assembling the model, you can spot a re...

Paper Airplane Sonobe

Paper Airplane Sonobe

The name of this Sonobe variant comes from the arrows which look like a paper airplane that you can see on the units. In the assembled model, the tips of the...

Scala Logo I

Scala Logo I

Logo of Scala programming language in origami. Folded from a single 2:1 rectangle of Kami.

Heart Bracelet II

Heart Bracelet II

I designed this simple bracelet with hearts based on a traditional bracelet that has a decoration of squares (check out a comparison of these models).

Life-Size Desk Lamp

Life-Size Desk Lamp

This is a life-size fold of my desk lamp origami model. I cheated a little by putting a metal profile inside the post since the paper I used had too little s...

Long Story Short (gray)

Long Story Short (gray)

On August 2nd, 2020, I’ll be teaching my origami book model, Long Story Short, in an online Origami Connect session, organized by OrigamiUSA.

Star Chaos (variant B)

Star Chaos (variant B)

Variant B of my Star Chaos. Modular origami model from 6 units. Duo paper courtesy of a friend.

Torch

Torch

This origami torch is basically the same model as Ice Cream, just with different colors and shaping.

Ice Cream

Ice Cream

Ice cream, own design. This model can be folded from regular Kami, but I think it looks best when wet-folded from thick watercolor paper. Here, one side of t...

Star Deimos

Star Deimos

Star Deimos, another of my simple modular origami star designs. There is a color change in the center of the model, and the six-fold symmetry allows for seve...

Star Boreas

Star Boreas

An octagonal modular star. Own design, folded from Harmony paper.

Star Ananke (variant G)

Star Ananke (variant G)

Yet another variant of Star Ananke. Variants of this design were designed independently by myself and by others before me: Wei Fu, and Robin Glynn (with mino...

Box with Color-Change Star (Hexagonal)

Box with Color-Change Star (Hexagonal)

The technique used for this hexagonal box can be used for other polygons as well, resulting in boxes with a different number of sides. However, the minimum n...

Star Ananke (variant F)

Star Ananke (variant F)

This variant of Star Ananke features an additional hexagon in the center of the model. It’s a small change in the individual unit, but it makes connecting th...

Star Ananke (variant D)

Star Ananke (variant D)

This is the front of Star Ananke, variant D. The basic variant (A) was designed independently by myself and by others before me: Wei Fu, and Robin Glynn (wit...

Star Ananke (variant D) with Angels

Star Ananke (variant D) with Angels

This is the back side of Star Ananke (variant D). The basic variant (A) was designed independently by myself and by others before me: Wei Fu, and Robin Glynn...

Star Ananke (variant C)

Star Ananke (variant C)

A modification (variant C) of Star Ananke. The basic variant (A) was designed independently by myself and by others before me: Wei Fu, and Robin Glynn (with ...

Star Chaos (variant A)

Star Chaos (variant A)

Modular origami stars are quite addictive: I set out to create just one simple model for a workshop and before I knew it, I had about a dozen different desig...

Star Ananke (variant B)

Star Ananke (variant B)

A modification (variant B) of Star Ananke. The basic variant (A) was designed independently by myself and by others before me: Wei Fu, and Robin Glynn (with ...

Star Ananke (variant A)

Star Ananke (variant A)

As part of preparations for my presentation and workshop on contemporary origami, I set out to design a simple modular star which I could teach in the worksh...

Laptop

Laptop

This is another model I designed for a workshop about contemporary origami, with the aim of demonstrating some techniques used in modern origami design while...

Superpuss

Superpuss

Oriol Esteve taught this fun model of his during one of Origami Connect classes.

The Little Prince and the Fox

The Little Prince and the Fox

Le Petit Prince, designed by Viviane Berty, and Fox Baby, designed by Daniel Chang. Folded and arranged by me.

Ladybug

Ladybug

I haven’t had time to prepare any current-year-related model this year, so here’s an older model of a completely different kind: a simple ladybug with color ...

Origami Free-Form Box: Poland

Origami Free-Form Box: Poland

Today, on November 11th, Poland is celebrating 100 years of regaining independence. This origami box which represents an outline of Poland is an example of t...

Heart Bracelet

Heart Bracelet

A bracelet with heart motif, folded from a single strip of red-gold duo color Washi paper.

Crane with Colored Wings

Crane with Colored Wings

This is a variation of the traditional origami crane which I recently designed: there is a color change giving the wings a different color than the body. I h...

Box with Leaves (tip-to-tip, 32 divisions)

Box with Leaves (tip-to-tip, 32 divisions)

A fold of my Box with Leaves (tip-to-tip) where the leaves were folded using a 32-division pleat instead of the usual 16 divisions. I taught this model at Ou...

Elephants in Love

Elephants in Love

I designed this model, based on my Simple Elephant, for the wedding of two origami friends, Marcin and Natalia. Folded from a single 5:1 strip of red-gold Wa...

Kotlinconf Logo

Kotlinconf Logo

This model represents the logo of KotlinConf, a conference dedicated to Kotlin programming language.

Depressed Propeller Box

Depressed Propeller Box

A new box design based on Propellers Tessellation molecule. The molecule is depressed, meaning that the layers of paper forming the sides of the box are abov...

Framed Two-in-One Flower with Color Change

Framed Two-in-One Flower with Color Change

A slight modification of my Framed Two-in-One Flower, with a color-changed frame. The colour change is very simple: basically, in the first step the paper is...

Kotlin Logo

Kotlin Logo

Kotlin is a programming language for the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) which is gaining in popularity. Having used it for some time, I’m quite happy about the r...

Box with Pajarita (color change)

Box with Pajarita (color change)

A color-change version of my Box with Pajarita v. 1.1. In contrast to folds using harmony paper, here the different color of the Pajarita is the result of an...

Box with Leaves (stem-to-stem)

Box with Leaves (stem-to-stem)

An origami box with leaves, with the leaves’ stems in the center, based on an earlier coaster design. There is also a variant with leaves oriented tip-to-tip.

Lelum Unit

Lelum Unit

A modified version of Lelum Polelum Unit where one out of each pair of flaps is hidden.

Lelum Cube

Lelum Cube

A modified version of Lelum Polelum Cube where one out of each pair of flaps is hidden.

Box with Ribbon Bow (diagonal)

Box with Ribbon Bow (diagonal)

A box with a ribbon bow, constructed using a molecule of my Sunflower Tessellation and with color change. This is a variant where the ribbon runs along the d...

Box with Leaves (tip-to-tip)

Box with Leaves (tip-to-tip)

A box with leaves based on this coaster. There is a color change between the walls and the leaves, though a variant using the same side of paper for both is ...

Lelum Polelum Unit

Lelum Polelum Unit

A modular which I designed after being inspired by test-folding some of Meenakshi Mukerji’s new single-sheet designs based on the Four-Sink Base. There is a ...

Lelum Polelum Cube

Lelum Polelum Cube

A Cube from a unit I recently designed and later learned that was earlier designed independently by Saburo Kase. More details in the unit’s description.

Hydrangea with Leaves

Hydrangea with Leaves

A color-change variant of Shuzo Fujimoto’s Hydrangea, designed by Meenakshi Mukerji. Test fold based on unpublished diagrams, kindly provided by Meenakshi [u...

Box with Ribbon Bow

Box with Ribbon Bow

Box with a ribbon bow, constructed using a molecule of my Sunflower Tessellation and with color change added to make the ribbon stand out better from the bac...

Aton Unit (variant A)

Aton Unit (variant A)

Aton Unit, variant A (many more are possible). More variants are possible, some with interesting color changes. Unit named after the Egyptian deity.

Aton Kusudama

Aton Kusudama

Aton Kusudama, variant A (many more are possible). Spiked icosahedron made from 30 units. Designed and folded by me. More variants are possible, some with in...

I Walk the Line

I Walk the Line

Master Yoda — origami model designed by Artur Biernacki. Folded by me from a square of Tant-tissue paper sandwich.

A Pile of Books

A Pile of Books

Origami books of different shapes and sizes. The model used here is my Long Story Short, version 1.1 which has a slightly improved lock.

Dachshund

Dachshund

The Dachshund (Perro Salchicha) is a very cute dog model I immediately liked when I first saw it. I also designed a doghouse in matching style.

Dachshund in Doghouse

Dachshund in Doghouse

Yara Yagi’s dog is standing in front of a doghouse designed be me specially to match this model.

Fir Cone / Christmas Ornament

Fir Cone / Christmas Ornament

These fir cones make nice Christmas tree decorations. Designed by myself, they are based on the pleated part of Super Pineapple Tessellation.

Long Story Short

Long Story Short

This is my design for an origami book. It’s called “long story short” because you can make the book as long as you wish (any number of pages) and at the same...

Pinwheel with Color Change (hexagonal)

Pinwheel with Color Change (hexagonal)

I came up with this model when playing around with hex twists. It’s quite simple, so it may have been invented before. This pinwheel shows a nice color chang...

Dachshund Ouroboros

Dachshund Ouroboros

The ouroboros is an ancient symbol of infinity and self-reference. It is represented as a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. This one has assumed the for...

Outdoor Origami Meeting Module (OOMM)

Outdoor Origami Meeting Module (OOMM)

I came up with this unit on the train back home from the 14th Outdoor Origami Meeting in Kraków, hence the name. This unit can be used to make spiked version...

Spiked Icosahedron (BBU D2)

Spiked Icosahedron (BBU D2)

The structure of this model is similar to spiked icosahedra made with variants of the Sonobe unit and other similar modules. However, in the case of BBU, a t...

Cube (BBU E10)

Cube (BBU E10)

Due to the E10 tile’s small flaps, it can’t be directly attached to the flaps of inner A1 tiles. An additional “sizing” layer of A2 tiles is needed for prope...

Building Block Units (BBU)

Building Block Units (BBU)

Building Block Units (BBU) are a family of units which make it possible to design a great variety of shapes. An important class of models are buildings and o...