The Japanese art of paper folding can be a fun, relaxing, and mess-free activity. The classic crane model pictured here was made using plain white printer paper and some instructions from the internet, with no previous origami experience or special materials. We have two sites to recommend that we found most useful.

The first recommended site is www.origami-instructions.com. It includes actual photographs of each step, which we found easier to decipher than illustrated diagrams. The site also includes napkin folding instructions for parties and holidays, as well as some very simple, kid-friendly models for younger children.

For older or more experienced origami artists, the site to visit is www.paperfolding.com, which has instructions for a wide variety of models, original models, the history of origami, math lessons, and links to external sites for those interested in learning more about the art, joining an origami organization, or buying origami books and materials.