Carnations are a timeless symbol of Mother’s Day, representing gratitude, tenderness, and eternal love. This origami carnation features six layers of petals, creating a fluffy crown, along with a slender stem and two naturally curved leaves that look realistic and beautiful. Gift it to your mother on Mother’s Day to express your love. The affection imbued in handmade creations lasts longer than that of fresh flowers. If you want to unlock more Mother’s Day ideas, check our 13 + Mother’s Day Origami Ideas.
If you are new to origami, start here from our beginner guide to know the basics and how to read the step-by-step instructions.
- Folding time: 40 minutes
- Paper: 15×15 cm 7.5×7.5 cm / 6 5×5 cm / 3
- Difficulty: Middle
Material
6 sheets of 7.5×7.5 cm pink paper for making carnations, a piece of 15×15 cm green paper for making flower stems, three sheets of 5×5 cm green paper, one for making flower pedicles, and the other two for making carnation leaves.
Step by Step Instructions
The Carnation Part
Step 1
Take out a piece of 7.5×7.5 cm pink paper and fold it in half horizontally, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
If your paper is a different color on each side, start the fold with the pink side facing up.
Step 2
Fold the paper in half vertically, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 3
Flip the paper from left to right.
Step 4
Fold the bottom right edge to align with the top left edge, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 5
Fold the bottom left edge to align with the top right edge, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 6
Mountain fold the left and right creases, then lift the left, right, and top corners and push them to meet the bottom corner. Flatten the fold to create a small square.
Step 7
Fold the top layer’s bottom corner to meet its top corner, leaving a crease, and unfold it. Then fold up the bottom corner again to meet the center intersection point formed by creases.
Step 8
Turn the paper over from left to right.
Step 9
Repeat step 7.
Fold the top layer’s bottom corner to meet its top corner, leaving a crease, and unfold it. Then fold up the bottom corner again to meet the center intersection point formed by creases.
Step 10
Rotate the paper 90 degrees from front to back, then bring the upper two layers together on the top side, and the lower two layers together on the bottom side. Next, rotate the paper 90 degrees clockwise, then another 90 degrees from back to front to lay it flat.
Step 11
Fold the bottom corner of the top layer up so that the bottom edge of the folded layer is flush with the bottom edge of the layer below it. Then, fold the top left and right edges to align with the center vertical crease, and repeat this one more time.
Step 12
Flip the paper from left to right.
Step 13
Repeat step 11.
Fold the bottom corner of the top layer up so that the bottom edge of the folded layer is flush with the bottom edge of the layer below it. Then, fold the top left and right edges to align with the center vertical crease, and repeat this one more time.
Step 14
Make another five units in the same manner above.
Step 15
Take out one of the units, rotate it 90 degrees from front to back, then expand it.
Step 16
Expand the remaining units.
Step 17
Take two of the units, apply glue to the bottom of one, then overlap and glue the two together.
Step 18
Glue and assemble the remaining units in this way.
The Carnation Pedicel
Step 1
Take out a piece of 5×5 cm green paper and place it with the green side facing up to begin folding. Fold it in half horizontally, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 2
Fold the paper in half vertically, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 3
Turn the paper over from left to right.
Step 4
Fold the bottom right edge to align with the top left edge, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 5
Fold the bottom left edge to align with the top right edge, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 6
Lift the left, right, and top corners, and push them to meet the bottom corner, flatten the fold to get a smaller square.
Step 7
Fold the top left and right edges of the upper layer to align with the vertical crease, crease them well, and unfold them.
Step 8
Lift the right flap of the top one, open it, and squash it along the ceases you made in the previous step. Then, fold the left flap from the left side to the right side along the center vertical crease.
Step 9
Lift the left flap of the upper one, open it, and squash it along the ceases you made in step 7. Then, fold the right flap from to the left side along the center vertical crease.
Step 10
Turn the paper over from left to right, then repeat steps 7 to 0.
Step 11
Fold the top layer’s left and right corners toward the center along the white dotted lines to meet the vertical crease, then fold up the bottom corner along the horizontal white dotted line.
Next, flip the paper and repeat this step. Fold the top layer’s left and right corners toward the center along the white dotted lines to meet the vertical crease, then fold up the bottom corner along the horizontal white dotted line.
Step 12
Rotate the paper 90 degrees from front to back, then bring the upper two layers together on the top side, and the lower two layers together on the bottom side. Next, rotate the paper 90 degrees clockwise, then another 90 degrees from back to front to lay it flat.
Step 13
Repeat step 11.
Fold the top layer’s left and right corners toward the center along the white dotted lines to meet the vertical crease, then fold up the bottom corner along the horizontal white dotted line.
Next, flip the paper and repeat this step. Fold the top layer’s left and right corners toward the center along the white dotted lines to meet the vertical crease, then fold up the bottom corner along the horizontal white dotted line.
Step 14
Cut the top corner a little.
Step 15
Rotate the paper 90 degrees from back to front, then gently expand the pedicle.
The Carnation Leaves
Step 1
Take out a piece of 5×5 cm green origami paper, and place it with the green side facing up to begin folding. Fold it in half vertically, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 2
Fold the top left and right edges to align with the vertical crease, then repeat the process once more. Next, fold the bottom left and right edges to align with the vertical crease.
Step 3
Fold the paper in half vertically, crease it well, and unfold it. Slightly press down the top corner backward, and lift the bottom left and right edges.
Step 4
Make another leaf in the same manner above.
The Carnation Stem
Step 1
Roll a 15 x 15 cm piece of green paper into a paper rod.
Assemble Origami Carnation
Step 1
Assemble the pedicel and stem by passing the paper stick through the bottom of the pedicel.
Step 2
Flatten the top of the stem horizontally, then cut the flattened part from the center of the top downwards, and finally press the two resulting flaps down to the sides.
Step 3
Apply glue to the top sides of the two small flaps at the top of the stem, and glue the flower part on it, then push the pedicel up.
Step 4
Glue the leaves on the stems.
What’s Next
That’s your stunning origami carnation. Don’t limit carnations to pink! Try red for passionate maternal love, white for pure blessings, or even gradient-colored paper. Different colors can bring unique feelings!
Once you have mastered the technique for creating an origami carnation, you might want to explore more origami flower challenges. How about the origami rose? It symbolizes love and beauty. This elegant and delicate design can be used as a gift or decoration, allowing you to express your thoughts and creativity. Additionally, it adds depth and layers to your origami bouquet.
Origami Flower Vase – Geometric Flower Vase. This project provides an ideal display receptacle for your origami flowers. Its modern and simple design complements various styles of home decor.
Origami Rose
Origami Flower Vase – Geometric Flower Vase
