This kusudama is my own creation.
It’s one of my favourite original designs!
Expert tips
For some of the examples in the photos below I used Bokashi (colour fade) origami paper, while in others I used Crayola Marker & Watercolour Paper, which I had previously painted on both sides with metallic acrylic paint.
Sirius kusudama supplies
• Crayola Marker & Watercolour pad, 60 sheets or 3 inch Bokashi colour fade origami paper, 60 sheets
• scissors
• fondue skewer
• needle and thread (optional)
• paint brush (optional)
• metallic acrylic paint (optional)
• display stand (optional)
Sirius kusudama instructions
Step 1
Start with a 3 inch square of bokashi origami paper. This will create a relatively small final model. For a large showy model, start with a 9 inch square of paper, painted on both sides with metallic acrylic paint.
Step 2
Follow steps 3 to 6 for the three petal inside out origami flowers to cut out a triangle. Next, fold the triangle lengthwise three different ways.
Step 3
Collapse the figure along the lines folded to create a three dimensional base.
Step 4
Squash fold one of the three flaps.
Step 5
Fold each side of the flap squashed in step 4 backwards to the centre line of the unit.
Step 6
Curl both remaining flaps, making sure they face the same direction.
Step 7
Make three more units, following steps 1 through 6. Attach the four units together by curling the left flaps of two units around the right flaps of two units. You can use a needle and thread to sew the units together for extra strength, but this is not necessary.
Step 8
Four units attached together with the curling technique. Note that the two green units will form two of the five petals in one of the kusudama’s green flowers, while the two blue and purple units will form two of the five petals in one of the kusudama’s blue and purple flowers.
Step 9
If you were to isolate one of the five petal flowers that will make up the larger kusudama, this is what it would look like. When planning your kusudama, make sure you have in mind that there will be 12 five petal flowers when choosing colours. Note that each of the curled spikes in this photo holds two units together and must be attached to two other units on the back of another flower.
Step 10
Make a total of 60 units for the kusudama (12 flowers with five petals each). Systematically attach the backs of the flowers together, always curling four flaps of separate units together.
Step 11
Use the fondue skewer to curl the petals of all 12 flowers. Finished! You can attach a thread to hang the kusudama, or you can place it on a display stand if you have folded a large model.