A Kusudama Ball is a traditional Japanese origami structure that makes for an eye-catching decoration. Made by assembling numerous paper flowers, Kusudama Balls are both beautiful and fun to create. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of making your very own Kusudama Ball in 12 simple steps.

1. Gather your materials: For this project, you’ll need 60 square sheets of origami paper, a glue stick or adhesive, and a piece of string or ribbon.

2. Fold each paper square in half diagonally: Make sure the edges align correctly, and press down firmly on the crease.

3. Open the triangle you’ve just made and fold both corners up to meet at the top point.

4. Take the resulting triangle shape and fold it in half along its vertical center to make what resembles a tall, skinny kite.

5. Fold both outer flaps back outward along the previous crease and open them up to create two smaller pockets.

6. Tuck one free flap into the other, securing them together with glue or adhesive. This completes one petal.

7. Repeat steps 2-6 for all 60 sheets of paper to create enough petals for 12 flowers.

8. Assemble your flowers: Each flower requires five petals. Glue their adjoining sides together by inserting a dollop of glue between adjacent petals, making sure to hold the petals together firmly until they are secure.

9.  Attach all 12 flowers together: Similarly to step 8, use glue to join adjacent flower petals until you have connected all of your flowers together in a circular formation creating a ball shape.

10. Leave your Kusudama Ball to dry: Place it somewhere safe where it won’t be disturbed while the glue sets (usually at least an hour).

11. Thread your string or ribbon: Once your Kusudama Ball is dry, pass the thread through the center of one flower, and make a knot at one end to secure it. You can pass the thread through a bead or small decoration before tying a second knot at the top to create an attractive hanging loop.

12. Display your Kusudama Ball proudly: Find the perfect spot to show off your beautiful handcrafted Kusudama Ball.

There you have it – 12 simple steps to create a stunning Kusudama Ball! This unique decoration makes for a fantastic gift or conversation starter and can be customized with various paper patterns and colors to suit your personal style. Happy folding!