ARE YOU SMILING?
So you found an origami flower and now you are at this page. Welcome! It is my hope that it brought a smile to your face. You are encouraged to take the flower with you. Leave it somewhere new or surprise someone special with it. I try to leave these wherever I go, but I don't go all of the places you go, so spread some joy yourself.
WHY
THE LILY
The lily was the first design I learned and it is my favorite. The lily is a symbol of motherhood and purity. Each lily I fold is dedicated to the wonderful women in my life, particularly my mother.
NOTE: If the lily's petals are looking a bit flat, see the following section – Roll The Tips for instructions on how to freshen it up and breathe new life into it.
THE ROSE
The rose is the second design I learned. The rose is a symbol of love and passion. This design shares the same four initial folds as the lily design and as such it can be created from the same origami paper I keep in my wallet.
SUBMIT
Feeling inspired, send me a photo of yourself smiling with the flower you found. Or if you're a little shy, just send a photo of the flower in the new setting you brought it to.
SPARKED JOY
Here is a gallery of submissions. With luck, this will grow ever larger as more and more joy is sparked. Enjoy yourself and remember to spread joy wherever you go.
INSTRUCTIONS
ROLL THE TIPS
The lily variety has four tips. To breathe life back into it, you must roll said tips (individually) around the barrel of a pen. A classic Bic Roundstic is the correct diameter that delivers the proper effect. This embedded video demonstrates what I am talking about.
The key is to ensure that you get the pointy tip to catch under the pen on the first rotation. This ensures that as you roll all of the way down, tension will be created in the petal, thus ensuring the curve in the paper holds. Do not be afraid to peel / roll each tip all the way down as far as it will go. Remember to keep the paper taught as it wraps itself around the barrel of the pen. Good luck!