Michael G. Lafosse - Origami Stationery: (Downloadable Material Included)

Ship Mates BY MICHAEL G. LAFOSSE, ADAPTED FROM THE TRADITIONAL PRELIMINARY BASE SAILBOAT. Like a double-heart locket, this note is only complete with its mate. It is a puzzle and a trick, but above all it is an elegant vehicle for a two-page letter. Begin with the colored side of the paper facing up. Unfold. Turn the paper over. Fold in half, edge to edge. Fold in half, edge to edge.

First bottom to top, unfold, and then left to right. Unfold. Rotate your paper to orient the diagonal crease so that it is running left to right. Fold the top and bottom corners to meet at the middle. Your paper will look like this. View in progress. View in progress.

Notice that the center of the paper stays down while the tips of the sails move up. Continue to collapse the shape by moving the front edge of the ship to meet the back edge. The completed ship shape. You will need to make two. Join the ships by fitting the sails of one into the front pocket of the other, and the sails of the other ship into the back pocket of the first. The completed note.

An interesting effect, which can provide some fun, is that you will not be able to separate these two notes from each other by pulling on the corners. Try it. No matter how hard you pull on opposite corners they will not separate. You must hold one by the edges and slide the other one out by pushing with your thumb at the middle of the slot.

Flag Note BY MICHAEL G. LAFOSSE This quick and simple note has a clever locking point at the corner.

You can use it as a note, or you can use it as a wrapper to gift-wrap cash or theater tickets. You can use any square of paper. If writing on the blank side, begin colored side up. An eight-inch square paper will make a note that is approximately 6 X 3.5 inches. Fold the top edge down, about 1/5 th of the squares heightit does not have to be precise. Your paper will look like this.

Turn over, left to right. Fold the short, right edge inward, about one quarterit does not have to be precise. Fold the bottom edge up to the level of the blue line. You could also fold to the top edge. The former gives the model a distinctive colored band at the top. Tuck the top edge of the top layer under the locking corner of the note. The Flag Note.

Pillow Note BY MICHAEL G.
Pillow Note BY MICHAEL G.

LAFOSSE The pillow note provides a frame for the Ship Mates note, giving it an extra layer of class and intrigue. Mark the center of the square with crossing creases by folding in half diagonally both ways. Only short creases are needed. Fold each of the four corners to meet at the middle. Unfold. Place a Ship Mates note in the center of the paper and tuck each of the four corners into the side slots of the note. The completed Pillow Note.

Parallel-o-gram BY MICHAEL LAFOSSE, ADAPTED FROM A FOLDING MODULE BY MITUSUNOBU SONOBE There is a certain feeling of satisfaction, which one can enjoy, when folding an origami model that is clean, logical and seems to fold itself.
Parallel-o-gram BY MICHAEL LAFOSSE, ADAPTED FROM A FOLDING MODULE BY MITUSUNOBU SONOBE There is a certain feeling of satisfaction, which one can enjoy, when folding an origami model that is clean, logical and seems to fold itself.

This is one of those models. You can use this origami form as an envelope or as a self-sealing note. The eccentric pattern on the woven side is interesting and dynamic. Quick to make, you will enjoy folding many of these. Fold up the bottom edge any amount lower than half wayit does not need to be precise.