How to Fold a Love Letter into an Origami Heart

I still remember how I learned to fold letters into origami hearts like these. It was sometime in highschool. I had received a letter folded into this cute little heart. I had left it in my room while I was off to school. When I got back home, that letter was unraveled on my bed. Whoever snooped to read it, couldn’t put back the humpty dumpty of a letter back together again. Did a heart-shaped letter scream love letter? I was pretty pissed off back then, but I find it extremely funny now. Read on to learn how to make an origami heart. (Scroll down to the very end to watch a video tutorial instead!)

It all starts with a love letter. Haha! Actually, just any letter will do. Make sure your paper is a rectangle. The longer or more narrow the sheet of paper, the better.

Start out by folding the top right corner onto the left edge of the paper.

Unfold, and repeat with the other side.

You’ll end up with these pyramid like folds.

Gently allow the sides to pucker and collapse inward. I usually tell workshop participants to listen to the paper and the folds, not going against what comes naturally.

After creasing the folds further, you should end up with something like this.

Next, take the right corner of the triangle, and fold towards the top peak.

Repeat with the left corner.

Fold the right flap towards the center.

And repeat with the other side.

This is what it should look like afterward.

To continue, flip it over.

Fold the bottom edge towards the bottom of the triangle part. Depending on the size of the paper, it’ll be like folding your paper into thirds.

Next, fold down the first layer of the triangle peak.

Next, fold the bottom right corner towards the center fold.

Tuck the corner into the triangle’s pocket.

Repeat on the left side. You’ll end up with two bunny ears up top.

Take the right bunny ear, and fold at an angle downwards.

Tuck the tip into the pocket.

Repeat on the other side.

All done! Try folding your Valentines into Origami Hearts this year, for an added DIY touch.

Confused? Watch the video tutorial here!

Check out other I Try DIY Valentine-themed tutorials from previous years: