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Balloon

How to fold an origami balloon

Paper
One square sheet of paper.
Preparation
No cutting or gluing is included in these folding steps. Begin with “Fold in half horizontally”.
What you will make
A three-dimensional paper balloon, tucked and inflated.

Make a paper balloon from a triangular base, fold the corners, and tuck the tips into pockets before inflating it. Identify the pocket opening and the tip separately at each tuck. Check all four tucks on the front and back before opening the folds.

Follow the 33 steps above by scrolling. Drag the model to inspect a fold from another angle, and scroll back to review a previous step.

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Read all 33 folding steps
  1. Fold in half horizontally
  2. Unfold the horizontal crease
  3. Fold along the first diagonal
  4. Unfold the diagonal crease
  5. Fold along the other diagonal
  6. Unfold to a square
  7. Fold both sides inward
  8. Turn the triangle to face you
  9. Fold the front left corner up
  10. Fold the front right corner up
  11. Turn the paper over
  12. Fold the back left corner up
  13. Fold the back right corner up
  14. Fold the left corner to the center
  15. Fold the right corner to the center
  16. Fold the top left tip down
  17. Fold the top right tip down
  18. Turn the other side toward you
  19. Fold the left corner to the center
  20. Fold the right corner to the center
  21. Fold the top left tip down
  22. Fold the top right tip down
  23. Open the left pocket
  24. Tuck in the left tip
  25. Open the right pocket
  26. Tuck in the right tip
  27. Turn over to tuck in the back tips
  28. Open the left pocket
  29. Tuck in the left tip
  30. Open the right pocket
  31. Tuck in the right tip
  32. Spread the four flaps
  33. Inflate the balloon

Tricky points and what to check

The tip sits on top of the pocket

Steps to review: 23・24

Review the pocket-opening step and identify the opening and tip separately. Compare the illustrations to see the tip entering the pocket.

Have I finished all the tucks?

Steps to review: 25・26・27・28・29・30・31・32

Check both front tucks, then turn to the back and check both there. Review all four before opening the four folds.

Step 24：Tuck in the left tip

Three views from the same 3D folding sequence. Read from top to bottom.

Balloon with the left pocket open and the tip still above it
Balloon with the left pocket open and the tip still above it

The left pocket has been opened in step 23. Locate its opening and the tip above it that will tuck inside.

Before：The left pocket has been opened in step 23. Locate its opening and the tip above it that will tuck inside.
Balloon tip bending into the opening of the left pocket
Balloon tip bending into the opening of the left pocket

Lift the tip and guide it inside the open pocket. Notice how it enters the pocket rather than resting on its surface.

During：Lift the tip and guide it inside the open pocket. Notice how it enters the pocket rather than resting on its surface.
Balloon with the left tip tucked inside and the surface flattened
Balloon with the left tip tucked inside and the surface flattened

The tip is now tucked into the pocket. Steps 25 and 26 open and tuck the pocket on the right.

After：The tip is now tucked into the pocket. Steps 25 and 26 open and tuck the pocket on the right.
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Make a paper balloon from a triangular base, fold the corners, and tuck the tips into pockets before inflating it.

Completed origami balloon

Completed model · Loading 3D…

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