How to Fold an Origami Heart

By Megumi Lorna Inouye

Add a special touch to gifts “wrapped with the heart” with this simple papercraft from The Soul of Gift Wrapping.

These origami hearts bring back a memory of when my youngest daughter and I volunteered at an assisted-living and community center for seniors. For a special New Year’s meal that would include residents’ family and friends, we wrapped over 150 sets of chopsticks in crisp white pleats of paper and embellished them with origami hearts. The seniors joined us, and my daughter and I had the opportunity to listen to their life stories and share laughs while we all folded together. It was truly a “wrapping with the heart” scenario for everyone, both literally and figuratively.

WHAT YOU NEED

Square sheet of paper (6″ × 6″ origami paper works well; the red heart above was made with 2.5″ x 2.5″ origami paper)

HOW TO MAKE IT

1. Fold the paper into a triangle and unfold. Fold the opposite corners together to create another triangle and unfold. You should have an X in the center of the paper. With the paper oriented in a diamond shape, fold the top corner to the center line.

Photo by Mars Vilaubi © Storey Publishing.

2. Fold the bottom corner to the top edge.

3. Bring the bottom edge up to the center line, folding at a diagonal. Repeat on the left side.

4. Turn the paper over. Fold down both top points to create the top edges of the heart. Turn the two side points inward.

Excerpted and adapted from The Soul of Gift Wrapping © by Megumi Inouye.

The Soul of Gift Wrapping

by Megumi Lorna Inouye

Foreword by Beth Kempton

Transform a simple package into a beautiful gift with simple, tape-free wrapping designs for any occasion.

“A mindful option that takes back the commercialism in gift giving and makes it a personal experience again.” —Library Journal, starred review

Origami Gift Wrap offers a new approach to gift wrapping, with easy, elegant wrapping techniques designed to accommodate every gift. With clear step-by-step photos and a variety of wrapping techniques—from folded boxes to fabric wraps—artist Megumi Inouye’s approach to wrapping transforms a simple gift into an act of care and intention.

Whether you’re wrapping a last-minute host gift or endless holiday presents, the beautiful designs transform recycled and repurposed materials into stunning gift wrappings that are sure to delight.

From simple folded gift wraps for everyday presents to more elaborate bows and tags for special keepsakes, you’ll find techniques for every occasion.

“In this moving and gorgeous book, Megumi Lorna Inouye shares ideas and instructions for wrapping gifts and expressing appreciation of others in more beautiful and sustainable ways. I came away feeling inspired to live more intentionally, connect more deeply with the world around me, and give more freely from my own heart.” —Karen Olson, editor in chief of American Craft

$25.00

$32.00 CAD

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Megumi Lorna Inouye

About the Author

Megumi Inouye is an artist, author, and educator known for her sustainable and innovative approaches to gift wrapping, utilizing organic and recyclable materials found in everyday life. Inspired by her Japanese heritage and cultural values surrounding the art of giving, her work explores the intersection of making, intention, and gratitude, revealing how an ordinary ritual can become an expression of care and connection. Her work has been featured in American Craft Magazine, What Women Create Magazine, Yahoo! Lifestyle, San Francisco Chronicle, Sonoma Index Tribune, and on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Inouye splits her time between San Francisco and Sonoma in Northern California.

Learn more about this author