Class taught by Dominique S. on 8/26/06

Link to gallery:
http://orientalstampart.com/v-web/gallery/TeabagFolding

Items needed for this class:

• Bone Folder
• Cocktail stick
• Paper glue: anything that dries clear and is easy to apply in small awkward places is ideal, for example glue stick or ZIG 2 way glue.
• A sheet of teabag papers: you will need 8 identical teabags. If you don't have any, there are some sample papers in the photos in OSAClasses:
  http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/OSAClasses/photos/view/b16e?b=1
  http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/OSAClasses/photos/view/b16e?b=2
  You will need to save the picture on your computer and print it as a full size sheet (A4 / letter).
  Or download some free printable tea bag papers from the internet. Here are 2 links:
  http://www.teabagfolding.circleofcrafters.com/
  http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/tea-bag-folding-instructions.html
  Teabag papers with a central motif and a border are ideal for this class.
• International Origami symbols:
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OSAClasses/files/Teabag%20Folding/
  I suggest you print it in landscape form.

Preparation:

Using a paper trimmer or a metal ruler and a sharp craft knife, cut out 8 teabag squares out of the sheet of teabag papers. Accuracy is paramount!

Introduction:

The three basic folds for Teabag Folding are the square fold, the triangle fold and the kite fold. The square fold has been covered in the first Teabag Folding class, and the two others are beautifully explained in the links given in that class.

There are many books on the market with Teabag Folding projects. However, for projects involving more advanced folding, you are usually confronted with a set of origami diagrams, very little explanation and a single photo of the result. This, while perfectly adequate for a seasoned Teabag Folding enthusiast, can be quite daunting for a novice. The aim of this class is to take such a project and demystify the diagrams, so that even novices will have the confidence to try any Teabag Folding project, however complicated.

Double Star:

Check your teabag paper: if the picture isn't completely symmetrical, make sure that you always place the paper with the top of the picture at the top (North).

Take the time to fold accurately. Crease all folds with a bone folder.

1. Take one square, place it with the wrong side facing up. On the diagrams, the letters A, B, C and D are there to help you.

2. Fold in half horizontally. Open and fold in half vertically. Open back up.

origami diagram	user friendly diagram

3. Fold point A and B down to the centre where the fold lines intersect.

4. Fold the side edges in to meet the centre vertical fold line.

5. Fold the bottom edge up to the centre horizontal fold line.

6. Fold the upper right corner of the fold made in step 5 diagonally down to the bottom of the centre vertical fold line.

Open the fold you've just made.

7. So far so good…Now be careful this is the tricky bit: open up the bottom fold a little and grasp point D and pull it out to the right. You now have a small triangular shape extending on the right of the folded paper.

origami diagram	user friendly diagram

8. Turn your paper over so the front is facing up.

9. Fold point D so that the outer edge butts up against the left side of the main section.

10. But what about the cocktail stick I told you to have handy? Insert the end of the cocktail stick inside the small fold you have just made to open up the triangle. Squash it flat with the point in the centre. The centre fold of point D should lie on top of the side of the main section. It forms a diamond shape. This is called a "squash fold". Clever, isn't it?

11. Carefully, making absolutely sure that all your squares are oriented the same way - otherwise it will spoil your hard work- repeat step 1 to 10 with the other 7 squares.

12. I suggest you practise assembling the squares without any glue until you're satisfied it works properly. Holding the first folded piece in your left hand, slide the second piece on top of the first one until the left side of the small diamond butts up against the right side of the small diamond on the first piece. Make sure to align the bottom corners.

13. Got it? Now start again with the glue. Don't rush, please read the rest of this step before going any further.
Apply a little glue to the bottom left area of the first piece. Slide the second one in position, check alignment.

Continue with the other pieces. Be very careful with the last one: you must slide the first piece on top of the eight piece, butting the left side of the small diamond on the first piece against the right side of the small diamond on the last piece. Make sure you align all the pieces properly; however, don't set them so tight against each other, that you end up with a gap between the last and first one!

Finished? Now give yourself a big pat on the back, you deserve it!
14. Make a card, a tag, a bookmark, send it as a RAK…

but don't forget to upload a photo or a scan of your creation in the gallery.
http://orientalstampart.com/v-web/gallery/TeabagFolding

Links:
There are so many books and internet sites with Teabag Folding projects, I couldn't possibly give you all the details. Just Google it.
I will however give you the link to a lovely project using the "squash fold" created by a talented artist from OSA:
http://www.craftcreations.co.uk/pages/magazines/issues/issue29.mhtml
Scroll to the bottom of the page TEA WITH LEO. Download the pdf file.

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