Two diagonal valley folds, like a paper airplane, extending just below center to the top edge, just slightly to the left and right, will define the head of the butterfly and seperate the bottom wings.

Mountain fold the butterfly in half through the center line.

The completed butterfly model has beautiful sharp angles that lend great contrast to the gentleness of the butterfly.

Two valley folds, extending from the center crease just below the top edge, to the top edge just to the left and right of the center crease, will define the head of the butterfly, and seperate the bottom wings.

Crease the fold back as far as it will go, locking the pocket in place and defining the top wings.

Open the wing slightly to reveal the lower layer.

Valley fold under the left wing as well, and flatten the butterfly model.

Create the fold as far back as you can, and crease well.

Mountain fold the butterfly down the center.

The angle of the fold will create a small triangle of negative space between the wings. Lay the wing flat, and do it on the other side.

With the tip securely under the pocket, lay the model flat.

Once the tip is in position, the butterfly will once again lay flat.

Valley fold the left and right of the pocket you slid the tip into, below the top layer.

The lock in the butterfly model is created by mountain folding the sides of that pocket, to lock the top flap in place. This also defines the seperation between the top and bottom set of wings.

You will need to open the wing of the butterfly slighty to crease this valley fold. It creates the little triangles that seperate the top and bottom wings.

Valley fold the top to the bottom, crease well and unfold. Valley fold the top point to the center of the model. Crease well.

Valley fold the top tip to the bottom tip, crease well and unfold. Valley fold the top tip to the center of the model, crease well.

Refold the center crease, sliding the top point under the pocket that is formed just below the center of the model.

Valley fold the model through the center crease you just made. The tip needs to slide into the pocket, locking the flap down.

Valley fold the paper in half forming a square with the colored side of the paper exposed.

Valley fold the paper in half, forming a square with the pattern exposed. Crease well and unfold.

Diagonally valley fold the top two corners to meet at the middle of the bottom edge.

Diagonally valley fold the top left and right corners to meet on the bottom edge, in the center. Crease well.

Mountain fold two creases halfway from the center of the bottom edge and the corners, to the center of the top edge. Crease well and lay flat.

Two paper butterflies on calendula flowers

There may well be over 20,000 different species of butterfly worldwide, which any good lepidopterists would know. Butterflies are actually matured caterpillar, the fuzzy worm like creatures that devour trees and leaves. After eating enough, the caterpillar folds itself into a butterfly. Many butterflies have remarkable colors and pattern, to scare predators and attract other butterflies. When folding the origami butterfly model, you are encouraged to use brightly patterned paper.