what got you into origami?

[Falcifer]

Ive been a magician for most my life. One day I came up with an idea for a routine involving a paper folding itself as I spoke. I thought it would be a good idea to get familiar with origami techniques to help me with the design of the routine. That was about a year ago, since then I have been going pretty far into this world of folding paper... And I LOVE it!

As another origamist who is interested in magic, I am curious to know what the trick is. I remember seeing an origami-based trick a while ago. I'm having trouble finding it now; all my searches turn up the classic "Origami" stage illusion. The basic idea was that someone would pick an animal at random and the magician would create the animal within seconds.

It was interesting, but given how simple the designs were, it's probably possible to fold them in that time anyway. Which would be more impressive to me, actually.

I've seen a few tricks using dollar bills, incorporating origami, but being from England, they're not really doable over here.

***

Keeping things on topic, I don't recall one specific thing that got my into origami. I do have a little framed picture of two origami butterflies from primary school. I remember having a collection of science-based magazines which occasionally featured papercraft models.

[NicholasA]

As another origamist who is interested in magic, I am curious to know what the trick is. I remember seeing an origami-based trick a while ago. I'm having trouble finding it now; all my searches turn up the classic "Origami" stage illusion. The basic idea was that someone would pick an animal at random and the magician would create the animal within seconds.

It was interesting, but given how simple the designs were, it's probably possible to fold them in that time anyway. Which would be more impressive to me, actually.

I've seen a few tricks using dollar bills, incorporating origami, but being from England, they're not really doable over here.

Interesting
The magician you are referring to might be 'andrew mayne'. I like the basic idea, but unfortunately I think his approach to the concept has many flaws and is badly excecuted. I have worked on this idea myself for the past half year with some promising results.

I remember Michael Close had some effects but they seemed a bit childish.
One of the nicer displays I have seen was based on a butterfly action model by Bob Neale.

-Nicholas

[Falcifer]

Indeed, it is Andrew Mayne's effect. I agree with you about it.
I gather that your effect is the same principle?

If you're also talking about Daniel Garcia's trick with a dollar bill transforming into a butterfly, I do like that.
Bob Neale has the dollar bill rabbit from a hat, too.

[BlueApplePi]

I was inspired by a janitor at my grade school. I was bored one day in aftercare and he gave me a crane. Of course I asked how he did it (for I was amazed), and he told me words I'll never forget. He said, "Sam, if you crease hard enough, you can make anything." of course I asked, "What is a crease..."

[folding paper]

Heres how I started, on google I was searching the word x-wing fighter when one of the searching choices was x-wing fighter origami. I was amazed. I couldn't make it so I tryed making it on youtube. I still couldn't make it so my mom tryed making it. When I came back from school, my mom made it not really neat. I started making more origami until now.

[chesscuber98]

I was inspired by a janitor at my grade school. I was bored one day in aftercare and he gave me a crane. Of course I asked how he did it (for I was amazed), and he told me words I'll never forget. He said, "Sam, if you crease hard enough, you can make anything." of course I asked, "What is a crease..."

That's nice words!

[Oritsuru]

Started with folding sugar cartons into wallets and unfolding milk cartons flat.
There was this thing, too, involving fabric folding after washing and ironing.

[cowburger13]

I first got started by looking up paper toys on the internet when I was about 12. The first model I learned was a cootie catcher. I was fascinated by it and practiced a little every day. Now it's more of a compulsive habit XD

[easysid]

Boats and waterbomb .. simplest of them. I used to fold them whenever it rained.
A few models like the flapping crane, rose from waterbomb, sonobe cube I learnt from TV. These were when I was about 8. I was stuck on these for some 14 years till two years ago, when I came across the Kawasaki Rose and Robert Lang's website. I searched youtube and found origami channels. Thanks to people like Sara, Tadashimori and other, I was able to take a quantum jump in folding.

[32HUD]

Paper planes.

My babysitter used to teach me to fold simple paper planes, like darts. I got so addicted to planes that I used to want to become a pilot when I grow up. I was able to get back into paper folding at 6, and was able to fold origami cranes, morning glory etc.. I got Robert Lang's 'Origami insects and their Kin' for my birthday, not sure which one. I felt that it was too hard for me, and I almost gave up. Later, I soon realized that in order to fold the models, larger papers are required. Soon, I fold so many insects that my house is infested with them!

I don't think I'll ever depart from the origami life. It's so rewarding after you folded or designed a model.

[Schmotle]

I also started with a page-a-day origami calendar. Then that evolved into spending many hours a day searching for online instructions. Eventually, however, I bought a few books.

I'm also happy to have discovered it, and to have discovered this forum.

[Langko]

My mum bought me a book when I was in 3rd grade and it progressed from there

[bflame7]

I started with a paper airplane a day calendar.
Before long I was folding other things with the paper. I started by designing my own models, then later realized other people had actually wrote books on it.