Napkin Folding - Bird of Paradise

The bird of paradise is a stunning and easily recognizable tropical flower. Try this bit of napkin folding wizardry to impress your guests.

Start by folding your napkin in half along the east-west line, folding the bottom edge up to meet the top.

Napkin Folding Bird of Paradise

napkin ready for folding napkin folded in half

Then fold the napkin in half again, folding the left edge onto the right edge.

Next you will make a triangle by folding the upper right corner to the lower left corner, as shown below.

folding napkin to make triangle

Here is the same fold shown from a different angle.

This photo was done just to show you that the open edges of the folded napkin are the ones being folded over.

alternate view of triangle folding folded triangle

Next, fold the left and right edges of the triangle onto its centerline.

Then tuck the two bottom flaps under the napkin.

triangle edges folded to centerline lower flaps tucked under

Now fold in half along the centerline.

Hold the napkin at the end shown and pull each individual napkin layer up and out...and voila! A napkin bird of paradise!

pulling out petals of flower completed napkin bird of paradise