Some origami is pure decoration, but this little heart quietly does a job: it holds your chopsticks (or scissors, or a pen) and looks adorable while doing it. Don't be fooled by the nineteen steps—most of them are gentle fold-and-unfold moves that lay down a map of creases, and once that map is in place the heart almost folds itself. Think of it less as memorizing steps and more as listening to what the paper is telling you. The payoff is a sturdy, reversible-color heart with a handy slot, equally happy on a dinner table, in a gift box, or peeking out of a book as a bookmark. Let's fold one.

How to Make

STEP 1. Fold it in half. Make a crease and unfold.

STEP 2. Fold both sides up to the crease you made earlier (the purple line). Make a crease and unfold.

STEP 3. You should now have three creases. Fold it so the purple line meets the outermost crease (green line).

STEP 4. Fold it along the dashed line (there is already a crease there).

STEP 5. Fold the other side. Fold it so the purple line overlaps the end (green line) folded in step 4.

STEP 6. As shown, fold it back along the dashed line.

STEP 7. Fold it so the purple line overlaps the purple line.

STEP 8. Fold it along the dashed line up to the part you folded in step 7.

STEP 9. As shown in the figure, open the folded part and squash it flat.

STEP 10. Fold it down to the central purple line.

STEP 11. Fold it back to the crease made in step 10.

STEP 12. Lift the part folded in step 11 and fold along the dashed line. Then lower it back down. Do the same on the other side.

STEP 13. It should look like this. Turn it back.

STEP 14. Fold the side with the creases as shown.

STEP 15. Return it to the table. Fold it a little more than halfway.

STEP 16. Insert the part with the purple line from step 15 into the pocket under the heart.

STEP 17. Turn it over. Fold it along the dashed line (fold up to the vertical part of the heart).

STEP 18. Tuck it into one side.

STEP 19. It is done.

Fun Ways to Use It

If you change the color of the starting sheet, you will get a heart with the colors reversed. It may feel a little confusing at first because it involves repeated folding and unfolding.

It may be easier to follow if you pause and think, “What happens when I fold here?”

Besides holding chopsticks, it is cute to rest scissors or similar items in it, and it is safe because the blade stays tucked away.

It also makes a lovely touch when wrapping a long gift.

You can even use it as a bookmark—slip the heart over the page, and the little heart peeking out of the book is adorable.