There is something delightful about a tiny paper umbrella that actually holds its shape. This one is built the way real paper-craft toys are — not from a single sheet, but from a ring of identical folded units that you glue together into a round, colorful canopy, then slide a bamboo skewer through the middle for the handle.

It is more of a hands-on workshop than a five-minute fold, with a bit of gluing and assembly along the way, but don't be put off. Each unit is folded the same way, so once you have made the first one the rhythm clicks and the rest go quickly. Pick out a few of your favorite paper colors and you'll end up with a little umbrella that's far more charming than its humble materials suggest — perfect for brightening a desk, a party table, or a rainy afternoon.

Here is how to make a three-dimensional, colorful umbrella out of origami.

It takes a little time and effort, but the diagrams are clear and easy to follow so that anyone can make it — so do give it a try.

How to make an umbrella

You will need 7 sheets of regular-size origami paper and 7 sheets of quarter-size origami paper.

You will also need a bamboo skewer about 15 to 20 cm long.

Step 1

Fold it in half.

Step 2

Fold it in half again and make a crease.

Step 3

Fold it so that the right corner overlaps the left side and runs parallel to the red line.

Step 4

Fold the top part as shown.

Step 5

Tuck the folded part into the folded origami on the right side as shown.

Step 6

Fold all 7 large and small origami sheets in the same way.

From here, use the 7 parts made from the large origami to build the shape shown below.

Step 7

Apply glue at the position shown in the figure and attach the other parts.

Step 8

Glue the part shown in the figure and fold it back.

Step 9

Glue the parts on in the same way.

Step 10

Slip the corner of the last part under the first part.

Step 11

Glue the first part and the last part together as shown. It is hard to see in the picture, but the handle sits at the back of the umbrella, so press the center inward to form a dip.

Step 12

Turn it over and it will look like this; tuck the tip inside the first part.

Step 13

Make this part the same way using the smaller origami paper.

Step 14

Insert the bamboo skewer into the smaller part as shown.

Step 15

Apply glue to the edges and join the larger parts together to finish.