Folding Trees

Kusudama Tutorial part 2

Today I am showing you part 2 of how to make a kusudama ball. You can find the first part here.

In part 1, I showed you have to make the individual flowers; you should now have 12 flowers made from 60 individual petals.

For part 2 you will need:

12 flowers (made from 60 petals)
Glue
String or a ribbon
Bead(s)

As you might be able to see from the finished kusudama at the top of the page, I made 6 flowers from blue paper and 6 flowers from a recycled map. To make it easier to see how I am putting the ball together I will use 1 blue flower in the middle and 5 map flowers around it.

Start to glue the flowers together one petal at the time - this will give the nicest result. In the photo (right) you can see that you apply the glue a little to the right of the middle line. Hold the 2 pieces together in place with your fingers until the glue is dry. Then glue the second petal in the same way.

When you add the 3rd flower, there are 3 petals to connect. Make sure you work from the middle; glue, hold in place, wait until the glue is dry. Now work your way all around the first flower.

After you have attached all 6 flowers you end up with 2 sets of half a kusudama. Now it is time to attach the cord.

I used 3 beads on the bottom. (Left pic) I made a knot over the first bead to lock it in place and then put the other beads on the string, locking it in again with an overhand knot.

Now take one of your 1/2 kusudamas and put some glue on the top. You can see the yellow glue I used on the right-hand picture.

Glue your string down, making sure it is nice and straight. Now glue the other half of the string down, making sure this time that you put the glue exactly on the middle of the petal. After this is nice and dry, start gluing the other half of the kusudama on top of the first half. I normally work around from the top.

That’s it! You have finished your kusudama ball, now find a nice spot in your home for it.

In the last photo you can see another kusudama I finished earlier. As you can see, I used the variation on the pattern I showed you in part 1, so the flowers look a little different.

If you are having a go with this 2 part tutorial we would love to see your work! Please upload your pics to the Folding Trees Flickr group and maybe you will be featured in our next round up.

If you’d like to see some more original Folding Trees tutorials by Eve or June have a look here.

SHARE THIS POST

Posted: November 6th, 2008 under Folding Trees Tutorials, Origami, Ornaments & Decorations.
Comments: 29

Comments

Comment from McCrafty
Time: November 6, 2008, 6:19 am

I love it! Thanks for tutorial…I enjoy reading your blog :).

Comment from Nancy
Time: November 6, 2008, 10:19 am

Thank you so much for the wonderfully detailed tutorial. Can’t wait to try my hand at this.

Comment from Lynn in Tucson
Time: November 6, 2008, 11:33 am

Lovely! I especially like the one with the map pages.

Comment from lilfairy
Time: November 6, 2008, 1:58 pm

just wonderful!!! I had to write a post about your site. Please let me know whether I infringe any copyright statement, I’ll be happy to suit you.

Comment from lilfairy
Time: November 6, 2008, 2:00 pm

oh, the post is there: http://blogs.atelier-media.net/freshtouch/2008/11/06/folding-trees/

Pingback from fresh:touch » Blog Archive » Folding Trees
Time: November 6, 2008, 2:04 pm

[...] (clic here for tutorial - part 2) [...]

Comment from Rachel
Time: November 6, 2008, 2:09 pm

BEAUTIFUL! I can’t wait to get started. I’ll be linking as well.

Pingback from Folding Trees » Kusudama Tutorial part 1
Time: November 6, 2008, 5:58 pm

[...] Below I will show you how to make the basic shape, you need to make 60 of these. Every flower will then have 5 of these shapes or petals glued together, making a total of 12 flowers. I will explain how to glue them together in a tutorial later this week…, you can find part 2 here. [...]

Comment from Pina
Time: November 7, 2008, 2:40 am

Thanks for this tutorial, I love these flowers. I’ve made only one flower this far but I will make some more, colorful ones, for my grandmom’s birthday which is in two weeks. Half of kusudama will fit perfectly on the present for her.

Comment from Startare
Time: November 7, 2008, 8:03 am

C’est magnifique. Merci

Comment from Howtoorigami
Time: November 7, 2008, 10:34 am

This is such a beautiful arrangement. I am trying it out right now!

Comment from BUSIR
Time: November 8, 2008, 1:44 pm

Wonderful !I made a flower right away !I never thought Iwould be able to make it !(I ‘m 71 today)it’s so wonderful to find tutorials like these !Y.S

Comment from Sandy
Time: November 9, 2008, 4:35 pm

Thanks for the wonderful tutorial.

Happy, happy birthday, BUSIR!!!!

Comment from Larissa Holland
Time: November 10, 2008, 8:24 am

I really would like to thank you for this and many of your other beautiful tutorials. I love the pod beads too. I can’t wait to try this, I have my origami paper out on the cutting board. You rock!

Comment from Catriona
Time: November 10, 2008, 4:25 pm

That’s SO pretty!
As soon as I get some decent paper, I’m definetly making one!
Thanks for sharing…..

Comment from Linda
Time: November 11, 2008, 1:58 pm

another simple, elegant and inexpensive project to try…..thinkin i’d like a mobile using these - perhaps tiny one too. this website has made it difficult to do my chores….LOL
and i’ve had a blast finding appropriate items (simple,elegant, inevpensive) to offer as gifts : - )

Comment from Solange
Time: November 12, 2008, 9:15 am

I like your creations. Is it possible to copy your tutorial on my website ?
http://www.bluemarguerite.com

Pingback from IL NATALE E’ ALLE PORTE…Ingegnamoci « IL PUNTO DI SVOLTA
Time: November 14, 2008, 5:20 am

[...] Kusudama sono sfere di carta realizzate incollando origami fra loro, una delle più antiche e originali invenzioni del paese del Sol Levante. Possono diventare addobbi poco costosi e stravaganti per il nostro albero che quest’anno sarà in stile esotico. Il tutorial, per immagini, è diviso in due parti Parte 1 Parte 2 [...]

Comment from Jess
Time: November 17, 2008, 6:57 pm

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I made one last night and will be making more for sure!

Comment from Molly
Time: November 18, 2008, 3:39 pm

Very cool! Can’t wait to try it!

Pingback from Origami
Time: November 21, 2008, 4:11 am

[...] Segunda parte [...]

Comment from Taylor
Time: November 22, 2008, 8:05 am

These are beautiful…I think I’m gonna give it a try, it looks pretty simple.

I was thinking…the perfect way to hold then together would be BOBBY PINS for your hair. hey’re even thinner than paperclips, and a bit easier to work around…

Comment from Caterina
Time: November 24, 2008, 3:49 am

Wonderful and really easy to do!
Tutorial is perfect.
Thank you for this cheap idea!

Comment from melissaosue
Time: November 25, 2008, 3:57 pm

Wow! I love this tutorial thank you so much! Actually I love the entire site!

Comment from hannah
Time: November 29, 2008, 3:18 am

love it! my cousins kids all just redid their rooms, so i made them some for christmas presents!

Pingback from Ancora decorazioni con la carta - Caputo’s blog - Informatica, tecnologia, programmazione, fai da te, papercraft e papertoy
Time: November 30, 2008, 10:51 am

[...] TUTORIAL2 Potresti trovare interessanti anche gli articoli:No related posts [...]

Comment from ORIGAMI FAN
Time: December 6, 2008, 3:16 am

THANK YOU FOR THE TUTRIALS!!! THE FLOWERS CAME OUT VERY BEAUTIFAL!! =D

Comment from Phill P
Time: December 13, 2008, 6:01 pm

So, so pretty, I followed your tut ,by the way, nice and easy to follow, and made my first ever kusadama ball and I,m thrilled with the result.
My camera is bust but when I get a new one I’ll send youy some pics!!
Thanks again.

Comment from Silvia Mabie
Time: December 18, 2008, 11:53 am

I have made the Kusudama balls several times and have linked your tutorial on my blog! LOVE this!!!

http://www.mabiestampin.blogspot.com

Main menu:

Advertise with Folding Trees

Link to us:

Categories

Site search

Archives

Fine Print

Kusudama Tutorial part 2

Comments

Write a comment