Origami Bat Kid-CraftTutorial

Available now from SnapDragon Snippets through the

Silhouette America online store is this pre-perforated,

one piece (plus optional contast glue-behind face panel)

ORIGAMI BAT.

Sized at approximately 7.75 inches wingspan, this scary cutie

folds quickly and can be sized, but take care for reducing too small
for eyes to show, or too large to exceed available 
copy paper size and mat capacity. 

Thread a string or fish line through the back holes 

(use the cut square version with the hanging holes on the back of wing)

then let him decorate the higher regions of your Halloween

home or party venue.

Step 1. Cut the origami bat shape using REGULAR WEIGHT printer style paper. (Multi-layer folding may not be gauged for the thickness of card stock.)

Take care when peeling it from your mat - especially if the mat is new and very sticky - because the ears cut out can easily tear.

If you want contast eyes for your finished bat (and I WOULD recommend it!), also cut out the face liner contrast triangle from your preferred eye color. I am using a green triangle.

Step 2. Turn your square over. Locate the triangle near the center than contains the eye circle cutouts. Apply glue to the area around the eyes - the face triangle, but NOT the ears - then position the slightly smaller contrast triangle in the area so that it is WITHIN the perforation lines.

Step 3. Fold (face out - YELLOW triangle will be enclosed) on BOTH diagonal lines from corner to corner as "moutain" folds. Crease along the perforation, then unfold.

Step 4. Fold center horizontal perforation as a "valley" fold, or with OUTWARD sides folding together so that COLORED eye openings are on the inside. Crease along the perforation, then unfold so that square is flat again.

Step 5. Push the center valley fold in toward the center as you re-fold BOTH diagonal folds as mountain folds (eye openings will be on OUTSIDE once again). Crease along perforations.

Step 6. Fold the front diagonal crease forward and inward to lay along the center perforation line, and crease along the diagonal perforation line there. Repeat for both sides. This is the bat's body.

Step 7. Locate the lower diagonal line, then fold back and under the body shape. Crease along the perforations. This shapes the body slightly to create the bat's leg. Repeat for both sides.

Step 8. Locate the last diagonal perforations near the points of each leg. Fold the tip toward the side along the perforation and crease. This forms the bat's foot. Repeat for both sides.

Step 9. Fold the top center tip (bat's nose) downward and toward the front. As you do so, the ears will remain flat and appear to extend upward. Crease along the perforation. 

 Step 10. To help the dimensional nose and feet to remain in the desired positions, apply a little clear glue underneath the nose/head area, and a dot at the crease of each foot (take care to use just a little here). Re-fold each of these parts and apply finger-tip pressure until glue is secure.

FINISHING: If you want to hang your bat so that he is in flight continuously, you will have chosen the bat cut design that includes the 1/16" cut circles pair on the back wings triangle. Cut a length of the string or clear fishing line or ribbon that you will use to hang, and thread it onto a blunt needle. Insert the needle down-up through the holes. (It may help to insert finger(s) behind wing layer to re-direct needle back out the second hole.) 

Draw string through to desired length, cut and tie ends. You may wish to put a dot or 2 or 3 on the inside between the bat wing layer and the front folds and assembly because of the pull-apart effect that the string may have.

And finally (but without too much fuss!)

your bat is complete.

You will want to make a whole swarm of bats, of course.

His wing tip span at original size is approx. 7 3/4".

Try reducing his size for a smaller bat, 

but not too small or his eyes will disappear.

A reduction at 65% will make a bat with a wing tip span of 5".