Designer: Lindy van der Merwe/TraditionalUnknown
Text-Only Instructions copyright 2025 by Lindy van der Merwe
Paper to be used: 2 squares, any size; thicker paper or thin cardstock is strongly recommended.
Folding level: Easy/Beginner
Steps: 14
Name: Xenon, derived from the Greek word xenos, meaning "stranger" or "foreigner", is a Noble Gas (Group 18 on the periodic table).
It is exceptionally rare, making up less than 1 part per 11 million in the Earth's atmosphere.
While invisible in normal air, it glows with a brilliant blue or lavender light when electricity passes through it.
Description: This model is a simple, square, reversable coaster. It shows two triangles on the one side and on the opposite side two triangles positioned in the opposite direction. Two different colors or matching plain and patterned squares can be used for a nice effect.
Remarks:
This is an easy modular that can work well as a children's project.
Fold this as decor for a party or it can even be used as a closed envelope for a small gift.
PHASE 1: CREATING THE UNITS:
You will be folding 2 similar units to form your coaster.
If using two-sided origami paper, lay your paper with the patterned or colored side down before starting to fold.
Step 1
Place your square down so that it forms a diamond shape, with the corners at the top and bottom, left and right.
Step 2
Fold the bottom point up to meet the top point to form a two-layered triangle. Crease and leave folded.
You should have a triangle with the closed long edge nearest you and the open points facing away from you.
Step 3
Now grasp the left bottom corner of the triangle and fold it upwards and inwards to meet the top point of the triangle, aligning the sides so they lie perfectly on top of each other.
Step 4
Repeat with the bottom right corner.
You should have a diamond-shaped figure with two triangular flaps or "arms" that are meeting each other along the vertical center of the model.
Step 5
Next, unfold both triangular flaps you have just created. Notice that a two-layered
diamond shape has now been revealed at the center of the model.
Step 6
Take the top point of the diamond shape and fold both of the layers down to meet the center bottom point of the model, right where the arms of the structure meet.
Make a nice crease through all the layers and then press the left and right arms flat again, so they cover the thick, folded triangle beneath them.
Step 7
Turn over the model for a last time and press it flat from this side as well. Make sure that the two arms or flaps are neat and straight. Their inner sides should almost touch along the vertical center of the figure and their points should be sharp and symmetrical.
Step 8
Set your first unit aside and fold another that looks exactly the same.
PHASE 2: ASSEMBLY
Step 9
Explanation
Place your unit down with the thick, folded triangle resting on the table. Its closed, pointy end should be nearest you with the long, open edge facing away from you. There will be two separate triangular flaps, or what can be called the arms of the unit, laying on top of the thick triangle. Notice that the two arms each have a pocket that can be accessed from the left and right sides.
In order to assemble our coaster, we will be tucking in the arms of the two units into their opposite pockets, locking them in place to form the finished coaster.
Step 10
Make sure unit 1 is placed as described above. with its closed point nearest you and the thick, folded triangle on the table.
Step 11
Take unit 2 and turn it so its thick, folded triangle is also nearest the table. The closed point should be facing away from you. Like with unit 1, the two similar triangles or arms will be facing you.
Step 12
Important: In this step we are simply positioning the two units for the next steps.
Let unit 1 lay flat on the table. Now, lifting the arms of unit 2 about halfway, and coming from a point furthest away from you, slide the thick, folded triangle of unit 2 in underneath or behind the two arms of unit 1.
Result: The two thick triangles of units 1 and 2 should now be touching along their long, open edges, flat on the table,
On top of the two thick triangles, the four arms of the units will now lay close together. The arms of unit 1 will likely lie flat with the arms of unit 2 standing up a little, since we had opened them in the previous step.
Step 13
We now need to join our units by tucking in arms into pockets in two opposite directions.
To do this, do the following:
13.1 Working on the left side of the figure, lift up the left arm of unit 1 and open the pocket you will find on its left side. Take what is now the left flap of unit 2 and tuck it all the way inside the pocket of unit 1.
Make sure the point of unit 2 is not scrunched up. Press flat.
13.2 Now, working on the right side, lift the arm of unit 1 up towards you. Let it stand at a 90 degree angle while you open the pocket on the right arm of unit 2.
Tuck the arm of unit 1 all the way inside the pocket of unit 2.
You might have to loosen the already tucked-in triangle on the left a little during this step. You can hold it between your fingers or anchor it on the table so it does not dislodge itself completely, while tucking in the triangle on the right.
Check the point is neat and straight and press flat.
Step 14
Lastly, gently press the two units into place so they are completely aligned. Their sides and corners should be matched to form a perfect square. If folded from two squares with different colors, each side will be split diagonally, showing a triangle in each color.
Making origami accessible through text-based tutorials.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, November 2025
This text copyright 2025 by accessorigami.com
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