Design: Lindy van der Merwe/Unknown/Traditional
Text-Only Instructions - Copyright 2025 by Lindy van der Merwe
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Paper to be used: 12 squares of similar size; use large paper to practice with at first.
Thicker paper or thin card stock is strongly recommended.
Note squares of around 10 cm (with no glue) will make a tactile or large print dice that will be large and sturdy enough to use in a game.
Folding level: Easy/Beginner
Steps: 21
Description:
If you have ever wanted to create your own cube or dice, be it for the fun of it, as an ornament or to actually have a dice to play a game with, this tutorial is for you.
Anyone can make and use this dice, of course, but it ends up being robust and big enough so you can add tactile or large print markings to it - no glue or tape needed.
This is a modular origami piece, meaning that it is made up of folded units, which are fitted together to form the finished model.
The model is a three-dimensional closed six-sided cube or dice. It is created by first folding and then combining very simple units, each made up of two squares and then assembling these units by inserting flaps into pockets.
The dice will have a fairly large, smooth surface on each face that can be used to add braille, tactile or large print dots or textured markings (see Step 7 below).
Although the model uses combined pieces and may not seem stable during the assembly, it will be quite sturdy once the last panel is added.
Actually, the combined pieces, due to adding more layers, may be what makes the model sturdy enough to be used as a dice.
Remarks:
This is a great project for those who would like to start making models using modular origami.
It attempts to introduce the basic concepts, methods and phases of folding and assembling a modular origami project.
The units are very easy to fold and assembly is done using a straight, sliding motion.
To use as a box, small objects can be added before the last module is inserted.
The folding and assembly of this dice will make an excellent educational project within many subject areas.
It may be presented as a group or team project and it can be used to make games more inclusive for all.
Of course it will also make an interesting decoration, especially if folded from specialty paper, or use color combinations complementing the season or occasion.
Extra help:
You could try the following to help with assembling this model for the first time.
* You can use something small and heavy, or what I call a "Heavy Helper" and position it on top of the central unit once you have added two units to it. The Heavy Helper will serve to anchor the first three units so that you can work more easily on assembling the rest of the dice.
* Use glue tack, a temporary clay-like adhesive, to help until you can manage without it; no glue is needed to hold your cube together, but it is very helpful when you are learning how to construct modular objects; once you get to know how a model goes together, you will no longer need the glue tack.
* You could make this dice a team project, in which case you will have some helpp with the assembly.
PHASE 1: FOLDING UNITS
This phase is divided into 3 parts:
In Part 1 We will first fold 12 units, using a single fold for each.
Then we will combine the pieces to form 6 units (Part 2).
In Part 3 the units are folded into their final shape.
Part 1 Initial Folding
Step 1
Place a square down with its edges on the left and right, top and bottom.
Step 2
Fold the bottom edge up to meet the top edge.
Crease well and leave folded to form a two-layered rectangle.
Step 3
Follow the steps above to create 11 more units.
Set aside. If preferred, you can place your units under a heavy book so the creases will be settled into place.
Part 2 Combining pieces
In this section, we will combine our 12 pieces to form 6 units.
Step 4
Place your first two rectangles down in portrait orientation, or with their short edges at the top and bottom.
Make sure that unit 1, on the left has its closed hinge fold on the left and unit 2, on the right, should have its closed hinged fold on the right.
Step 5
Open both units slightly and insert the front flap of unit 2 all the way into the two layers of unit 1.
Make sure all edges match.
Result: You will now have a four-layered rectangle with a hinged edge and a single layer of paper on each side.
Step 6
Repeat with the rest of the pieces so you end up with six combined units.
Step 7
Once you have folded your six main units, you can mark each unit in braille, using tactile dots or foam stickers or large dots that are easy to see for those with some sight.
You can even try to use glue dots, stick-on gems or small buttons, or anything tactile you may have at hand.
Place your marks as close as possible to the center on any side of the combined rectangle.
Part 3 - Folding Combined Units
Step 8
Take your first combined unit and turning it with the marked surface facing the table, place it in portrait orientation again.
Step 9
Fold the top edge down to meet the bottom, but try to only make a light crease or pinch only on the sides of the fold.
This will ensure that you do not have crease marks across the outer faces of the dice.
Step 10
Fold the top and bottom edges up and down so they meet each other along the horizontal center at the light crease or pinch you made in the previous step.
Crease and then unfold halfway to form top and bottom flaps that stand at a 90 degree angle in relation to the main square of the unit.
This completes the unit.
Set aside and do not press flat.
Step 11
Follow the steps above to create 5 more units.
The finished unit will have a central square area with two rectangular flaps sticking out on opposite sides.
The tactile or visible markings for the dice should face the table at this time.
PHASE 2: ASSEMBLY
Step 12
Placement and Naming:
It is important to orient each unit exactly as directed. Also, do not turn your model while assembling it as the placement of each unit is described in detail and in order.
12.1 Make sure all 6 units are placed with their smooth, central squares facing the table and their flaps pointing up in the air. Once this has been done, while keeping them face down, set one unit aside for the moment and move the remaining 5 units into a cross formation in front of you on a table as follows:
12.2 Place a unit at the center, mentally naming it as unit 1 or the bottom panel of your cube. Bottom here refers to the side of the dice that is facing the table.
Important: The flaps of unit 1 should be at the top and bottom.
12.3 Then place another unit on the left, mentally numbering it unit 2, followed by a third unit on the right of the first unit, mentally numbering it unit 3.
So, you will have three units in a row now, numbered 2 on the left, 1 at the center and 3 on the right.
Important: Make sure that the 2 units on the left and right have their flaps at the left and right.
12.4 Next, you will place a fourth unit above unit 1 and a fifth below unit 1.
Important: The flaps of these units should also be on the left and right.
12.5
Explanation
Your cross formation will now be complete with the 3 units from left to right and the two you have just added at the top and bottom of unit 1, the central unit.
All will still be with their central squares flat on the table and with the loose flaps arranged as described above.
Now think of your dice as a box with 6 sides. Consider that unit 1 is the panel touching the table, unit 2 and 3 will form the left and right sides of your dice. Units 4 and 5 will form the back and front and the 6th unit will form the top or lid of the dice.
Step 13
Start with unit 1 The square part of the model will lie flat while the flaps will point towards the ceiling.
Step 14
Take unit 2, on the left and tilt it over to the right. Gently open the pocket on the left side of unit 1 and slide the bottom flap of unit 2 inside it as far as it will go.
Unit 2 is now upright, like a wall. Its bottom flap is tucked inside unit 1 and its top flap is hanging in the air. You can bend it a little away from the central square for the moment.
Step 15
Take unit 3, on the right and tilt it over to the left. Gently open the pocket on the right side of unit 1 and slide the bottom flap of unit 3 inside it as far as it will go.
Unit 3 is now upright, like a wall. Its bottom flap is tucked inside unit 1 and its top flap is hanging in the air. You can bend it a little away from the central square for the moment.
You will now have 3 sides or squares loosely in place, namely the bottom, left and right panels of the dice. If using a Heavy Helper, you can now place it on top of the central square to hold these units in place for the moment.
Step 16
Take unit 4 and tilt it towards you so it is upright. Lift it up just a little and slide it down over the flap of unit 1 that will be standing up furthest away from you.
Step 17
Now, insert the flaps of unit 4 into the side pockets of units 2 and 3, respectively.
The face of the dice furthest away from you will now be upright.
Step 18
Take unit 5 and tilt it away from you so it is upright. Lift it up just a little and slide it down over the flap of unit 1 that will be standing up nearest you.
Step 19
Now, insert the flaps of unit 5 into the nearest side pockets of units 2 and 3, respectively.
The face of the dice nearest you will now be upright.
Step 20
It is now time to gently press the sides of the cube together so the panels will rest snug against each other.
Pay special attention to the left and right top edges and that all the flaps are tucked into their corresponding pockets.
Once this has been done, you can gently remove your heavy helper if you have used one.
This is also the time to place something inside the dice if you would like to use it as a container.
If the left and right flaps have been pushed down against the sides of the structure, gently coax them so they will come up to cover the object you put inside. These flaps should sort of hang in the air or form a fake lid at this point, since, in this way, they will help to keep the last unit of the cube in place.
Step 21
Pick up the last unit and place it on the only side that is still open, the top of the dice. First place the unit so the flaps hang on the outside, over the back and front of the dice.
Once you have it oriented, tuck the flaps in on the inside of the dice, under the left and right flaps that are already there.
Start with the flap nearest you and then work with the flap furthest away from you.
Try not to dislodge any of the panels as you do this last step. You can now gently pinch the edges and the corners of the dice or give them a few gentle taps with a forefinger. You want the edges to be neat and crisp, but try not to make any new pinch or crease marks in the process.
Once done, you will find your nifty DIY tactile dice is ready for use.
Making origami accessible through text-based tutorials.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe - May 2025
This text copyright 2025 by accessorigami.com
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