Hornbeam leaf

This device cannot show the 3D view. Follow the step pictures and text below instead.

1. 

   1. Fold in half on the midrib

   Coloured side up, with a corner pointing up. The diagonal from the bottom corner to the top corner is the midrib of the leaf. Fold the left corner over to the right corner.

2. 

   2. Fold the tip down

   Imagine 6 lines parallel to the bottom edge that split the triangle into 7 equal strips. Fold the tip down in front along the top line (valley fold).

3. 

   3. Pleat back and forth

   At the next line fold behind (mountain fold), at the one after that in front (valley fold), and so on down to the last line. You get a small, long pleated bundle.

4. 

   4. Open everything

   Unfold the pleats, then open the leaf out flat. Now parallel side veins run out from the midrib on both sides.

5. 

   5. Set the side veins

   Starting at the stalk end, pinch the pairs of side veins gently: valley, mountain, valley, and so on. Each pair makes a V with the midrib.

6. 

   6. Fold it up like a bud

   Slowly push the tip and the stalk end toward each other. The side veins fold deeper and the midrib folds too, mountain and valley in turn. Press it all the way: it becomes a small bundle, like a leaf inside its bud.

7. 

   7. Spring: the leaf opens

   Hold the tip and the stalk end and pull gently: every pleat opens at once. Push and it closes into a bundle again; stop halfway and it looks like a new leaf just out of its bud. Your hornbeam leaf is done!