Valentine’s Origami: A Picture Frame with a Heart
Like I said yesterday, here is another origami model suitable for Valentine’s Day: a picture frame with a stand in the shape of a heart. Whereas yesterday’s simple heart was probably more useful for impressing someone, this model can function as a gift on its own. Include a picture of good times in the front, or use the space to include a hand-written note.
I halfway learned this model and improvised the other half. So I don’t think you’ll find anything exactly like it on the internet.
I would grade this model as intermediate, which means that it is not suitable for people just starting out in origami. Or rather, shall we say, it will not at all be easy for people with little to no origami experience. So don’t kid yourself – the squash folds can be complicated.
Let’s get started.
Start with one sheet of A4 paper.
Fold it in half vertically and unfold.
Fold the edges to the centre line and unfold.
Fold the bottom corners to lie on the quarter-lines.
Fold over the sides to lie on the centre line again.
Fold along the top of the triangle of lines that has appeared at the bottom of the model. Unfold.
Fold up the right corner to lie on the line that you just folded in the last step. Unfold and repeat with the left.
Your model will now look like this.
Insert your finger underneath the right flap at the bottom, while simultaneously pushing it upwards. This is called squash folding and can be a bit tricky.
Squashing underway…
Folded upwards. Flatten it.
It will now look like this. Repeat on the left so that it will look like the picture below.
Note the heart forming. Fold in the two diagonal lines that run along the heart shape.
Fold the model upwards along the top of those two diagonal lines you just made.
Fold down the triangular tip, letting the heart-shape pop out from the back.
Turn the model so that you are looking at the heart from the back. Note the diagonal line inside a square that runs across its back.
Fold a single layer of paper outwards along that previously noted diagonal line.
Like this.
Repeat on the left.
Whoops, over-exposure there. Sorry about that! Anyway, rotate the model back to its former position, with the heart facing you.
Start flattening the heart down to the surface. As you do this, the sides will pop out diagonally.
Push it all the way to the surface.
Flatten the triangles that formed at the sides.
It will now look like this.
Fold the sides in to lie along the edges of the heart…
… like this.
Fold the sides inwards along the quarter-lines again, while tucking the paper under the heart.
Like this.
Repeat on the left.
Fold the sides in half outward again, to lie on the edges of the model…
… like this.
Fold the entire tail of paper backwards, along the top of the heart shape.
This is what the tail will now look like.
Fold about 1 centimetre of paper upwards at the bottom.
Lift up the left side and start tucking the bottom flap underneath it. This is where it gets tricky again.
A small triangle will form underneath the side. This is another squash fold.
Flatten the side down again.
Tuck the small flap of overhanging paper underneath the model. Repeat the previous steps on the right hand side.
It’s done! This is what the frame-side looks like now! Add a photo or a note!
And you’re done! Congratulations! 
Want more origami for Valentine’s? Check out these great tutorials (click on the pictures):
This origami envelope was posted by Maria on goOrigami.
These winged hearts were also posted by Maria on goOrigami.
Learn how to fold this heart with a pocket that you can insert something into on wikiHow.
This is a wonderfully-shaped heart from Robyn at Origami Fun.
And learn how to fold an origami heart with a stand on Origami Instructions!
Happy folding and Valentine’s Day!
~Elana
Origami Tutorials 
I keep trying, but I can’t seem to figure out that last squash fold. I can make it a triangle like you did, but then when I flatten it and try to fold it under, it doesn’t go smoothly, and behind the fold it’s all crumpled! 😦