Origami 101 Review and Giveaway

***The giveaway has ended. Scroll down to see who won!***

Some time ago I was contacted by Creative Publishing International about their desire to produce an Origami 101 book. I immediately knew who to recommend for the task, as I've admired Ben Coleman's work ever since featuring his incredible origami bonsai. Lo and behold, later on I learned that Ben had indeed been asked to author the book. Thanks to having been sent a review copy that I've had the chance to examine, I must say he doesn't disappoint!

Origami 101 Review and Giveaway

Any origami anxiety you might be harboring will disappear as you fold your way through all forty seven figures, including a roosting robin, tyrannosaurus rex, flying dragon, swans, star, and tree ornament. Come to think of it, there's time to make an entire Christmas tree full of colorful figures. It would be a great family project, as origami is suitable for school age children as well as adults.

Origami 101

Ben developed a unique "glow-fold" feature for the book that takes the confusion out of typical origami diagrams. The glow-fold shows exactly what surface is going to move during a fold and where it went after it was folded... brilliant! His illustrations also clearly show which edges are open and which are folds, something that has frustrated me in the past as I tried to orient the figure to match up with diagrams.

Origami 101

In addition to the book's clear instructions, a DVD is included that shows Ben's hands folding each figure as he talks us through the steps. It's extremely helpful to be able to pause the disc or back up if you need to see a fold repeated.

Origami 101 penguin

Like the little penguin? I do! He's probably the easiest figure in the book. Then I skipped ahead to the crocus and one of the swans and successfully did them too. I'm positive if I put my mind to it, I'd be able to do every one of Ben's creations - his directions are that precise.

Origami 101 crocus

The book comes with a dozen squares of glow-fold paper, and the DVD contains files you can use to print out as many squares as you like. Ben recommends not using the color shaded paper until a model has been mastered with practice paper, and mentions that he ordinarily uses lighter weight paper than the type provided with the book - regular computer paper is fine.

Can you believe it? Another giveaway!

The publisher has offered to send a copy of Origami 101 to two winners in the U.S., Canada, or the U.K. (I'm very sorry, folks elsewhere.) Leave a comment to enter. Winners will be randomly selected on Saturday evening, December 10, notified via email, and announced on this post and the All Things Paper Facebook page. Good luck!

Ben is offering a 25% off coupon code for the purchase of Origami 101, available in his Etsy shop, Benagami. Use code ORIGAMI101 at checkout.

Congratulations to Elyse and LDH! Their numbers were selected by random.org and they've been notified by email. Thanks so much to all who took the time to enter.
Ann Martin
Ann Martin

This is a short biography of the post author and you can replace it with your own biography.

Comments

  1. I just love origami and I still do!! I just love the way ben used glow-folds!! His creations are amazing...Tx for introducing him...=)

    Kavya
    n.kavya@live.com

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  2. Ooh, this is awesome! I've always really loved origami and this blog.

    Thanks for hosting the giveaway. ^ ^

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  3. I enjoy looking at your blog every day. I am fascinated with all things paper lately. Love origami.

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  4. I love origami, though I haven't tried it in a long time. I know a number of people who will be happy to learn about this book. Thank you for highlighting it, Ann.

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  5. How delightful! This looks "logically" laid out, so would be perfect for ...anybody, really. Love the ducklings on the back cover!

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  6. Cool! I would love to win and learn more origami!

    claire.negus@gmail.com

    ~Claire

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  7. Wonderful info..Lovely origami.Thanks for sharing this info

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  8. Wow, what fun!

    I've always wanted to learn Origami... and the giveaway will be on my birthday! What a present (if I were to win)!

    Thanks!!

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  9. This might help my students to not be so confused! Hope I am picked!
    donnabridy@aol.com

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  10. I would love to win a copy of the book!

    Lisa

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  11. Looks like an amazing book , I love to fold too.

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  12. My boys love to fold!! We'd love to win this book! Thanks for the chance!!

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  13. Looks like a lot of fun. I love origami!

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  14. wow glow-fold sounds like a really good idea for more complicated origami models. count me in :)

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  15. My 8 year old son LOVES origami ... he would be thrilled to get this book!

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  16. My son now 12 loves origami. I have some books, but none have these patterns.

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  17. You have piqued my interest about that glow fold technique. I am definitely going to share this information with the art teacher at my school. Thanks!

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  18. Thank you for sharing. I would love to win a copy of the book.

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  19. This looks awesome! I love origami!

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  20. sounds like this book is a winner for beginners. A DVD would be very helpful since I seem to do better if I can see someone actually doing it. The pictures you've shown here though look quite helpful too

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  21. I've tried and TRIED to do origami and I feel STUPIDLY HOPELESS. This would be an awesome book! Please, include me in the drawing! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

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  22. My dad is a Doctor he makes origami figures to his little patients, and to do origami with my kids
    It would be such a great gift for him
    Thanks for the oportunity
    sra_de_romero(at)yahoo(dot)com.mx

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  23. This book would be a great addition to my library. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  24. My son has just recently discovered origami and this book would be a great source to create more inspiration. Thank you for the giveaway!

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  25. This is such a great book! I love the idea of glow folds. I have such a hard time following other diagrams because I don't know where they are trying to fold to.

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  26. My grand-daughter and I have been trying out origami but we are now a bit stuck! This book looks just what we need! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

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  27. Maybe I could make the little penguin, too? Hope so! What a terrific giveaway!

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  28. I tried my hands at origami several years ago and was discouraged. Your review sounds motivating. Would love to win !
    prachi DOT bora AT gmail DOT com

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  29. Looks wonderful..thanks for the chance to win :)

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  30. i'm a paper-crafter but bad at origami lol i hope this book can help me to learn and love about origami! :)

    email:
    josephine.sutji@hotmail.com

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  31. I would love to win a copy of this book too! :)

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  32. My daughter is beginning to try origami (she's 6) and this would be a great help to both of us! Thanks for giving us the opportunity to win this great book and for inspiring a very young paper crafter :-)

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  33. Looks like a great book to learn from. THanks for the opportunity to win one. Love reading your blog and seeing what you discover for us.

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  34. I love origami and would love this book. Thank you for the opportunity.

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  35. Oh, my goodness... looks like such a great book!

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  36. Being that quilling is a passion of mine, a love of paper comes naturally to me. I have just begun to dabble in orgami and even ran a craft table at our church's Advent Celebration teaching children how to make a star ornament. I would love to have a copy of this book to expand my knowledge.

    Thanks for sharing - the timing is perfect!

    Michele Johnson
    michele.kay@gmail.com

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  37. I'm a dunce when it comes to Orgami! I love all things paper and iris fold, do faux quilting, etc., but for some reason Orgami escapes me - this book sounds like a dream come true...please pick me!!!
    Paper Hugs,
    Jan Castle

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  38. Thank you for the lovely giveaway, I loved origami when I was younger but never collected any books. My niece and nephew are the perfect age to learn and this would be a great project book for the three of us.
    kcarlson1152[at]hotmail.com

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  39. I <3 origami

    maxell144@hotmail.com

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  40. Thank you for hosting the giveaway! The glow-fold illustrating concept sounds like a great idea--I'm looking forward to seeing it.

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  41. Wow, it is such an amazing book, I have been playing paper folding all the years, now I am also teaching kids of grade 1 to grade 6 to do origami, they all love to learn how a paper can be worked into creations with some incredible folds.
    Thanks for the chance to win such a wonderful new book.

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  42. That looks like a good book. I like the idea of having a DVD with all the video instructions in there. And the fact that we could print our own paper is brilliant.

    Elena (UK)
    elena@quillingprojects.com

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  43. This looks doable, I've had trouble with profanity before. Also, saw you the other day on "that's clever" it was fun to watch it again!

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  44. Oh my gosh! Text prediction turned origami into profanity!!!! Sorry!!!!

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  45. So funny, Kim! I've been known to swear at origami sometimes myself. :) How nice to hear That's Clever re-aired the episode.

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  46. Origami is one of my favorite paper art. In fact I have wanted to be an expert in origami forever. This book could add to my skills for sure.
    Thanks. Again trying my luck on a giveaway which I hardly ever get.
    Fingers crossed :-)
    Nimisha

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  47. would love to explore that book!

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  48. I'm an origami addict and have found that watching video tutorials really help me out when I just can't quite figure out a particular step.

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  49. What a fun book. I have a baby brother who would think this was the ultimate. :)
    rae_sunshine4(at)yahoo.com

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  50. Origami is so fun! One of my goals in life is to make 1000 cranes and so far I am up to about 100.. long way to go!

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  51. oh how fun, thanks. count me in!!

    lauren51990 at aol dot com

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  52. What an amazing book, thanks for the giveaway!

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  53. I'd be thrilled to win! I love paper folding and would love to have a book that teaches so many things in one place!thanks for a chance to win!
    And, have a GREAT day!
    kmassmanATgmailDOTcom

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  54. I love the origami flowers...there's just something about them!

    thank you!

    brunettewithblueeyes[@]gmail[.]com

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  55. I'd love to win this for my 10 year old son who has recently developed a fascination for origami!
    welindsey (at) gmail (dot) com

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  56. Love this! Origami is so fun!

    sblake1[at]student[dot]framingham[dot]edu

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  57. This looks such a great book! I'd love to have a go!

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  58. Wow! Looks like a lovely book!! The last time I actually bought an origami book was as a kid.. I just got started all over again recently and I would love to have this book. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Sukanya
    sukanya(dot)doshi(at)gmail(dot)com

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  59. I have always been interested in learning Origami, and now would be the perfect time to start!

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  60. This looks like so much fun!!

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  61. Thank you for hosting this giveaway. I would love to learn how to do Origami.


    serenap95(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  62. My kids and I would love this one - thanks so much for the giveaway!

    Ang
    ang_vaughan at yahoo dot com

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  63. hmm...sixty three entries already and it's only Thursday...maybe I'll get really lucky 'cause I really want to win this one!!

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  64. Great giveaway! I love origami.
    Lost_Star_99 (at) yahoo (d0t) ca

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  65. This is such an unique giveaway. I absolutely love the idea! My current origami instruction book was given to me when I was 8, so I would love to look through and challenge myself to some of these harder figures.
    eddiesoftime (at) gmail (dot) com

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  66. I have been itching to introduce origami to my son and this would be the perfect book to use. Thanks for the opportunity to win it!

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  67. Ooh, the glow-fold looks fascinating. This would be a great gift for my sister-in-law and her 3 kids!

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  68. while I tend to be origami-challenged at the best of times; this book would be a lovely surprise for my ten year old grandson who is very interested in 'craft' projects.

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  69. Origami has always been kind of hard for me. But fun!

    sourlemon14@Hotmail.com

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  70. OMG! They have a T-Rex! I have to have the book so I can make Lachlan a T-Rex! :D

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  71. Oh!! This is awesome!! Maybe I will finally be good at something.

    Elyse Angel
    eangel91@yahoo.com

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  72. Like your blog...long time haven't done origami this book will be great to start again. Thank you

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  73. The giveaway has ended. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, everyone. Your enthusiasm for origami is inspiring!

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  74. Dear Ann,

    I have received my book and already had a great time perusing through it! Thank you for your giveaway!

    Kindly, Lorraine

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