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Here are a few of my origami creations.

A few years ago, I asked Joe what he wanted for Christmas.

"Oh, a dodecahedron," he replied helpfully.

Great. Where was I supposed to find a dodecahedron? Internet to the rescue!

It turns out that you can actually make dodecahedrons, tetrahedrons, cubes, and all kinds of other geometric shapes using origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding.

I found some simple instructions for a dodecahedron and I was off to the races. I bought packs of square origami paper and books on geometric origami. I scoured the internet for diagrams and instructions. I folded and folded and folded. I particularly enjoy folding origami boxes and using them as unique gift boxes for friends and family. I finally realized that I had found a whole new hobby

It's great fun to take sheets of paper and turn them into beautiful shapes. I think you and your kids will have just as much fun as I do.

Not only can you make wild combinations of shapes, you can also make wonderful animals from paper, such as cranes, frogs, birds, and more. The basic folds are simple - school-age kids and tweens can easily master beginner's projects. Pretty soon you'll have a paper menagerie in your house!

Here's a great resource for online origami diagrams, from beginner to advanced. The great folks over at Klutz also have a kit specifically for kids. So if you're looking for something to do with the kids on a rainy day, grab some paper and start folding!