The Origami Forum

Hello I am trying to make Chatty Birds from Margaret van Sicklen's calendar. I have done some origami, and find I can generally follow instructions, but I just can't get step 4 to 5. Help!

Welcome to the forum!
Could you be more specific? How does it say that you should fold step 4? Perhaps give a link to a picture of the model. I haven't heard of a chatty bird.
Oh and this should be in the diagrams and CPs section.

I have also the same question, so if GrossMichael can help us... one photo is found here http://smilingbagel.com/2013/08/16/my-d ... t-16-2013/

You just have to make two rabbitt ears without flattening them, turn the sheet over and bring the two tips together by using the crease that already exists in the middle.

I moved the topic to the correct section.

The diagram is wrong. No idea who approved of such a diagram for a beginner calendar but well.
The diagram obviously calls for letter paper and not A4, but even with letter it doesn't work like shown. The angle on the top and bottom middle of the paper between the left and right rabbit ear has to be at least 60 degrees if the corners shall not overlap, a bit more (63° or so) if there shall be a little gap like in the picture of the finished model. To achieve this bigger angle you have to move the crossing points outwards a bit into the area where the flaps from step 3 are. Another possibility would be to start with a wider paper 14x22.5cm should work.

What I recommend you to do in step 4 (using a rectangle with a rectangle with an aspect ratio of at least 1:1.5) is
1. Fold the paper upper side of the model down along the existing middle crease.
2. Bring the rightmost point to the leftmost point and make a small pinch on the bottom of the paper then unfold.
3. bring the right side up through the pinch just made, but don't make a crease yet.
4. Bring the left side up through the pinch too and shift the sides until they overlap on the bottom but have a small gap between them on the upper side.
5. When you achieved this make sharp creases on both sides.
6. Unfold to where you started and make the rabbit ears along the existing Creases.