Flying Crane

Begin with the Bird Base (you already knew that), with the
closed edge of the paper down (the point on the bottom of the model
once was the middle of your sheet of paper).

Valley fold the top layer of the paper down. This may seem
strange at first, but it will come naturally soon.

Start the valley fold by slipping your thumb and finger under
the first layer of paper, marking the start and end of the fold.
Push your thumb and finger away from each other, and a crease will
develop. Put your other hand on this crease.

Fold the valley fold, flipping the top corner all the way over
the model. The edges will begin to colapse, and start to meet in
the center.

Get the two edges to meet up, and make a point on the bottom of
the model. Crease the paper flat.

If it all went well, you should have a tall diamond on top of a
square diamond. Flip the model over.

Now you have the same thing you had before you did that strange
valley fold.

Do that strange valley fold again. Slip your fingers under the
first layer of paper, marking the edges of the fold, and flip the
layer over to create a diamond that matches the one you made
before.

If all is will, you have a tall diamond. Turn the right flap
like a page in a book.

Turn the model over, and once again, turn the right flap like a
page in a book.

If the "page turning" doesn't make sense, try this. Close the
top two flaps together, pinching them between your thumb and
finger, and leaving to more flaps behind.

Turn your wrist until your thumb is on top, and flatten the
model.

Valley fold the top flap in half, forming an upside down
triangle.

Crease well, and turn the model over.

Valley fold the remaining flap in half, forming an upside down
triangle again.

As with all good origami, you know you are getting close when it
looks like you haven't done very much. All we have now is an upside
down triangle. Turn it upside down (um, rightside up ?)

Hold the model between your fingers, in the middle. Your crane
is here, it is just hiding.

Talk nicely to it, and pull the head up from between the wings
in the front. The paper will roll and bulge out near the bottom
right, try not to interfere.

Once the head is extended (to taste), flatten that bulge
down.

Now pull the tail out, allowing some bulging and rolling.

Flatten the tail bulge.

To make the crane's head look different from the tail, which is
important for his self esteem, make a valley fold on the neck.

Make a good crease here, and then unfold the head.

Open the neck up a little bit, and push the head between the
layers of paper.

Position the head how you like it, and close the neck. Flatten
and crease well.

All of your folding is complete, and you have a flat paper
crane.

Shape the wings down, and curl them a little bit. Hold the crane
by the chest with one hand, and by the end of the tail with the
other hand.

Pull in opposite directions, and the wings will flap.

Here is my lizard skinned paper cran. I think it looks like a
pterodactyl.

I find that this is a popular toy for entertaining children.
Sometimes handy for distracting a cranky child on an airplane.
Happy Flying.