The paper heart is the quiet workhorse of origami—the fold you reach for when a card needs a little something, when a gift topper calls for a pop of red, or when February rolls around and every surface suddenly wants a valentine. What is lovely about this version is how little it asks of you: eight short steps, no tricky sinks, no measuring, just a square of paper and a sequence of folds that snaps into a plump little heart at the end. Keep a stack of red and pink squares nearby and you will never be caught without a token of affection again.

STEP 1.

Fold it in half and make a crease.

STEP 2.

Fold it in half and make a crease.

STEP 3.

Fold it at the position shown in the photo.

STEP 4.

Fold it at the position shown in the photo.

STEP 5.

Fold it up at the position shown in the photo.

STEP 6.

Turn it over.

STEP 7.

Fold it down at the position shown in the photo.

STEP 8.

Turn it over.

Complete!

The heart is complete.