DIY: Origami winged heart cupcake toppers

I think my favorite memories of Valentine's Day were from when I was a kid in elementary school. Not only did we get to make our own mail boxes for all the valentines we'd get (so fun), but we usually had an array of desserts to feast on at the end of the day. These origami winged heart cupcake toppers are not only fun to make, they remind me of those festive love-themed treats that I enjoyed as a kid.

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

Origami paper in V-day colors and/or patterns, 2 3/4" squares worked well with mini cupcakes. Increase the paper size for standard cupcakes
Toothpicks
Bone folder, if you have one
Low-heat hot glue gun

I learned the origami heart technique from this YouTube video. I took photos of each step to help you with the process, but make sure to watch the video if you're confused by any of the transitions. It may be worthwhile to try the technique with a larger piece of paper first to better understand the folds. Let's get started!

With the pattern or color down, fold the paper square in half, both ways, and unfold.

Fold one side of sheet to the center

Flip over. Fold top corner of each side of sheet to the center line.

Flip over. Fold each side of the paper to the center line, and unfold.

Flip over. Flip the top layer of paper up and flatten. (Check video for more detail)

Fold bottom section up to meet crease line.

Flip the inside flaps out to form the wings. (Check video for more detail)

Fold this flap up, in half, and crease.

The next few steps form fan-type folds in the wings, folding each area you just created in half. It can be tricky to get narrow folds in with such a small piece of paper, so use your bone folder to reinforce the creases.

Fold each corner of the top of the hearts down and to the center.

Fold the heart tops down. Crimp the center of the wings with your fingernail, and flatten and spread out the wing ends.

Flip over. You're done with your winged heart!

To attach to the toothpick, flip over, add a dab of hot glue to the top of the toothpick, and scoot it under the wings.

I added a weight to the top of the hearts and toothpicks while the glue dried, to ensure that they dried flat.

Make a bunch! Add your handmade toppers to a batch of mini cupcakes and they're ready to go to your next Valentine's Day party!

All photos © Casey Starks / Vitamini Handmade