Easy origami
Easy origami: browse 175 models with the shortest folds first. Simple origami and beginner groups. Open 3D lessons and print the full step diagrams.
Origami for preschoolers
Fold along with a young child, one move at a time. These models take 7 moves or fewer, and every move can be watched, paused and replayed.
Snowy mountain ↗
An Origami Tutor mountain with a white snowy peak in just two folds, from one square. The very first model for young children.
Candle napkin ↗
The candle napkin fold for a holiday table: a square napkin folded to a triangle and rolled up from one corner into a tall candle whose top ends in a flame-like point.
Noshi ↗
The traditional red-and-white folded wrapper for a noshi, an auspicious Japanese paper decoration attached to celebratory gifts.
Easy sailboat ↗
An Origami Tutor sailboat in three folds: a tall white sail over a colored boat, folded from one square. A first model for young children.
Easy tulip ↗
An Origami Tutor tulip flower in three folds from one square, the first flower for young children. Add a stem with the <a href="/origami/simple-tulip">simple tulip</a>.
Ice cream cone ↗
An Origami Tutor ice cream cone in three folds: a white scoop on a colored cone, folded from one square. A quick first model for young children.
Gem ↗
An Origami Tutor gem in three folds: a sparkling cut diamond shape with a flat top and a long point, folded from one square. A quick first model for young children.
Money envelope ↗
A flat envelope for a gift of money, folded from one square of paper. A deep pocket holds banknotes lying flat, and the flap tucks inside and two folded sides close the ends.
Santa hat ↗
An Origami Tutor Santa hat for young children: a red hat with a white brim and a floppy tip, folded flat from one square in four folds. A Christmas card decoration.
Easy kite ↗
An Origami Tutor kite for young children, folded from one square in three folds. Draw the cross sticks and tie on a string and a tail of paper bows.
Cutlery pocket napkin ↗
An Origami Tutor cutlery pocket with a deep front flap and a clearly open, hemmed mouth. The sides fold behind first, then the lower end folds up into a tall sleeve.
Dog face ↗
Fold floppy ears and a little muzzle, then give your paper dog a face.
Envelope ↗
A square-sheet envelope with overlapping side pockets and a triangular closing flap.
Hakama trousers ↗
A flat pair of broad paper trousers with a folded waistband, two separate legs and turned-up cuffs. This Origami Tutor cut-and-fold design uses one square; it is our paper-doll adaptation rather than the traditional triple-blintz hakama sequence.
Bat ↗
An original Origami Tutor cut-and-fold bat with two pointed ears, matching scalloped wings and a narrow pointed body. Its middle fold gives the wings a shallow V.
Easy heart ↗
An Origami Tutor heart in three main folds for young children: fold the square in half, then fold each half up across the middle so its corner becomes a lobe. Two small folds round the lobes. The whole heart shows the colored side.
Pocket heart ↗
An Origami Tutor two-color heart with a pocket across its front: slip a folded note or a gift card in behind the colored pocket. Five folds and no glue.
Easy house ↗
An Origami Tutor house for young children: a colored pointed roof on white walls, folded from one square in five folds. Draw a door and windows on it.
Pencil ↗
An Origami Tutor pencil for young children: a long colored pencil with a white sharpened point, folded from one square in five folds.
Cup ↗
The old folded paper cup: a few folds and it holds water for a quick drink.
House ↗
The traditional flat house from Froebel's paper folding, with a long roof and two gate pockets.
Cat face ↗
A traditional triangle cat head with two pointed ears and a straight forehead.
Fox face ↗
The traditional pointed fox face, recorded in Japan in 1878, with two tall ears.
Tulip stem ↗
A flat Origami Tutor flower stem with a long pointed leaf branching upward from its base. Six ordinary folds turn one green square into a stalk and leaf. No cuts or glue.
Rabbit face ↗
An Origami Tutor bunny face with two tall ears, folded from one square in five easy folds. A thin band along the bottom edge turns into the ears.
Easy tree ↗
An Origami Tutor fir tree for young children: a tall green triangle on a short trunk, folded from one square in five folds. No cuts or glue.
Easy fish ↗
An Origami Tutor fish for young children: a smooth diamond body and a smaller forked tail. Make five folds, then turn it over to show the body. No cuts or glue.
Owl face ↗
An Origami Tutor owl face with a deeper, broad head, short pointed tufts and two big round eyes drawn with a pen, folded from one square.
Square card envelope ↗
An Origami Tutor square envelope for a greeting card: four corners fold over the card and the last point tucks under the bottom one, so it stays shut without glue.
Christmas stocking ↗
An Origami Tutor Christmas stocking: a red stocking with a white cuff, a sloping heel and a round toe, folded flat from one square. Hang it on the tree or slip a gift tag inside.
Cup and saucer ↗
Fold a traditional flat cup and saucer with a doubled rim. Turn it upside down to see the Japanese house.
Carp ↗
An Origami Tutor carp with a long flat side, blunt snout, folded side fin and narrow upturned tail. Fold one square, then draw its eye, gill and a few scales.
Carrier pigeon glider ↗
The traditional carrier pigeon glider: a short folded nose and two broad wings. It is a flier, not the standing bird of the origami pigeon lesson.
Witch hat ↗
Fold the traditional flat witch’s hat from one square. Two corner folds form the pointed crown, while the doubled lower band makes a broad brim. This is a flat paper decoration.
More easy origami
Up to 12 moves each, still the same easy level.
Gate-fold card ↗
A folded card whose two doors meet in the middle and swing open like gates, from one 20 × 14 cm sheet. Good for thank-you notes, invitations and gifts, with a wide inside to write or glue a picture on.
Boomerang ↗
A three-blade boomerang cut from one hexagon of card. Three curved cuts leave three blades, each with a rounded leading edge, joined at a small hub.
Hexaflexagon ↗
A strip of ten triangles folds into a flat hexagon that can be flexed to show a different face. Fold every third line, then glue the last triangle to the first.
Necktie ↗
A small paper necktie folded from one narrow rectangle, with a pointed tail and a narrow knot. Tie it to a Father's Day gift as a tag, or glue it on a card. An Origami Tutor design.
Heart window card ↗
An Origami Tutor Valentine card with a heart window: a red cover is folded in half, cut with half a heart along the fold and opened, then glued on the front of a pink folded card, so the heart shows the pink beneath.
Phone stand ↗
An Origami Tutor phone cradle folded from one rectangle. Equal rear panels meet above a short base to make a triangular brace. The final fold raises the front lip. No cuts, glue or separate display phone are used.
Red envelope ↗
A slim Lunar New Year red envelope folded from a single strip of paper: a deep pocket for the gift, folded sides and a pointed flap that closes it. No glue or scissors.
Easy puppy ↗
An Origami Tutor sitting puppy for young children: a dog face with floppy ears on a triangle body, from two squares and a dab of glue.
Letter paper envelope ↗
An Origami Tutor mailing envelope folded from one sheet of letter paper, with hemmed sides and a pointed closing flap. It holds a letter folded in quarters and needs no glue or scissors.
Secret note fold ↗
An Origami Tutor way to fold a note the way notes are passed in class: a letter sheet folds into a long strip, both ends become points, and the bottom flap folds over the top point to close a small 2 × 4 in packet.
Carrot ↗
An Origami Tutor carrot in two pieces: an orange root with a flat top and a long point, and a green top with three leaves. Both fold from plain squares with simple valley folds, and a dab of glue joins them.
Mini book ↗
A pocket-sized book with eight pages and a cover from one sheet of letter paper. One short cut and a few pleats, with no glue or staples.
Easy paper airplane ↗
An Origami Tutor paper airplane with the fewest folds: two corners, one fold in half and two wings. A good first plane for kids, with broad wings that glide gently.
Hoop glider ↗
An Origami Tutor hoop glider made all of paper: a small hoop and a large hoop joined by a paper stick, cut from one sheet. Throw it gently, small hoop first, and it glides straight.
Canard-delta plane ↗
An Origami Tutor canard-delta paper airplane: a large triangular delta wing at the back and a small delta canard ahead of it, cut out of one sheet. Both pairs open above a narrow keel. Flight performance has not been tested.
Forward-swept plane ↗
An Origami Tutor forward-swept paper airplane: a long, slim nose and wings set far back whose tips reach forward of their roots. Cut from one sheet and opened above a narrow keel. Flight performance has not been tested.
Easy kitten ↗
An Origami Tutor sitting kitten for young children: a cat face with pointed ears on a triangle body, from two squares and a dab of glue.
Candle ↗
An Origami Tutor Christmas candle for young children: a tall red candle with a band of white wax, folded from one square in three folds, and a pointed orange flame folded from a small square.
Heart ↗
This heart stays flat, so it fits inside a greeting card or on the front of a folded note. The colored side makes the face; small folds hidden behind the left edge, right edge and two top tips soften the outline.
Simple crow ↗
The traditional simple crow: a long kite-shaped body and a short beak folded over its head.
Propeller ↗
An Origami Tutor design for the paper propeller: a doubled strip with a weighted stem and two diagonally creased blades that catch the air and spin as it falls.
Paper Christmas tree ↗
An accordion Christmas tree with a pointed top, broad base and six pleated panels. Cut a triangle from a green rectangle, fold the pleats and open them into a zigzag decoration.
Tiger face ↗
An Origami Tutor tiger face with short flat-topped ears, a broad orange face and bold pen stripes. Folded from one square without cuts.
Two-piece fish ↗
An Origami Tutor fish in two pieces: a kite-shaped body with a white face and a narrow waist, and a small forked tail that joins it there. Simple valley and mountain folds; a dab of glue holds the tail on.
Easter egg ↗
An Origami Tutor flat Easter egg from one square: the points and corners of a diamond fold behind it to round it into an egg, ready to decorate with stripes, dots and zigzags.
Triangle box ↗
A triangular prism gift box from one sheet of card: cut a strip of three walls with a triangle on each end of the middle wall, crease it, and fold it into a box with a triangular end.
Hexagon box ↗
A six-sided box from one strip of card: six walls in a row, each with a triangle hanging from its bottom edge. Curl the walls into a ring and fold the triangles in to make the floor.
Paper glider ↗
An Origami Tutor paper glider with a blunt nose and broad, straight-tipped wings. Thrown gently, it floats slowly across the room instead of darting.
Sea glider ↗
An Origami Tutor sea glider: a broad rectangular wing with its front edge rolled into a thick band. It drifts down slowly and floats a long way on a gentle push.
Stealth plane ↗
An Origami Tutor flying wing: a wide, tailless delta cut from a sheet turned sideways, with a V notch in the back edge. It glides smooth and flat.
Bear face ↗
An Origami Tutor bear face with two short, flat-topped ears and a blunt chin, folded from one square of brown paper.
Easter bunny ↗
An Origami Tutor Easter bunny sitting up: a rabbit face with two tall ears on a triangle body, from two squares and a dab of glue.
Paper airplane ↗
The classic dart: a sheet of letter paper, a sharp nose and two wings, ready to fly across the room.
Paper banger ↗
The traditional single-pocket paper popper: fold a long rectangle into a triangle that pops when snapped downward.
Basic box ↗
A rectangular tray with two broad folded rims. This Origami Tutor sequence opens the traditional basic-box shape while keeping its floor flat.
Goldfish ↗
An Origami Tutor goldfish with a small white face, a broad orange body and a large forked fan tail. Fold two squares, then glue the tail behind the narrow waist.
Flounder ↗
An Origami Tutor flatfish with a broad flat body, blunt snout, small forked tail and two eyes on one face. Our own flounder design, folded from one square without cuts or glue.
Windmill ↗
Fold the traditional uncut, single-color pinwheel with four flat blades from one square.
Double boat ↗
The traditional catamaran: two connected paper hulls, pictured in 1832. The finished model opens into two connected parallel hulls.
Leaf ↗
An Origami Tutor leaf: a long pointed shape with a middle vein and three pairs of side veins. Fold one square with kite folds; no cuts or glue.
Shirt and tie card ↗
A card for Father's Day folded into a shirt: a V neck cut at the top, two white collar flaps folded down and a red tie glued below the neck. An Origami Tutor design with our own measurements.
Letter paper box ↗
A deep rectangular box folded from one uncut sheet of letter paper, with narrow rims at both ends. This Origami Tutor sequence opens the traditional basic-box shape without cutting or glue.
Pyramid box ↗
A square pyramid gift box from one square of card. Cut away four notches to leave a star of four triangles round a square floor, crease the floor's edges, and lean the triangles in until their points meet.
Card holder ↗
A desk holder for business cards, cut from one sheet of card. A tall back wall, a low front wall and sloping side walls make an open tray where the cards lean and show.
Delta wing plane ↗
An Origami Tutor delta-wing paper airplane, also called an arrow or stealth plane: a sharp nose and two wide triangular wings over a shallow keel. It flies fast and steady.
Square-nose glider ↗
An Origami Tutor square-nosed glider, a hammer-style plane: the nose is folded back on itself into a thick, straight band, and broad wings spread behind it. It glides slow and steady.
Sailplane ↗
An Origami Tutor sailplane: two long, shallow wings with a folded front edge, clipped tips and a weighted nose. Launched gently, it floats a long way on its wide span.
Pig face ↗
An Origami Tutor pig face with two small floppy ears, broad cheeks and a folded snout, folded from one square of pink paper.
Ghost ↗
An Origami Tutor ghost for Halloween: a round white head and a wavy sheet with three points hanging below. Fold one square of white paper and draw the face.
Paper knife ↗
An Origami Tutor paper kitchen knife with a broad single-edged blade, a deep heel and a short dark handle. Fold two paper pieces and glue their overlap to make a flat knife about 22 cm long for a paper kitchen or picture.
Sakura ↗
Fold a pink square into a narrow five-part packet, cut one rounded petal outline and unfold a sakura blossom with five notched petals. This traditional fold-and-cut version uses one sheet and scissors, with no glue or separate flower pieces.
Chopstick holder ↗
A flat chopstick sleeve folded from one square. The folded corners make a sloping mouth, the long sides overlap around the pocket, and a short fold closes the bottom. The finished sleeve covers the chopstick ends.
Corner bookmark ↗
Make a folded pocket that slips over the corner of your book page.
Cicada ↗
The traditional helmet-base cicada, with two long wings and a white V below its head.
Christmas tree ↗
An Origami Tutor Christmas tree with three stepped tiers and a short trunk. Folded from one square of green paper with a kite fold and two pleats; no cuts or glue.
Elephant face ↗
An Origami Tutor elephant face with a broad forehead, two wide ears and one long trunk with a small folded tip. Fold one square without cuts, then draw the eyes.
Parrot ↗
An Origami Tutor parrot with a broad pale head, a hooked beak and a long pleated tail. Fold a perched bird from one square without cuts or glue.
Distance dart ↗
An Origami Tutor distance dart: a slim dart whose point is folded down to lock the nose folds, so the weight sits up front and the nose stays shut on a hard, long throw.
Stunt plane ↗
An Origami Tutor stunt plane with up-turned wingtips: broad wings with a winglet standing at each end. Bend the back edges of its wings up and it loops the loop.
Helicopter ↗
A cut-and-fold paper helicopter with two wide blades and a narrow weighted body. This Origami Tutor version of the classroom whirligig uses one strip of printer paper. Let it drop and watch it spin.
Rocket ↗
An Origami Tutor cut-and-fold rocket from one letter sheet, with a pointed nose, an open V-shaped body, two small swept fins and a pen-drawn porthole.
Loop plane ↗
An Origami Tutor loop plane with a folded elevator flap on the back of each wing. Thrown up and forward, it climbs, loops over and curves back toward you.
Winglet glider ↗
An Origami Tutor glider with upturned winglets: a long nose, tapered wings and a small panel standing straight up at each wingtip, cut from one sheet turned sideways.
Wide-tail glider ↗
An Origami Tutor locked glider with a wide tail: a pointed nose locked shut, a main wing and a wide tailplane on a slim body, cut from one sheet. It glides long and straight.
Red packet fish ↗
An Origami Tutor red packet fish with a pointed head, a narrow waist and a pleated fan tail. Fold two red pieces and glue their small overlap together.
Bell ↗
An Origami Tutor Christmas bell: a gold or red bell with a flat crown, a flared lip, a white rim and a clapper hanging below. Folded flat from one square; a quick ornament for the tree or a card.
Cross ↗
Make a flat Latin cross with three short arms and a clearly longer lower stem. Fold one square in half, prepare the traditional one-cut cross packet, make one straight scissors cut and open the last three folds. Keep the first fold closed. No glue.
Bed ↗
An Origami Tutor cut-paper bed with a raised headboard and footboard, two long supports and a white paper pillow.
Samurai helmet ↗
The traditional Japanese paper helmet, with two short horns and a white folded brim.
Pigeon ↗
The classic origami pigeon, listed as a traditional model: a pointed head, a wedge body, a tail point and two wings that stand up.
Sailboat ↗
The traditional two-sail boat recorded in 1910, with an integral stand folded beneath its hull.
Boat with a sail ↗
The traditional single-sail trick boat, pictured in 1832. Its sail and hull come from the same opened windmill base.
Dollar heart ↗
A small two-sided heart folded from one dollar bill, with no cuts and no glue. Fold the bill into a square, turn it onto a corner and shape the heart.
Dollar shirt ↗
An Origami Tutor dollar shirt with a compact body, two flared sleeves and a folded collar. Fold one end behind to shorten the body, then form the shirt from a lengthwise band. No cuts or glue.
Gift bag ↗
A small gift bag made from one rectangle of paper with no cuts: hem the mouth, wrap the paper once round into a tube, and close the bottom the gift-wrap way, with neat pleats at its corners.
Paper cube ↗
A hollow cube from one rectangle of paper: cut away six of its twelve squares, crease the rest, and fold them up into a 3 in cube with a lid.
Paper jet ↗
An Origami Tutor paper jet shaped like a fighter: a sharp nose, swept wings and a small tailplane on each side, cut apart by a notch in the back of each side. It flies fast and straight.
Bulldog dart ↗
An Origami Tutor bulldog dart: a blunt, heavy nose and two narrow wings. The weight sits up front, so it flies straight and carries a long way on a firm throw.
Arrow plane ↗
An Origami Tutor arrow plane: a long, slim body with a needle point and two short wings. It is quick to fold, stiff in the hand and flies fast and straight.
Easy crown ↗
An Origami Tutor cut-paper crown with six points on an open band. This small crown is a display decoration.
Christmas tree napkin ↗
The Christmas tree napkin fold for a holiday table: a square napkin folded in quarters, its loose corners stepped up into four tiers and its sides tucked behind into a tall tree.
Snowman ↗
An Origami Tutor snowman for young children: a round white body and head from two squares with their corners folded behind, and a pointed red hat folded from a small square. A Christmas card decoration.
Printer's hat ↗
An Origami Tutor box-crowned paper cap with four squared sides and a folded lower band. Make a small hat from letter paper, or use a larger rectangle with the same proportions.
Butterfly ↗
An Origami Tutor butterfly with broad forewings, pointed hind wings and a short folded body, opened along the middle into a shallow V. Folded from one square without cuts or glue.
Simple tulip ↗
An Origami Tutor tulip in two pieces: a smaller red flower with three upright petal points, and a tall green stem with a long upward leaf. Folded from two squares with simple folds; the stem tucks in behind the flower, and a dab of glue holds it.
Wrapped present ↗
Wrap a rectangular gift box in one sheet of paper with no cuts: bring the paper round the box so its edges overlap on the lid, then close each end the classic way, pushing in the sides so the corners pleat into neat triangles and folding the lid and floor flaps over them.
House box ↗
A little house for one gift, such as a treat for an advent calendar. Cut a cross from one sheet of card, crease it, and fold it into a box with four walls, two gables and a roof that lifts like a lid.
Hinged lid box ↗
A rectangular gift box with a lid that stays attached, cut from one sheet of card. Glue tabs on the side walls fold round onto the front and back walls, so the box holds its shape.
Canard plane ↗
An Origami Tutor cut-and-fold canard plane with small swept front wings and broad rear wings. Both pairs open at the same height above a shallow keel, with a clear gap between them. Flight performance has not been tested.
Fin jet ↗
An Origami Tutor paper jet with broad delta wings starting close behind its pointed nose and a compact upright tail fin. The fin is cut from a small second piece and glued to the tail. Flight performance has not been tested.
Heart envelope ↗
An Origami Tutor envelope for a love letter: four corners fold over a card, the last point tucks under the first, and a small red heart folded from a second square seals the middle.
Longer easy folds
Still rated Easy, with 13 moves or more. Take them one move at a time.
Picture frame ↗
Fold a square picture frame with four colored border lips around a white picture area. The corner folds hold the border overlaps on the back, leaving the front ready for a small photo or drawing.
Kimono ↗
An Origami Tutor kimono ornament with wide hanging sleeves, a pale folded collar, a long robe and a contrasting obi. Fold three pieces and glue them together for a flat display.
Thank-you window card ↗
An Origami Tutor thank-you card with two opening shutters and a red heart visible through the window. The back stays uncut, with room to write your message around the heart.
Basket with handle ↗
A small gift basket with an arched handle, cut from one sheet of card. Cut a cross for the box, leave a narrow strip hanging from one wall, and bend it into an arch that lands on the opposite wall.
Harrier glider ↗
An Origami Tutor Harrier-style glider: wide wings with raked tips and a sharp nose locked shut from behind. Thrown smoothly, it glides long and level.
Pumpkin ↗
An Origami Tutor pumpkin for Halloween: a round orange body with a small stem on top, folded from one square of orange paper. No cuts or glue.
Newspaper hat ↗
The folded paper hat from a sheet of newspaper: a peak, a brim, and it fits a child's head from a full newspaper page.
Whale ↗
A two-piece Origami Tutor whale with a blunt head, a broad back and two wide flukes on a raised tail. Fold a large square for the body and a smaller matching square for the flukes, then glue their overlap.
Penguin ↗
An Origami Tutor penguin: a flat penguin seen from the front, with a tapered body, white chest, spread dark flippers and a pointed beak. Folded from one square without cuts.
Lucky star ↗
The lucky paper star (origami wishing star) folded from one long strip: tie a loose knot and flatten it into a pentagon, wrap the strip around the pentagon until it runs out, fold the end over and pinch the five edges so the star puffs up. An Origami Tutor sequence after the traditional star.
Diagonal gift wrap ↗
A diagonal gift wrap in the Japanese style, with no scissors or cuts: set it square on a sheet turned corner up, raise the paper up its sides so each box corner pinches into a neat pleat, press the pleats flat, and fold the four corners over the lid to meet in the middle.
Chick ↗
An Origami Tutor Easter chick in four pieces: a round yellow body folded from a square, a small orange beak and two little wings, each folded in half to a triangle. A few dabs of glue hold them on.
Paper sword ↗
An Origami Tutor paper sword with a long pointed blade, a straight crossguard and a contrasting grip. Three pieces fold into flat strips and join with a little glue, making a sword about 26 cm long for a paper display or costume decoration.
Fortune teller ↗
A fortune teller, or cootie catcher, is a paper choosing game worked by two thumbs and two forefingers. Two rounds of corner folds make the pockets; the last creases let them open in alternating directions.
Heart with wings ↗
An Origami Tutor winged heart in three pieces: a red heart folded from a square in five easy folds, and two pointed wings folded from smaller squares. A dab of glue sets the wings behind the heart.
Exploding box ↗
A gift box that bursts open when the lid is lifted. Cut one sheet into a cross, crease it, and fold it into a closed box with a lid; the four walls then fall open flat around the floor.
Santa face ↗
An Origami Tutor Santa face from four squares: a round face, a red hat with a white pompom and a long white beard. Draw the eyes and nose to finish it. A Christmas card decoration.
Turtle ↗
The common cut turtle with four pointed feet, a small head and tail, and a colored shell. One slit divides the rear feet while leaving the shell underneath whole.
Heart bookmark ↗
An Origami Tutor corner bookmark with a heart on its front: a small pink pocket folds over the corner of a page, and a red heart folded from a smaller square is glued on top.
Star ornament ↗
A flat five-pointed star ornament woven from five identical bars, each one square folded in half three times. The bars cross in the star's five lines and every point is hooked shut, so the star holds without glue and has a gap at each point to take a thread.
Caterpillar ↗
An Origami Tutor caterpillar folded from one long rectangle. The body rises into six accordion humps, and the same sheet continues into the flat head. Two corner folds blunt the nose. Only two small eye dots are drawn; there are no separate face pieces or antennae.
Flat kite ↗
An Origami Tutor display kite with a long pointed outline and a small contrasting diamond, folded from one square without cuts or glue.
Heart ring ↗
An Origami Tutor ring in two pieces: a narrow folded band closes into a loop, then a small red heart glues to its outside. The band and heart both stay folded while you assemble them.
Modular wreath ↗
A wreath of eight identical units, each one square folded once into a bar. The bars overlap round an octagon, and each one hooks its pointed end behind the next, so the ring holds together without glue.
Six-pointed star ↗
A six-pointed star made of six identical bars, each one square folded in half three times. The bars cross as two triangles, and every point is closed with a hooked end, so the star needs no glue.
Pyramidal hat ↗
The old pointed paper hat: a newspaper-hat pocket, flattened into a diamond and folded into a smaller triangle.
Paper lantern ↗
The traditional flat paper lantern, with a wide middle and two rectangular ends. The same fold was called a muff or short-sleeved shirt in European kindergarten books.
Spinning top ↗
Two windmills of different colors, laid one on the other and turned an eighth of a circle, make an eight-bladed spinner. Pinch the middle and twirl it.
Letter paper box lid ↗
An Origami Tutor lid that fits over the rectangular box from letter paper. It is folded from a second letter sheet of the same size, measured so its floor is a little larger than the box's. Together they make a box with a lid from two sheets of printer paper, with no scissors and no glue.
Angel ↗
An Origami Tutor angel ornament with a long gold gown, a separate rounded head and two large white wings spreading from the shoulders. Fold four squares and glue their overlapping parts together.
Yakko-san ↗
The traditional Japanese paper figure: a pointed head, two broad sleeves and a short lower flap, made from alternating corner folds.
Water lily ↗
An Origami Tutor water lily: four white-lined petals raised in a cup inside eight green points. Folded from one square with a blintz on each side; no cuts or glue.
Angel ornament ↗
An Origami Tutor Christmas angel from five squares: a tall gold gown with a white hem, two white wings behind the shoulders, a round head and a gold halo. Hang it on the tree or top a card.
Paper boat ↗
The traditional paper boat, folded from a rectangle through a newspaper hat and two pockets.
Ninja star ↗
The traditional four-point shuriken uses two mirrored folded units. The two units cross and lock with four folded points.
Dragon puppet ↗
An Origami Tutor paper dragon puppet: an accordion body that opens into a zigzag, and a separate head, cut to a horned profile with a long snout and an open mouth, with a folded chin strip to hold the cheeks apart, glued onto the neck. Draw an eye on each side of the head.
Masu box ↗
Fold the traditional square masu box, with upright walls and both end flaps locked onto the floor.
Witch's ladder ↗
The traditional springy paper ladder, woven by folding two crossed strips over each other.
Fidget spinner ↗
An Origami Tutor balance spinner with three distinct folded arms and an octagonal center cap. The arms are glued together at the hub; balance the center on a fingertip to turn it.
Piano ↗
An Origami Tutor paper piano using a house-base fold, a raised white keyboard and nine small black paper keys.
Heart butterfly ↗
An Origami Tutor butterfly whose wings are four hearts: two large hearts above and two small ones below, set point to point round the middle, with a thin dark body folded from a fifth square down the center.
Christmas wreath with bow ↗
A Christmas wreath of eight green bars hooked into a ring, with a red bow on top. The bow is two triangular loops and a small knot, each folded from its own square.
Star ↗
An Origami Tutor eight-pointed star made from eight equal folded triangles. Every gold point is long and sharp, with a deep notch between its neighbours. Three folds make each ray; a little glue holds their overlapping bases together.
Christmas star ↗
An Origami Tutor Christmas star with eight wide points: four long gold rays and four shorter white rays between them round a gold middle. Each ray is a triangle folded from a small square in three folds.
Heart flower ↗
An Origami Tutor flower of five small hearts set around a yellow centre, so each heart is a notched petal, like a cherry blossom. Each heart takes five easy folds; the folded yellow centre overlaps the points and glue joins every petal to it.
Flower ↗
An Origami Tutor flower with six broad pink petals around a yellow centre. Fold each square into a blunt kite, join its point to the folded centre with a little glue, then lift the petals into a shallow blossom.
Gift box ↗
A two-piece gift box: a traditional masu box and a matching lid folded from a square a quarter inch larger, so the lid slides over the box. No scissors or glue.
Masu lid ↗
A matching masu box and lid. Fold the same pattern from two different-sized squares, then turn the larger tray over and fit it onto the smaller box.
Daisy ↗
An Origami Tutor daisy of eight long, thin white petals round a yellow middle. Each petal is a narrow kite with a blunt tip, five easy folds. The small yellow centre overlaps every petal point, and eight glue patches join the flower.
Snowflake ↗
An Origami Tutor snowflake of six long, thin points round a white middle. Each point is a narrow kite folded from a small square in seven easy folds. Twelve smaller narrow kites make the side branches; a small folded white cap covers the joined ends.
Keep exploring
All origami models
Browse all 237 3D origami lessons across Easy, Medium and Hard.
26 plane designsPaper airplanes
Fold classic darts, distance gliders and printable flight templates.
Diagram referenceSymbols & bases
Learn valley folds, mountain creases and traditional origami bases.
Preparation guideSquare paper
Trim any A4 or US Letter sheet into a clean folding square.