How to make an origami bell
Origami Bell: try all 10 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
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.
- You need
- One square of gold, red or green origami paper. Ribbon and tape to hang it. No scissors.
- Start
- Use gold, red or green paper. Start white side up with one corner pointing up.
- Tips
- Fold only the point itself when you make the clapper; the rest of the bell stays flat.
- Keep the rim band thin, so the side corners stick out as the bell's lip.
Your model is ready
Press the bell flat. Tape a loop of ribbon to the back of the crown to hang it on the tree, or glue it onto a card. The finished bell, hanging upright with its clapper below the rim.
Step-by-step diagrams
- 1
Crease up and down
Fold the left corner to the right corner, press, and open.
- 2
Fold the left side in
Fold the upper left edge to the middle crease.
- 3
Fold the right side in
Fold the upper right edge to the middle crease to match. The paper is a kite with its long point up.
- 4
Fold the bottom behind
Fold the white bottom corner behind, along a level line a little below the kite's side corners. A thin white band stays in front as the rim of the bell.
- 5
Turn over
Turn the paper over from side to side. The point you folded behind lies on top.
- 6
Fold the clapper down
Fold the tip of that point back down, so it pokes out below the bottom edge. This point is the clapper.
- 7
Turn back over
Turn the bell back over. The clapper hangs below the middle of the rim.
- 8
Fold the crown behind
Fold the top point behind, about a third of the way down to the rim, so the bell has a flat top.
- 9
Round the left shoulder
Fold the top left corner behind a little.
- 10
Round the right shoulder
Fold the top right corner behind to match. The top of the bell is now round.
- ✓
Finish
Press the bell flat. Tape a loop of ribbon to the back of the crown to hang it on the tree, or glue it onto a card. The finished bell, hanging upright with its clapper below the rim.
Fold next
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.
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.
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.
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.