How to make a Minogame origami turtle
Minogame Origami Turtle: try all 24 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor minogame: a turtle with four spread feet, a narrow neck, blunt head and a long trailing seaweed point. Fold the cut turtle and its separate tail, then glue them together.
- You need
- Thin green paper colored on both sides: a 15 cm square and a long triangle about 4.2 × 14.8 cm. Scissors for the feet and neck, a little glue and a pen for the eyes.
- Start
- Use thin green paper colored on both sides. Prepare a 15 cm square for the turtle and a long triangle about 4.2 cm wide at its top and 14.8 cm long, with the lower point centered. Set the square corner up and the triangle beside it, point down.
- Tips
- Keep the feet at matching angles.
- Fold the head pleat firmly so it projects beyond the shell.
- Keep the seaweed point much longer than the shell.
Your model is ready
The long point represents the seaweed that trails behind the legendary ancient turtle. Draw two small eyes on the head.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Make a triangle
Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner.
- 2
Raise the right corner
Bring the right corner up to the top point, taking both layers with it.
- 3
Raise the left corner
Bring the left corner up to meet it, making a small diamond.
- 4
Lower the left point
Fold the front left point down to the bottom point of the small diamond.
- 5
Lower the right point
Fold the front right point down to meet it.
- 6
Spread the left foot
Fold the left front point back outward along the slanted line, so it sticks beyond the side of the body.
- 7
Spread the right foot
Fold the right front point outward to match the first foot.
Steps 8–14
- 8
Turn the feet upward
Rotate the paper half a turn, keeping the folded flaps facing you. The two feet are now above the uncut point.
- 9
Separate the rear feet
Cut from the lower point up to the middle fold through only the front triangular skin. Stop there and leave the paper underneath whole.
- 10
Spread the left rear foot
Fold the new left flap outward along the slanted line. The right flap and the shell stay in place.
- 11
Spread the right rear foot
Fold the other new flap outward to match the left rear foot.
- 12
Reach the head layer
Turn the turtle over so the plain head layer is on top and the four feet are underneath.
- 13
Start the head pleat
Fold the upper point down along the short horizontal line, moving only the plain head layer.
- 14
Bring the head back out
Fold the end of that point upward again on the lower line. Leave a narrow band between the two folds.
Steps 15–21
- 15
Blunt the head
Fold just the sharp head tip back along the small horizontal line.
- 16
Trim the left side of the neck
Lift the loose head packet clear of the feet below it. Cut from the side of the blunt head down beside the neck and out to the shoulder. Remove the side scrap, keeping all four feet whole.
- 17
Trim the right side of the neck
Lift the loose head packet clear of the feet below it. Cut from the side of the blunt head down beside the neck and out to the shoulder. Remove the side scrap, keeping all four feet whole.
- 18
Return to the feet
Turn the turtle back to the side with its four feet.
- 19
Start the tail pleat
Fold the remaining lower shell point upward, leaving both rear feet spread.
- 20
Bring the tail back out
Fold the small end down again, leaving a short tail below the shell.
- 21
Show the shell
Turn the turtle over so the smooth colored shell faces you.
Steps 22–24
- 22
Narrow the seaweed point
Fold the long triangle in half from right to left. Keep the long point sharp.
- 23
Add the trailing seaweed
Slide the wide end of the long point under the back of the shell, overlapping by about 1 cm. Let it trail slightly to the right behind the rear feet.
- 24
Glue the seaweed beneath the shell
Apply a small dab of glue to the overlap beneath the rear shell and press the two green pieces together.
- ✓
Finish
The long point represents the seaweed that trails behind the legendary ancient turtle. Draw two small eyes on the head.
Fold next
Crane ↗
The crane begins with a square base. Two petal folds turn it into a bird base with separate points for the neck and tail; the broad flaps become the wings. Work through one side of the body before repeating the narrowing folds on the back.
Swan ↗
The traditional kite-base swan, with a pointed tail, a long neck and a small head.
Pig ↗
The traditional kindergarten pig, recorded in 1863. It stands on four pointed feet, with a raised tail and a short snout.
Japanese rabbit ↗
The cupboard-base Japanese rabbit recorded in 1935, with long ears and a small turned-up tail. Fold its broad head, narrow ears, body and reversed tail.