How to make a waterbomb-base origami frog
Waterbomb-Base Origami Frog: try all 17 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor frog from the waterbomb base, with a broad back, a blunt snout, short front legs and pleated hind legs. Its proportions are our own.
- You need
- One square of thin origami paper. No glue or scissors.
- Start
- Start colored side up, with an edge at the top.
- Tips
- Keep the two legs in each pair symmetrical.
- Ease the feet out gently after pressing all the folds.
Your model is ready
Ease the legs down from the body so the frog crouches with its hind legs spread. This frog is a display model, without the index-card frog's jumping spring.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–6
- 1
Crease a diagonal
Fold the bottom left corner behind to the top right corner, press, and open.
- 2
Crease the other diagonal
Fold the bottom right corner behind to the top left corner, press, and open.
- 3
Crease across the middle
Bring the top edge down to the bottom edge, press, and open.
- 4
Make the waterbomb base
Push the side middles inward. Bring the top edge down to the bottom edge and press into a triangle.
- 5
Lift the left front corner
Fold the front corner up to the triangle's top point, leaving the rear triangle still.
- 6
Lift the right front corner
Fold the front corner up to the triangle's top point, leaving the rear triangle still.
Steps 7–12
- 7
Narrow the left front flap
Fold the outer corner of the raised flap inward to the middle line.
- 8
Narrow the right front flap
Fold the outer corner of the raised flap inward to the middle line.
- 9
Reach the rear corners
Turn over to reach the untouched rear triangle.
- 10
Narrow the left rear triangle
Fold the sloping edge inward to the vertical middle, making a long hind-leg flap.
- 11
Narrow the right rear triangle
Fold the sloping edge inward to the vertical middle, making a long hind-leg flap.
- 12
Spread the left hind leg
Fold the long inner edge outward to the sloping folded edge. Keep the point directed down.
Steps 13–17
- 13
Spread the right hind leg
Fold the long inner edge outward to the sloping folded edge. Keep the point directed down.
- 14
Fold both hind legs up
Fold the lower part upward across the body, just below the head's bottom point.
- 15
Fold the feet back down
Fold the two raised legs down again, leaving a narrow band between the folds to make bent hind legs.
- 16
Show the head
Turn the frog over from side to side, keeping the head at the top.
- 17
Fold the snout
Fold the tip of the two front flaps down a short way. The point behind still shows above it.
- ✓
Finish
Ease the legs down from the body so the frog crouches with its hind legs spread. This frog is a display model, without the index-card frog's jumping spring.
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.