How to make a gold ingot paper cutout (yuanbao)
Gold Ingot Paper Cutout (Yuanbao): try all 4 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor Lunar New Year ingot: fold a gold square in half, cut a small window and one outline through both layers, then open a yuanbao with a round dome between two upswept ends.
- You need
- Thin paper, a pencil, a ruler and scissors.
- Start
- Begin with a 12 cm square of gold or yellow paper, colored side up. Keep an edge at the top.
Your model is ready
Smooth the centre fold flat. Glue the ingot on a red card, or hang several from a string. Draw a few lines on the dome with a gold pen for a shine. The finished gold ingot, with a round dome between two upswept ends.
Step-by-step diagrams
- 1
Fold the square in half
Bring the left edge to the right edge. Match the corners and press the vertical fold. Keep the folded edge on the left.
- 2
Cut the window
Cut a small half circle out from the folded edge and back to it, in the middle of the dome. This opens into a round window.
- 3
Cut the ingot outline
Begin on the folded edge at the top of the dome. Cut round the dome, dip in between dome and end, then up along the inside of the end to its tip. Round the tip, cut down the outside of the end and round the base to the folded edge. Keep the ingot beside the fold.
- 4
Open the ingot
Open the centre fold carefully. The two halves meet down the middle of the dome.
- ✓
Finish
Smooth the centre fold flat. Glue the ingot on a red card, or hang several from a string. Draw a few lines on the dome with a gold pen for a shine. The finished gold ingot, with a round dome between two upswept ends.





