28 animated diagrams
Easy origami
Short sequences with simple valley and mountain folds — the best place to start if you have never folded before.
Paper Cup
The origami paper cup is a small open container folded from a single square that can briefly hold water or dry snacks. It is one of the easiest origami models and takes about two minutes, making it a classic first project.
Pyramid napkin
The pyramid is the classic standing napkin fold: a neat four-sided pyramid that sits on the plate and makes any table look set by a restaurant. It takes four folds and about two minutes, works with cloth or paper napkins, and is the easiest standing fold to learn first.
Lucky Star
An origami lucky star is a tiny, puffy five-pointed star made by knotting a long paper strip into a pentagon and wrapping it. It is easy and takes about three minutes, though the final puffing step needs a light touch.
Tulip
The origami tulip is a flat flower head made from a single square in three folds, designed to be joined to a separate folded stem. It is one of the easiest models on the site and takes about three minutes.
Tulip Stem
The origami tulip stem is a slim green stalk with an attached leaf, folded from one square to support the origami tulip bloom. It is easy, takes about three minutes, and uses a series of narrowing folds to the center line.
Dog Face
The origami dog face is a simple puppy head with floppy ears folded from one square, and children often draw on eyes and a nose to finish it. It is very easy and takes about three minutes, making it ideal for first-time folders.
Fox Face
The origami fox face is a pointed fox head with tall ears, folded from one square in five steps and finished with drawn eyes and a nose. It is an easy model that takes about three minutes.
Paper Hat
The origami paper hat is the classic triangular newspaper hat, often worn as a pirate or admiral's hat, folded from a single rectangle with no tape. It is an easy model that takes about three minutes, and a double sheet of newspaper makes one big enough for a child or an adult to wear.
Envelope
The origami envelope is a small rectangular letter envelope folded from a single square that locks shut by tucking the top flap under the bottom one, so it needs no glue or tape. It is an easy model with four folds and takes about three minutes.
Corner Bookmark
The origami corner bookmark is a small square with a triangular pocket that slides over the corner of a page to mark your place. It is an easy model folded from one square in four steps and takes about three minutes, which makes it a favourite classroom craft.
Sailboat
The origami sailboat is a flat picture of a boat, with a colored triangular sail standing on a white hull, folded from one square without cuts. It is very easy: five simple folds and about three minutes, which makes it a good first model for children.
House
The origami house is a classic flat model of a house with a sloping colored roof above white walls, folded from one square. It is easy, takes about three minutes, and is one of the best models for learning the squash fold.
Cat Face
The origami cat face is a kitten's head with two pointed ears and a blunt chin, folded from one square and finished with drawn eyes and whiskers. It is a very easy model with five folds and takes about three minutes, so it suits young children and first-time folders.
Penguin
The origami penguin is a flat penguin seen from the front, with a dark back and wings, a white belly, a white face and a small dark beak, folded from one square that is dark on one side and white on the other. It is an easy model of six steps that takes about three minutes, using only valley and mountain folds.
Ghost
The origami ghost is a flat Halloween ghost with a round, domed head and a wavy hem of three points, folded from one square with the white side showing. It is an easy model with five steps and takes about three minutes; you draw the eyes and mouth on at the end.
Silverware pocket napkin
The silverware pocket is a slim napkin fold with a diagonal band across the front that holds a knife, fork and spoon. It is folded flat in seven quick steps from a square napkin, takes about three minutes, and is the most practical fold for buffets, picnics and holiday dinners where guests carry their own place setting.
Samurai Helmet
The origami samurai helmet, or kabuto, is a traditional Japanese model with two horns and a brim, folded from one square. It is easy, takes about four minutes, and can be made large enough to wear by using a big newspaper square.
Fish
The origami fish is a simple flat fish with a blunt nose and an upturned tail, folded from a kite shape made from one square. It is easy and takes about four minutes, so it suits children and complete beginners.
Whale
The origami whale is a flat whale with a large rounded head, a straight back and a tail that rises behind it, folded from a kite shape made from one square. It is an easy model of six steps that takes about four minutes, which makes it a good choice for children and beginners.
Witch Hat
The origami witch hat is a flat Halloween hat with a tall cone, a crooked tip that droops to one side and a wide brim, folded from one square without cuts or glue. It is an easy model with six steps and takes about four minutes, starting from a simple kite.
Paper Boat
The origami paper boat is a classic folded from a rectangular sheet, passing through a paper hat on the way to a small boat that really floats. It is an easy model that most children and adults finish in about five minutes.
Origami Heart
The origami heart is a flat, symmetrical heart shape folded from one square, ideal for slipping into a card or envelope. It is an easy model that takes around five minutes and uses only simple valley and mountain folds.
Fortune Teller
The origami fortune teller is a four-pointed paper game, also known as a cootie catcher or chatterbox, that opens and closes on your fingers to reveal hidden messages. It is an easy model folded from one square with only corner-to-centre folds and takes about five minutes, plus a few more to write the fortunes.
Christmas Tree
The origami Christmas tree is a flat fir tree with three stepped tiers and a small trunk, folded from one square without cutting. It is an easy model that takes about five minutes; the only new idea is a simple pleat that creates each tier.
Swan
The origami swan is the traditional simple swan with a raised neck and a head that points forward, folded from a kite shape made from one square. It is an easy model that takes about five minutes; the only moves that need care are the two outside reverse folds at the end.
Pumpkin
The origami pumpkin is a flat, rounded jack-o'-lantern with a short stem on top and three creased ribs down the front, folded from one square without cutting. It is an easy model of seven steps that takes about five minutes, and the face is drawn on at the end.
Skull
The origami skull is a flat Halloween skull with a domed cranium and a narrower jaw that sticks out underneath, folded from one square with the white side showing. It is an easy model with eight steps and takes about five minutes; you draw the eye sockets, nose and teeth on at the end.
Bat
The origami bat is a flat Halloween bat with wide wings, hooked wing tips, a short body and two pointed ears, folded from one square without cuts or glue. It starts from the waterbomb base and takes about six minutes; every fold after the base is a simple valley or mountain fold.
Where to start with easy origami
Every model on this page uses only valley folds, mountain folds and the odd squash or inside fold, and most are finished in three to five minutes. If you have never folded before, start with the Paper Cup: it takes about two minutes and teaches the two habits that matter most — lining edges up exactly and pressing each crease flat with a fingernail. Next, try a face such as the Fox Face or Cat Face, then the Sailboat and House, which use the two colors of the paper for the picture.
A standard 15 cm (6 in) square of origami paper suits nearly everything here. Paper that is colored on one side and white on the other makes the Penguin, Pumpkin and Witch Hat look right, because the white side shows through on purpose. A few models start from other shapes: the Paper Boat and Paper Hat use a rectangle such as A4 or US Letter, and the Lucky Star is woven from a thin strip.
When a step looks confusing, replay its animation before you fold — watching a flap move once usually explains more than the drawing. The Swan, Bat and Origami Heart have a few more steps and are a good bridge to intermediate models.
Seasonal · Halloween
Halloween origami
Ghosts, bats, pumpkins, skulls and witch hats — easy spooky folds with animated steps and printable PDFs.
Seasonal · Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving origami
Napkin folds, place-card boxes, nut cups and gratitude notes — easy table folds with animated steps and printable PDFs.
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