Fun spring craft ideas using origami to make with your one-year-old!
A warm and sunny spring.
Many teachers are probably thinking, “I want to enjoy spring-themed crafts with the children!” So this time, we’re introducing craft ideas using origami for one-year-olds.
In addition to folding, we’ve packed in ideas that stimulate children’s senses by letting them rip paper, stick pieces on, and use their fingers in lots of ways.
We’ve gathered plenty of spring motifs that are familiar to children, such as tulips, cherry blossoms, ladybugs, and butterflies! Please use these as a reference and enjoy making cute spring crafts together.
Because the children’s creations are treated as works, we use the term “制作” (seisaku: production/work) in the text.
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Fun spring crafts to make with 1-year-olds! Origami-based activity ideas (11–20)
Stained glass-style cherry blossoms
Let’s make a stained-glass-style cherry blossom using construction paper, OPP tape, and transparent chiyogami.
First, cut out five cherry blossom petals from the construction paper; for three of them, cut out the inside so only the outline remains.
Place the outlined petals on a piece of parchment (cooking) paper, stick OPP tape on top, then cut along the petal shapes and peel off the parchment paper.
Attach small pieces of transparent chiyogami to the adhesive side of the OPP tape.
Once all three are done, assemble them together with the remaining two petals to form the cherry blossom, add handprint-shaped leaves, and you’re finished!
A 3D ladybug made by rolling origami
Let me share an idea for making a ladybug using a clear cup and origami paper.
First, prepare the ladybug’s face parts using construction paper.
You can either draw the face or use stickers.
Next, tear or crumple red origami paper into small pieces.
Once you’re ready, put the small pieces of origami into the clear cup, close the lid, and attach the face parts.
Finally, stick black round stickers on the cup lid to make the spots, and you’re done! The post uses tissue paper, but you can make it with origami paper too, so give it a try!
A flapping pigeon
Focus on movement! Here’s an idea for a flapping pigeon that moves.
Many children are drawn to moving toys, right? While origami often brings to mind flat creations, it turns out you can make pieces that move and flap, too! This time, let’s make a cute, flapping pigeon.
All you need is one sheet of origami paper and a pen.
Pigeons are familiar birds for children, aren’t they? If your child enjoys spotting pigeons while out on walks or trips, give this a try!
Sparkly-winged butterfly
Let’s make one with colored foil origami! Here’s an idea for a butterfly with sparkly wings.
Colored foil origami has a unique texture and a beautiful finish, giving a more glamorous impression than regular origami.
This time, let’s make the butterfly that appears in the beloved children’s book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” It’s also great practice for cutting straight with scissors.
For toddlers, it might be easier if they tear the paper by hand to create their own arrangement.
Fun flip-and-find Easter eggs
We’d like to introduce a fun Easter egg wall display where cute animals pop out of eggs when you peel them open.
Get scissors, construction paper, double-sided tape, glue, crayons, and colored pens ready, and let’s get started.
Sketch on the construction paper and cut out animal shapes.
The key is to cut them to the same size.
On the base sheet, place the animal cutout and then attach the egg on top so that the opening lines up with the animal’s face.
Once it’s complete, gently tear along the slit by hand—the egg will ‘crack,’ and the animal will peek out from inside! It’s a perfect wall decoration for the Easter season.
Tulip made by gluing origami pieces
Here’s how to make a tulip by tearing and pasting origami paper.
Gather origami paper, construction paper, crayons, glue, and scissors.
Tear the origami paper by hand or cut it with scissors to create small shapes.
Glue the pieces onto the construction paper, trying to place them so there are as few gaps as possible.
Arrange and glue together pieces with similar patterns and colors so they are close to each other, then cut them into the shape of a tulip and paste it onto the backing paper.
Finish by drawing the stem, leaves, and other details around it with crayons.
Fun spring crafts to make with 1-year-olds! Creative origami ideas (21–30)
Skeleton flower
Introducing how to make a skeleton flower with a charming glossy shine.
Prepare transparent origami paper, a flower template, round stickers, glue, scissors, crayons, and clear tape.
Use the flower template to trace the shape onto the backing paper and cut it out.
Apply clear tape to the back of the construction paper so you can attach transparent origami paper to the flower area.
Have the children stick the cut transparent origami pieces from the front.
Mixing different transparent origami colors when sticking them makes the colors blend and look adorable.
Draw the stem with a crayon, and it’s complete.
Give it a try!