Let's make it with origami! Ideas for simple 3D creations
Origami tends to be associated with flat designs, but you can actually make lots of three-dimensional pieces too.
In this article, we’ll introduce ideas for 3D origami projects.
From simple shapes like hearts, stars, and dice to small containers and toys you can play with, we’ve gathered a variety of ideas.
If you want to try making 3D origami or are looking for something a bit more challenging than flat designs, feel free to use this as a reference.
All of these ideas involve relatively simple steps, so give them a try without hesitation!
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Let's make origami! Ideas for simple 3D creations (11–20)
Stackable pentagonal pencil box
It’s a cute little container shaped like a pentagonal pencil.
Since it’s built from stacked boxes, making each section sturdy and shaping the pencil-like lid are key points.
For the lid parts, use a sheet of origami cut in half, fold it into six equal sections, and add triangular creases at each end.
Once the creases are made, fold while paying attention to front and back, shape it to resemble a pencil, assemble, and you’re done.
The box parts also use six equal creases; by assembling multiple tightly folded layers, you’ll end up with a sturdy box.
The most important aspect of this craft is ensuring the paper layers are firmly overlapped and assembled into a solid structure.
star
Making a three-dimensional star with origami is surprisingly easy! It’s the perfect idea when you want to try something a step up from a flat star.
Just fold and cut the paper according to the steps, then crease along the lines as mountain and valley folds, and you’ll have a plump, 3D star in no time.
Using thicker origami paper or cardstock helps it keep its shape and look cleaner.
It’s also great as a Christmas ornament or home décor.
It’s amazing how a little ingenuity can create such a lovely piece—origami really has incredible depth!
Push Pop
Push pops, loved for their addictive pressing sensation, are all the rage.
Here’s an idea for making a push pop ring out of origami! It’s very simple to make, so you’ll be tempted to try it in lots of different colors.
The push-pop part is fairly sturdy, so you can actually press it and play.
The ring band is quite long when just folded, so cut it to fit your finger.
Once you’ve decided on the length, secure it with tape to form the ring.
Wear it on your finger and enjoy that endlessly addictive feel anytime!
dice
This is a sturdy, colorful cube assembled by combining parts made from origami.
The key points are to make six identical parts precisely from six sheets of paper and to pay attention to where each piece is inserted during assembly.
Each part is a parallelogram guided by quarter-fold creases; be mindful of the paper layers and create firm slots.
Then insert each part into the slots of the others and assemble them into a cube to finish.
Since you use six sheets, you can also enjoy experimenting with color combinations—think about how to assemble the parts so that the colors end up in the positions you want.
kusudama (decorative paper ball used for celebrations)
Let’s make a colorful kusudama—an evergreen celebration decoration—by combining origami units.
Use four crease lines as guides to layer the paper and create a parallelogram-shaped unit with a small gap that allows other pieces to be inserted.
Then add creases to each unit, assemble them together, and work your way toward forming a sphere.
As you interlock the units, the structure becomes sturdy, and it’s fun to see the corners emphasized as the shape builds three-dimensionally.
The more colors you use, the more vibrant and beautiful your kusudama will be.
Three-dimensional oni origamiNEW!
Unlike flat origami, this three-dimensional oni (demon) origami offers a big wow factor when finished.
As you fold, the form naturally pops up, giving you the satisfying feeling that it “really turned into an oni!” The steps are simple, so even children can try it without difficulty.
With just a bit of creativity in the facial expression, each piece takes on its own character, making it fun to create several and display them together.
Simply decorating with them gives a strong Setsubun feel, so I thought this is an origami idea you’ll definitely want to try in February.
Let's make it with origami! Simple 3D project ideas (21–30)
Tulip
Using the center crease as a guide, fold it down into small triangles, paying attention to overlaps so you can build in a structure that can be opened up later.
Once you shape it and expand it into a tube, add soft, petal-like curves to the pointed tip to complete the flower.
It’s best to make the creases as gentle as possible; the soft layering creates a petal-like three-dimensional effect.
Finally, attach the stem and leaf pieces to finish the whole piece.
The simpler the stem and leaf parts are, the more the flower’s three-dimensionality stands out.