Simple origami that can be folded from a single sheet
Origami is a type of recreation that people of all ages—from young children to seniors—can enjoy together, and it’s fun whether you’re in a group or on your own.
You may not remember the very first origami you folded as a child, but in this article we’ll introduce ideas that are easy to fold and can be made with just one sheet of paper.
No cutting or gluing needed—these are all simple designs that you can complete with a single sheet of origami paper.
They’re perfect for kids trying origami for the first time, and also great as a warm-up for anyone who hasn’t folded in a while!
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Simple One-Sheet Origami (11–20)
fish
Fish origami is so simple yet incredibly cute, isn’t it? Fold it into a triangle, then fold it into a triangle again, and the shape of a fish starts to appear.
If you bend the tail fin, you can even give it a swimming look.
Make them with colorful paper and it will feel just like an aquarium.
They look lovely as room decor, and making them with your child sounds fun, too.
You can make one easily with a single sheet of origami paper, so why not try it when you have a little free time? A charming ocean world is sure to unfold.
hand spinner
Let’s make a playable origami hand spinner that’s fun to spin! The folding method is a bit complex, but if you make firm crease lines, you can simply fold along them as you go—so take your time and fold carefully.
Once your hand spinner is finished, place it on a desk or any flat surface and give it a spin.
It’s said to spin better when the creases are sharp.
It would be fun to make them with friends and see whose spinner keeps spinning the longest! Make lots of them and enjoy playing.
panda
Let’s make a black-and-white panda, the star of the zoo, using a single sheet of origami paper.
Fold the paper into a triangle, then fold the left and right corners up toward the top point.
Open the pocket so it forms a square, then fold the opening corner upward and open it, and continue folding along the lines step by step.
As you fold and make small cuts, round out the ears and face.
Draw in the parts like the eyes, nose, mouth, and cheeks to finish your panda! Using round stickers for the facial parts is also recommended.
It’s super cute to make pandas in various colors and display them together, so give it a try!
munch munch
The origami “pakupaku” (paper fortune teller) is simple yet has a deep charm.
Even though all you do is fold along the diagonals, you can’t help but be captivated by the way it opens and closes.
Choose brightly colored paper and make animals or characters, and your imagination will really take off.
If you hide names or drawings inside, it can even become a communication tool.
All you need is a single sheet of origami paper to get started, so it’s a game everyone can enjoy, from children to adults.
It might also be perfect for a little break.
Star-shaped Pack’ncho
Many of you may remember making the square “fortune teller” out of origami when you were little.
In fact, you can make a star-shaped one from a single sheet of paper too! First, crease along both diagonals and the horizontal/vertical cross, then collapse the square toward the center.
Flip it over and do the same, bringing the square into the center again.
Next, open one of the corners and fold the corner and the opposite edge upward.
Open it out and adjust the folds so it forms a star shape.
It can sound tricky when you think about it too much, so be sure to follow the video and try it with your hands as you go.
A crane with legs
Let me show you a fun way to fold a crane that grows legs and can even dance! Start by folding a traditional origami crane.
Just before you finish, make a cut halfway up the section opposite the head—the part that will be the crane’s back—using scissors.
Then continue following the regular crane steps to form the head.
Finally, open out the slit section at the back to the left and right to create the legs, and bend at the knees and ankles to finish.
If you stand the crane up and gently pull its wings to the left and right, you’ll see a really amusing motion! It looks even more fun if you make a bunch and have them dance together!
Simple one-sheet origami (21–30)
Rose
Let me introduce a way to fold a rose that looks glamorous just by blooming.
It may look complicated, but the steps are simple, so please give it a try.
What’s fun is that you don’t finish by folding at the end—you pinch the center of the rose and twist it tightly to complete it.
Fold in the outer petal sections to bring it closer to a rose shape, and it’s done.
It’s cute even with simple single-color origami, but making a sparkling rose with foil origami is lovely too.
You can also roll green origami or construction paper into a thin stem and make a bouquet of roses for an even more striking look!