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)
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.
Snap camera
Here’s how to make a snap camera, a nostalgic toy for adults.
It’s a simple fold adapted from the traditional origami “yakko-san,” so it’s easy to make! First, fold the origami paper in half, then fold it in half again to make a small square.
Open it up and fold all four corners to the center.
Turn it over and fold the four corners to the center again in the same way.
Turn it over once more and repeat the same step.
Turn it over again and fold the left and right corners outward to open them.
Fold the two bottom-back corners outward as well.
For the final step, pull the top and bottom corners as you fold, letting them overlap slightly, and you’re done.
When you press the center on the back, it pops open with a snap—so fun! You can play with it over and over again!
Note
Let’s make a mini notebook like a tiny book using a single sheet of origami paper.
First, fold it in half to make a rectangle, then fold it again.
Open it back to the half-fold, rotate it vertically, and fold it in half once more.
Fold the open edge into a smaller section, then fold that in half again.
Open it up, make a slit, and fold it into the shape of a book—your cute little notebook is complete! Since you’ll be using scissors while the paper is folded into a small shape, be careful where you place your hands when making the cut.
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.
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!
Easy origami school backpack
This is an idea to make a complete randoseru (school backpack) from a single sheet of origami paper by creating the body, the flap, and the shoulder straps.
First, crease the origami paper and cut off one quarter.
Fold the short edge of the cut-off piece to make the flap.
Take the remaining origami, fold it in half by aligning the long edges, then fold it into thirds to make creases.
Open the tri-folded section, fold it in half by aligning the short edges to make creases; you should now have the paper divided into six blocks while folded in half.
Place it vertically with the creases on the right, and cut off the lower left end along the crease.
Fold this cut-off strip narrowly to make the shoulder straps, and assemble the remaining part into a box shape to form the body.
Simple one-sheet origami (21–30)
How to fold a colorful randoseru
A backpack made from a single sheet of origami paper! The finished piece is small, but it looks like you could tuck in a little candy and give it as a gift.
If you make several in different colors and line them up, they’ll make perfect April decorations! First, fold the origami paper in half, then fold it once more in the same direction to make creases.
Along the creases, cut off one quarter of the paper and use that part to make the flap.
After adding more creases, cut off the shoulder strap section as well.
Assemble the remaining paper into a box shape, then attach the flap and shoulder straps to finish!