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 (21–30)
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!
nail
Here’s an origami idea for making sharp, dinosaur-like claws.
The difficulty level is easy enough for children, so if your child is interested in claws, have them give it a try! The key to making the claws is the initial crease work.
Fold into a triangle twice, then add creases so a diamond shape forms in the center.
Once that’s done, all you have to do is fold along the creases! Make ten claws, put them on both hands, and pretend to be a dinosaur.
If you curve the tips so they aren’t sharp and draw faces on them, they can also be used as finger puppets!
Santa Claus
One of the events children look forward to is Christmas, right? Let’s try folding Santa Claus in origami for that special holiday.
You can make it with just one sheet of paper, with only a few steps, and the folding method is very simple! Get a pen or colored pencils ready to draw a face on your finished Santa.
Make lots of them and decorate with Santas showing all kinds of expressions! They’re cute even with simple single-color origami, but if you use paper with logos or illustrations, you can create Santas full of personality!
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!
ribbon
How about making a cute ribbon out of origami that looks adorable whether you wear it in your hair or pin it to your outfit? There are many steps to fold, but the folds themselves are simple, and since many of them are symmetrical, it’s fun to make! You’ll be folding along the creases you create, so be sure to press the creases firmly.
The finished ribbon is cute as is, but you can fold in the corners or round them with scissors to create different ribbon shapes! Try drawing patterns with a pen and make a one-of-a-kind original ribbon.
Flat present box
A flat present box you can make from a single sheet of origami paper is a cute idea to stick onto a birthday card.
First, fold the paper inward twice, crease firmly, then unfold.
Rotate it, fold back the other way, and fold to the crease; flip it over and repeat the same folds.
To create the ribbon in the center, fold triangles as if forming a bow, then open and squash-fold to give the ribbon a three-dimensional shape.
Finally, secure with glue and adjust the shape to finish.
Making crisp creases results in a neat finish, and simply changing the color or pattern can dramatically change the look.
How to fold a little bird with a single sheet of origami paper
This cute little bird origami pairs perfectly with displays of other flowers, including cherry blossoms! First, crease a cross, then pick any one side and fold it toward the center twice.
Open the second fold and rotate the paper 90 degrees.
Fold up from the corner along the crease you made the second time, then fold a small portion back, and fold the whole model in half.
Flip it over, add the necessary creases, and gradually shape the corners at both ends so they become the bird’s face and tail.
Make a small slit to create the wings and fold them.
Add eyes with round stickers or a pen, and it’s done!
