OrigamiSteps

How to Make an Origami Frog

Published

Let’s start folding
Finished origami frog, showing the shape made in this tutorial

This origami frog starts with a rectangle and finishes with a folded spring underneath its body. Use a small rectangle of printer or notebook paper, or try an uncut dollar bill. The front legs come from a simple triangle fold. Keep the final spring creases neat, then press and release the back gently to test your frog on a table.

One fold at a time

Take your time. A neat crease makes the next fold easier.

  1. Step 1: Find the middle

    origami frog step 1: place the rectangle upright; fold the long edges together, crease, and reopen, hands visible

    Place the rectangle upright; fold the long edges together, crease, and reopen.

  2. Step 2: Mark the first diagonal

    origami frog step 2: bring the upper-left corner to the right edge, aligning the top edge with that side; crease and unfold, hands visible

    Bring the upper-left corner to the right edge, aligning the top edge with that side; crease and unfold.

  3. Step 3: Cross the diagonal

    origami frog step 3: repeat with the upper-right corner and left edge; unfold to reveal an X across the top square, hands visible

    Repeat with the upper-right corner and left edge; unfold to reveal an X across the top square.

  4. Step 4: Reverse the cross crease

    origami frog step 4: turn the sheet over and crease across the center of the X, hands visible

    Turn the sheet over; fold across the center of the X, crease, and reopen.

  5. Step 5: Collapse the triangle

    origami frog step 5: turn back over; push the sides of the X inward and flatten the top into a triangle, hands visible

    Turn back over; push the sides of the X inward and flatten the top into a triangle.

  6. Step 6: Lift the left leg

    origami frog step 6: fold the left corner of the upper triangle toward its top point, hands visible

    Fold the left corner of the upper triangle toward its top point.

  7. Step 7: Lift the right leg

    origami frog step 7: fold the matching right corner upward to make the second front leg, hands visible

    Fold the matching right corner upward to make the second front leg.

  8. Step 8: Narrow the body

    origami frog step 8: fold both long side edges inward to the center, keeping the front legs free, hands visible

    Fold both long side edges inward to the center, keeping the front legs free.

  9. Step 9: Fold the spring upward

    origami frog step 9: bring the bottom edge upward to the center of the small diamond formed by the front legs, hands visible

    Bring the bottom edge upward to the center of the small diamond formed by the front legs.

  10. Step 10: Fold the spring back

    origami frog step 10: fold that same section halfway back toward the bottom edge, forming a Z-shaped spring, hands visible

    Fold that same section halfway back toward the bottom edge, forming a Z-shaped spring.

  11. Step 11: Turn the frog over

    origami frog step 11: turn the model over and place the folded spring underneath its body, hands visible

    Turn the model over and place the folded spring underneath its body.

  12. Step 12: Try a jump

    origami frog step 12: press the back gently against a firm table, then slide your finger off to release the spring, hands visible

    Press the back gently against a firm table, then slide your finger off to release the spring.

Try something else

More easy folds for your next sheet.

Coming soon

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