OrigamiSteps

How to Make an Origami Santa

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

Make an origami Santa face with a tall red hat and a white triangular beard. Use a square that is red on one side and white on the other, or color one side of thin printer paper. The beard appears when you lower only the broad front flap. Keep the narrow hat layer behind it, then tuck the side corners away before drawing the eyes.

One fold at a time

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

  1. Step 1: Find the center

    origami santa step 1: start white side up with a point facing down; fold left point to right point and reopen, hands visible

    Start white side up with a point facing down; fold left point to right point and reopen.

  2. Step 2: Fold the lower right edge

    origami santa step 2: bring the lower-right sloping edge to the upright center crease, hands visible

    Bring the lower-right sloping edge to the upright center crease.

  3. Step 3: Fold the lower left edge

    origami santa step 3: bring the lower-left sloping edge to the same crease, hands visible

    Bring the lower-left sloping edge to the same crease.

  4. Step 4: Lift the bottom point

    origami santa step 4: fold the lower point all the way up to the top point, hands visible

    Fold the lower point all the way up to the top point.

  5. Step 5: Expose the other side

    origami santa step 5: turn the whole triangle over with its point still facing upward, hands visible

    Turn the whole triangle over with its point still facing upward.

  6. Step 6: Lower the beard flap

    origami santa step 6: bring only the broad front point down to the bottom edge, revealing its white reverse, hands visible

    Bring only the broad front point down to the bottom edge, revealing its white reverse.

  7. Step 7: Hide the side corners

    origami santa step 7: turn over; fold the left and right protruding corners inward along the sloping hat edges, hands visible

    Turn over; fold the left and right protruding corners inward along the sloping hat edges.

  8. Step 8: Bend the hat tip

    origami santa step 8: turn the face forward and fold the very top of the red hat sideways, hands visible

    Turn the face forward and fold the very top of the red hat sideways.

  9. Step 9: Add the eyes

    origami santa step 9: draw two small eyes just above the pointed beard and press the side folds flat, hands visible

    Draw two small eyes just above the pointed beard and press the side folds flat.

Try something else

More beginner folds for your next sheet.