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This origami reindeer is a simple design, and can be attempted by a paper folder of any level. It's great for using up unwanted murky brown origami paper, and it can make for a creative Christmas decoration!
Steps
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Start with a square sheet of paper.
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Fold it across one diagonal, and unfold it again.Advertisement
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Fold one side of the square to meet the line made by the diagonal fold. Repeat this for the adjacent side of the square.
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Repeat the previous two steps for the remaining sides of the square without unfolding anything.
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Fold it in half, from point to point, as shown, and then unfold it.
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Put your finger in one of the flaps and pull out the point, using the previous fold as a template, and press it down.
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Repeat the previous two steps for the other flap.
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Fold it in half along its length as shown.
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Pull the point that the flaps point towards back into the middle in a reverse fold. Flatten it down to construct the neck.
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Fold both of the flaps back as shown. These are your reindeer's front legs.
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Make a reverse fold at the top of the neck, beginning the formation of the head.
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Unfold the head as shown.
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Fold the point underneath to make the nose more flat.
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Fold the top of the head in half over to the opposite side as shown.
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Make a reverse fold and flatten as shown to create the beginnings of the hind legs.
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Make another reverse fold about halfway down the hind legs and flatten it to see the fully formed hind legs.
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Cut up the back of the neck as shown, without actually completely cutting off any part of the reindeer.
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Split the middle of this flap right up the back of the reindeer's neck. You'll end up with four little prongs.
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Fold the prongs upwards to form antlers and complete the reindeer.
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Done.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I get the prongs?Community AnswerYou have to gently cut off just a sliver of the neck area, right about where the nape would be, while also making sure that you don’t cut it off completely. This is optional; if you’re making a doe, there will be no antlers.
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QuestionCan this be made with printer paper?ArtemiTop AnswererYes, but you will have to cut it into a square. Also, printer paper is usually more rigid and harder to fold, but if you have experience and patience, you can do it easily.
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QuestionMy deer is too big. What size square should I use?Community AnswerIt depends on how big you want it. The sides of your paper should be equal and the same length.
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Tips
- If you are making this during the Christmas season, perhaps you could think about adding a red nose and making Rudolph.Thanks
- Use specialised origami paper for a professional look, with brown on one side and white on the other.Thanks
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Warnings
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about origami, check out our in-depth interview with Robert Homayoon .
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 313,381 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Made a bunch of these for decoration purposes. The instructions are super clear which is immensely helpful with origami." ..." more
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