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A step-by-step guide for making happy, hopping frogs out of paper
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Origami frogs are fun to fold and even more fun to flip, hop, and jump. All you need to make one is a sheet of paper and a little attention to detail. Fold just one to have a cute desktop companion, or make a bunch to create your very own origami pond. We’ll show you how to cut a square sheet of paper, fold the arms and legs, then complete your folded frog. Let’s hop to it!
Steps
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Fold a square sheet of paper in half. First, fold the top right corner down to the bottom left, then fold the top left corner down to the bottom right to create an “X” crease. Then, fold the top half of the paper downward, so that the top edge meets the bottom edge. Seal the fold with your finger, then unfold it. The new crease you've made crosses horizontally through the X-fold. [1] X Research source- If you don’t have square paper on hand, cut a square out of rectangular paper you have around the house. Jump to Making a Square Sheet of Paper for instructions.
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Pinch in the sides to form a triangle. Push the folds of the horizontal crease in toward the center. As you do this, the square will collapse into a triangle shape with 2 sides. [2] X Research source
- To make the 2 sides fold inwards on themselves more easily, re-fold the horizontal crease you made in the previous step, but in the opposite direction.
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Fold one corner of the triangle upward. The long edge of the triangle has 2 layers. Take the top layer’s right corner and fold it upward to the top point of the triangle. Crease the fold with your finger.
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Fold the other triangle corner upward. Take the top corner on the other side of the triangle. Fold it upward so that the tip of the corner touches the tip of the triangle. Crease the fold with your finger. The paper now looks like a triangle with a diamond in the middle.
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Fold the right corner of the diamond inward. With the base of the triangle facing you, grab the right corner of the diamond. Fold it so the right edge of the diamond lines up with the centerline. Crease the fold with your finger.
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Repeat the fold on the other corner of the diamond. With the base of the triangle facing you, grab the left corner of the diamond, and fold it inward so that the left edge lines up with the centerline. Run your finger along the fold to crease it.
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Fold the center edges of the diamond outward. Your diamond now has 2 flaps. Fold the right flap out, toward the right side of the triangle, so that its edge lines up with the right edge of the diamond. Crease it. Do the same with the left flap of the diamond to create the frog’s front legs.
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Flip the paper over. Rest it on the table so that the long edge of the triangle is facing you. The frog is starting to take shape! The front legs now poke out from underneath the top corner of the triangle.
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Fold in the bottom corners. Take the bottom right corner and fold it so that the edge lines up with the center of the frog. Crease it with your finger. Now fold in the left bottom corner in the same way, so that its edge meets the edge of the other side at the center, creating an upside-down kite shape.
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Bring the inside edges outwards. Fold the right flap of the diamond outward, so that its inner edge lines up with its outer edge. Crease the fold. Do the same with the left flap of the diamond. These newly folded triangles will become the frog’s back legs.
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Fold the frog in half. Flip the frog and position it so that the long back legs are facing you. Then fold the bottom half up toward the top half, near where the body is narrowest. Crease the fold with your finger.
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Bring the frog’s back legs downward. Take the legs you just folded upward, and fold them downward, about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) above the last fold you made. Then flip the frog over so that it’s standing on all 4 legs. Your origami frog is complete!
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Press down on the back of the frog to make it jump. Hold down the center fold of the frog, then slide your finger away to make it hop. Make a couple more frogs, and see which one can jump the farthest. Have fun!
- If your frog isn’t jumping properly, make sure your folds are tightly creased and that the edges line up as closely as possible. Alternatively, use thicker paper, which usually has more “spring.”
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Grab a sheet of regular paper if you don’t have square origami paper. Use computer paper, construction paper, or any paper you have laying around the house. Lay the paper down on a flat surface to ensure you can make it perfectly square . [3] X Research source -
Fold the right-hand corners diagonally. Fold the top right corner diagonally downward, so that the tip of the corner touches the bottom edge of the paper. Press the fold with your finger to create a crease, then unfold it. Now fold the bottom left corner upward to the top edge. Unfold the paper. You've now created a creased "X." [4] X Research source
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Trim the excess paper if you started with a rectangular piece. Use a pair of scissors to cut away the section of paper where the creases end, forming a square sheet of paper. [5] X Research source
- Alternatively, re-fold one of the corners to the opposite edge to form a triangle. Then, use the edge of this triangle as a guide to cut away the excess paper.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat tools or supplies do you recommend when starting an origami?Robert Homayoon is an Origami Expert known for his engaging YouTube videos and accessible instructions. He has been teaching origami on YouTube since 2009. His channel has a following of over 676,000 subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 211 million views. Robert uses his channel to highlight his passion for teaching people origami, crafts, and how to solve puzzles. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 2007 and earned his D.M.D degree from Temple University Dental School in 2013.When it comes to tools for origami, there are specific items available, such as creasing tools, that sometimes come in origami packs. These tools can be used instead of using your fingers to create creases. Personally, I often rely on my hands and fingernails for creasing, finding them sufficient for the task. For my tutorials, I typically use printer paper as my medium of choice. This is because printer paper is more universally accessible compared to origami paper, which often requires a visit to a store or purchasing a kit. When starting with printer paper, you may need a pair of scissors to trim the edges and make the paper square. I take this approach in my tutorials because I recognize that many people have printer paper readily available. Origami paper, designed specifically for origami, has a thinner consistency than printer paper, making it an excellent option if you have it on hand. However, if origami paper is not accessible, using printer paper is a viable alternative. The beauty of origami lies in its simplicity, transforming a piece of paper into a work of art with minimal materials.
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QuestionWhy isn’t my frog jumping?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerMake sure all your creases are tight, and that your folds are in the proper places. Also, use thicker paper to add more jump to your frog.
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QuestionHow can I make it go high?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerTry adding more space between the 2 folds you made to make the "spring." This may add some bounce to your frog.
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Tips
- Crease your corners well to put more spring in your frog’s step.Thanks
- Don’t press too hard when making it jump, or you might wear out your frog’s legs.Thanks
- Try making an army of frogs! Yes, that is what a group of frogs is called.Thanks
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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 .
References
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Reader Success Stories
- "I absolutely love how it's like a DIY video, but at the same time, its totally easy and basic instructions. I love how they are like little clips for each step, and if you time it right, you can stop the clip exactly where you want it. This was super helpful." ..." more
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"I absolutely love how it's like a DIY video, but at the same time, its totally easy and basic instructions. I love how they are like little clips for each step, and if you time it right, you can stop the clip exactly where you want it. This was super helpful."
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"Amazing instructions and super easy, but it comes out so amazing and also fun for little ones to play with. I have done it for my cousins and they have loved it. I have made about 5 of these and I would totally recommend it for all ages above 5 and up!"
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"It's amazing! I am pretty horrible at origami, and when I searched for a tutorial on how to make an origami frog, others only showed pictures and YouTube videos were too confusing. Thanks to wikiHow, I succeeded!"
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"I recently learned to make an origami crane and wanted to try something new. So I did the frog. On YouTube it seemed so complicated that I came here and it worked! Thanks so much, wikiHow."
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"I made 2 frogs and will make many more. Be sure to press down at the very end and just lightly brush it with your finger, otherwise it is harder to make it work."
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