Origami Dinosaur

These instructions will guide you through the steps necessary to construct an origami T-Rex. Origami is used by many to develop hand-eye coordination, patience, attention to detail, relieve stress and many other things. When folding in origami you want to make sure that the folds are crisp and clean. We found that around an hour is usually enough time to complete an origami dinosaur. The great thing about this is if you get stuck or frustrated you can step away from the project to run some errands. When you come back, the step will most likely appear easier, as your mind has had time to subconsciously figure out the fold while away from the project. When you complete the T-Rex you will have a great sense of accomplishment knowing that you created a paper dinosaur without the use of scissors, glue, or tape but only using your hands and a square piece of paper.

Step 1:

Fold and unfold the square along the diagonal from the top right to the bottom left corner of the square.

Step 2:

Fold and unfold the square along the diagonal from the top left to the bottom right corner of the square.

Step 3:

Turn the paper over.

Step 4:

Fold and unfold the square in half so that the top meets the bottom edge of the paper.

Step 5:

Fold the top left corner down to the crease you made in the previous step so that the corner meets the crease and the bottom left corner becomes a sharp point.

Step 6:

Take the far right edge of the flap and fold it so that it lines up with the left edge of the paper.

Step 7:

Fold the right side over to line up with the left edge.

Step 8:

Fold the left edge of the flap you just created to line up with the lower right edge, making the paper symmetric.

Step 9:

Completely unfold the flap on the right and the top part of the flap on the left.

Step 10:

Crease along the marked orange line to form a triangle that you will fold down so that the tip of the triangle is pointed towards the bottom right.

Step 11:

Flatten the point of the flap down to the right/bottom.

Step 12:

Unfold the flap you just created so that it forms a triangle.

Step 13:

Continue the crease you last created to make a new flap with a pointed corner at the top right of the paper.

Step 14:

Fold the right edge of the flap to line up with the left edge of the paper.

Step 15:

Fold the right edge of the paper to line up with the left edge of the paper.

Step 16:

Fold the left edge of the flap you just created to line up with the right edge. The paper should look symmetric.

Step 17:

Unfold everything.

Step 18:

Turn the paper so that the bottom left corner points towards you.

Step 19:

Create a fold along the dotted line pointing left, pinching and flattening it on top of the upper fold.

Step 20:

Flip the paper and create folds along the dotted lines by pinching the small flaps created in the previous step.

Step 21:

Push inward flatten the new flaps upward as shown.

Step 22:

Flatten the flaps towards the bottom of the paper. These will become the legs.

Step 23:

Fold those flaps down at a slight angle so that a triangle is created between them. (See picture for reference)

Step 24:

Fold and unfold the top corners of the middle flaps down to create sharp points. The inner points of these new flaps meet crease lines that are already there.

Step 25:

With both flaps completely unfolded, open the edge of leg and fold the paper in along the creases you created in the previous step.

Step 26:

Fold the bottom point of the paper to meet the middle corners of the flaps in the middle of the paper, unfold.

Step 27:

Fold the top point of the paper down to meet the crease created in Step 26.

Step 28:

Fold the point that meets the crease created in Step 27 (this is the same point used in the previous step) up so it meets the top of the paper.

Step 29:

Unfold Step 28.

Step 30:

Fold the paper in half vertically, to the rear, so that the middle flaps remain on the outside of the fold.

Step 31:

Hold the paper with the middle flaps pointing towards the left.

Step 32:

Push the top edge of the paper down so that a curve is created. Then pinch the outside edges of the paper so that there is a triangle pointing towards the left. This will become the head.

Step 33:

Unfold the top and bottoms fold of the paper where the head will be, so that there is only one layer.

Step 34:

Crease the paper along the pink dotted lines so that a valley is created. Be sure to crease the edges of the outer two segments of the head. Pinch the inner valley that you created and push the outer two segments of the head down to create a shape similar to a kite

Step 35:

Opening the center fold of the paper, fold the head down along the pink dotted line and then fold the paper back up a little higher up the neck towards the head.

Step 36:

Push up the corners of the upper section in and flatten them, making small triangles as shown in the picture.

Step 37:

Holding the neck, fold the tip of the nose about halfway and push it inside of the head flap. Pinch to flatten. The head is complete.

Step 38:

Turn the paper so that the head and legs of the dinosaur point down towards you.

Step 39:

Unfold the flap made in Step 25 on the side of the paper that is facing you

Step 40:

Fold the bottom points of the legs upwards into a small triangle.

Step 41:

Fold the bottom edge of the triangles forward. These will be the feet.

Step 42:

Remake the crease unfolded in step 39.

Step 43:

Repeat step 42 on the other leg.

Step 44:

Open the paper so that the legs/feet are facing upward towards you.

Step 45:

Fold a joint into the tail by folding the bottom point of the paper down about three-fourths of the way from the tail, and then folding it up a little further down the tail. This step is similar to the joint made in the neck in Step 35.

Step 46:

Repeat the previous step further down on the tail. (the third photo is from the inside of the dinosaur)

Step 47:

Fold the dinosaur in half, as in step 30.

Step 48:

You're finished!