This guide will show you how to use three one-dollar bills to create a money dragon that symbolizes power and good luck. Don’t be intimidated by the number of steps. Through clear steps, you will learn to fold the three parts of the dragon and assemble these parts to get a three-dimensional dragon.
This dragon has a majestic horn on its head, while its naturally winding and twisting tail adds to its elegance. With its wings fully spread, it appears to soar freely through the sky.
If you are new to origami, start here from our beginner guide to know the basics and how to read the step-by-step instructions.
- Folding time: 50 minutes
- Paper: Dollar Bill/3
- Difficulty: Easy
- Designer: Michael Lafosse
Material
Prepare three one-dollar bills to fold a cool origami dragon. The slightly new bills would make the folding process smoother.
Step by Step Instructions
Part 1
Step 1
Take out one of the dollar bills, and place it with the portrait side face up to begin folding. Fold it in half horizontally from bottom to top, then fold it in half vertically from right to left.
Step 2
Unfold the bill completely.
Step 3
Fold the left section of the top edge along the blue dotted line, extending from the intersection point formed by the creases you made. Leave a crease and unfold it.
Step 4
Fold the right section of the top edge along the blue dotted line, extending from the intersection point formed by the creases you made. Leave a crease and unfold it.
Step 5
Flip the bill from left to right.
Step 6
Mountain fold the creases indicated by the red dotted lines, and valley fold the creases indicated by the blue dotted lines.
Step 7
Press down the top flap to the left side and fold the bottom flap upward to the right side, then rotate the bill 90 degrees from back to front.
Step 8
Fold the bottom left and right edges to align with the center vertical crease of the bill, leaving two creases, and unfold them. Next, slightly lift the top layer.
Step 9
Rotate the bill 90 degrees from the top right to the bottom left, focus on the right flap, and expand it.
Step 10
Mountain fold the two creases indicated by the red dotted lines, valley fold the right section of the horizontal crease indicated by the blue dotted line. Finally, rotate it back to lay it flat.
Step 11
Repeat this for the left side.
Rotate the bill 90 degrees from the top left to the bottom right, focus on the left flap, and expand it.
Step 12
Mountain fold the two creases indicated by the red dotted lines, valley fold the left section of the horizontal crease indicated by the blue dotted line. Finally, rotate it back to lay it flat.
Step 13
Lift the triangle to make it stand upright, then turn the bill over from left to right, and lift the triangle on this side to make it stand upright.
Part 2
Step 14
Take out another piece of the dollar bill and place it with the portrait side face up to begin folding. Fold the left and right edges to align with the bottom edge, then fold them back to align with the top left and top right edges.
Step 15
Fold the left and right flaps to the sides, then flip the bill from left to right.
Step 16
Fold the bill in half from right to left.
Step 17
Fold the bottom edge to align with the oblique crease, crease it well, and unfold it.
Step 18
Fold the top layer back to the right side, then mountain fold the crease indicated by the red dotted line, and valley fold the creases indicated by the blue dotted lines.
Step 19
Push the bottom edge’s midpoint upward and to the left side, then fold the bill in half vertically from right to left again.
Step 20
Fold the left edge of the top layer to align with the bottom edge. Flip the bill from left to right, and fold the right edge to align with the bottom edge.
Step 21
Rotate the bill clockwise to position it vertically, then rotate it 90 degrees from left to right, and press down the left and right layers.
Part 3
The folding process for part 3 is the same as part 2, but the front and back sides differ. To make it easier to distinguish, a tutorial is provided for part 3.
Step 22
Take out another piece of the dollar bill and place it with the number side face up to begin folding. Fold the left and right edges to align with the bottom edge, then fold them back to align with the top left and top right edges.
Step 23
Fold the left and right flaps to the sides, then flip the bill from left to right.
Step 24
Fold the bill in half from right to left.
Step 25
Fold the bottom edge to align with the oblique crease, crease it well, and unfold it.
Step 26
Fold the top layer back to the right side, then mountain fold the crease indicated by the red dotted line, and valley fold the creases indicated by the blue dotted lines.
Step 27
Push the bottom edge’s midpoint upward and to the left side, then fold the bill in half vertically from right to left again.
Step 28
Fold the left edge of the top layer to align with the bottom edge. Flip the bill from left to right, and fold the right edge to align with the bottom edge.
Step 29
Rotate the bill clockwise to position it vertically, then rotate it 90 degrees from left to right, and press down the left and right layers.
Step 30
Assemble the part 1 and part 3, and flatten the flap to the right side.
Step 31
Turn the bill over from left to right.
Step 32
Assemble part 2, and flatten the flap to the right side.
Step 33
Fold the bottom corner of the top flap upward along the dotted line, and then flip the bill from left to right.
Step 34
Fold the bottom corner of the top flap upward along the dotted line.
Step 35
Fold the bottom left and right edges to align with the center vertical line, then fold the top flap on the left side to the right side.
Step 36
Turn the model over from left to right.
Step 37
Fold the bottom left and right edges to align with the center vertical line, then fold the top flap on the left side to the right side.
Step 38
Fold the bottom corner of the top flap upward, then fold the top flap on the right side to the left side.
Step 39
Flip the model from left to right.
Step 40
Fold the bottom corner of the top flap upward, then fold the top flap on the right side to the left side.
Step 41
Fold down the left and right flaps.
Step 42
Rotate the model 90 degrees from front to back.
Step 43
Press down the tip of the right flap along the red dotted lines [picture 1], then fold the tip to the left side along the blue dotted line [picture 2]
Valley fold the horizontal crease indicated by the blue dotted line to close this opening [picture 3]. Finally, rotate the model 90 degrees from back to front to lay it flat [picture 4].
Step 44
Fold down the tip of the left flap, then fold it back to the top side to form a zigzag [pictures 1 and 2], repeat this one more time to get another zigzag [pictures 3 and 4]. Finally, crease them well, and unfold these folds.
Step 45
Rotate the model 90 degrees from front to back and expand the left flap.
Step 46
Mountain fold the creases indicated by the red dotted lines, and valley fold the creases indicated by the blue dotted lines. Shape the dragon’s tail based on these creases. Flatten the fold and rotate it 90 degrees to lay it flat.
Step 47
Fold down the top corner of the wing along the dotted line connecting two red spots [picture 1], then fold it back to the top side along the oblique dotted line connecting two red spots [picture 2].
Step 48
Repeat the previous step to continue shaping the wing.
Step 49
Flip the model from left to right.
Step 50
Fold down the top corner of the wing on this side along the dotted line connecting two red spots [picture 1], then fold it back to the top side along the oblique dotted line connecting two red spots [picture 2].
Step 51
Repeat the previous step to continue shaping the wing.
Step 52
Rotate the dragon 90 degrees from front to back, and pull the two wings to the sides to expand the center part and form a square.
Step 53
Make a mountain crease shown by the center horizontal red dotted line, and make another two valley creases on the top and bottom side of this mountain crease. Finally, fold the top and bottom edges to align with the horizontal mountain crease along the valley creases.
Step 54
This is the final shape of the origami money dragon.
What’s Next
That’s your cool origami money dragon, whether as a holiday gift or desktop decoration, this money dragon will convey good wishes.
Except for this money dragon, we also offer an easy origami dragon made with a single piece of square paper. The two dragons look similar, with horns, twisting tails, and spread wings. Since this dragon is made with one piece of paper, it is more easy to make and takes less time.
Our origami dragon claw is also interesting and unique. It is visually impactful and seems to give you strength, and it is the top idea for Halloween decorations.
Easy Origami Dragon
Dragon Claws
