This enchanting dollar bill origami elephant originates from the creative genius of the late Neal Elias, one of the most influential figures in Western origami history. His innovative design transforms an ordinary dollar bill into a delightful pachyderm that has captured hearts for decades.
The model can be found in “Neal Elias – Miscellaneous Folds – I”, compiled by Dave Venables and published in 1990 by the British Origami Society (BOS). This 52-page collection preserves some of Elias’s most cherished creations, with the money elephant standing out as a particular favorite among folders.
Despite being created nearly 40 years ago, this design remains one of the most beloved origami models in the folding community.
Picture this magical transformation: a tiny elephant emerges from your dollar bill with its trunk raised high, as if catching the scent of prosperity in the air. Those sturdy legs stand firm and confident, symbolically ready to carry good fortune wherever it goes.
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: 15 minutes
- Paper: A Dollar Bill
- Total Steps: 22
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Designer: Neal Elias
Material
Prepare a one-dollar bill to fold a lovely origami elephant. A slightly new bill would be better.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Place the bill with the number face up to begin folding, fold it in half horizontally, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 2
Fold the top and bottom left corners diagonally along the dotted line, making them meet the horizontal crease, then fold the top and bottom left edges to align with the horizontal crease.
Step 3
Fold the left corner to the right side along the dotted line, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 4
Flip the bill from front to back, and then fold the right white edge to the left side.
Step 5
Fold the right edge to align with the vertical crease, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 6
Fold the crease indicated by the red dotted line and the right edge to align with the vertical crease.
Next, fold the left edge of the right rectangle layer to align with its right edge. Fold the right edge of the left triangle toward the left side to align with the left edge of the rectangle underneath.
Step 7
Flip the paper from front to back, fold the four corners of the right rectangle’s top layer a little, crease them well, and unfold them.
Step 8
Take the right rectangle’s top edge, fold it down along the blue dotted line, then squash the top left and right corners along the creases you made in the previous step.
Step 9
Repeat this for the bottom side.
Take the right rectangle’s bottom edge, fold it up along the blue dotted line, then squash the bottom left and right corners along the creases you made in step 7.
Turn the bill over from front to back.
Step 10
Fold the left corner to the right side, then fold it back to the left side to form a zigzag.
Step 11
Unfold the right layer, then flip the bill from front to back, and fold the right edge to the left side along the crease indicated by the dotted line.
Step 12
Fold the bill in half horizontally from top to bottom.
Step 13
Fold the left corner to the bottom right side, then fold it to the bottom left side to form a zigzag. Crease it very well, and unfold it.
Step 14
Rotate the elephant 90 degrees from front to back and expand it.
Step 15
Mountain fold the two creases indicated by the red dotted lines, as well as the horizontal crease of the trunk part [pictures 1 and 2]
Valley fold the creases indicated by the blue dotted lines, close the bottom opening, then flatten the fold. Rotate the bill 90 degrees from back to front, and finally, lift the trunk slightly [pictures 3 to 5].
Step 16
Fold the trunk’s tip to the right side, then fold it back to the left side to form a zigzag. Crease it very well, and unfold it.
Step 17
Rotate the elephant 90 degrees from front to back and expand it.
Step 18
Similar to step 15.
Mountain fold the two creases indicated by the red dotted lines, as well as the horizontal crease of the trunk part. Then, fold the two mountain creases along the creases indicated by the blue dotted lines [pictures 1 and 2]
Press down the tip, close the bottom opening, and finally, rotate it back.
Step 19
Fold the bottom right corner of the ear along the dotted line, crease it well, and unfold it [pictures 1 and 2].
Lift this layer, squash the bottom right corner, and tuck the corner between the layers [pictures 3 to 5].
Step 20
Flip the bill from left to right.
Step 21
Repeat this for the ear on this side.
Fold the bottom left corner of the ear along the dotted line, crease it well, and unfold it [pictures 1 and 2].
Lift this layer, squash the bottom left corner, and tuck the corner between the layers [pictures 3 to 5].
Step 22
Bring up the top layer, and fold the right edge’s midpoint of the left layer to the left side along the dotted line. Fold down the layer to form the tail.
What’s Next
Continue to challenge its partners: The Origami Elephant with double the cuteness! Features a rounder body and a shorter thunk. It is suitable for placing on the desk or windowsill. Easy Origami Elephant Face only needs 5 minutes to make! A pair of big ears, doodle randomly to get different expressions. Use colored pens to draw a wink or blush on it, and you can get a unique notebook sticker.
Origami Elephant
Easy Origami Elephant Face
