This intricately designed origami crocodile starts with a Fish Base and captures the essence of one of nature’s most formidable predators. It features a long snout, a powerful body, and limbs that make it look lifelike.
The intricate folds highlight the artistry of this piece, making it a unique gift for friends and family who love origami art, nature, or both. You can also use it to decorate your rooms or place it in a display case.
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: 30 minutes
- Paper: 20×20 cm
- Difficulty: Middle
- Designer: Madiyar Amerkeshev
Material
Prepare 20×20 cm origami square paper with different colors on each side. Feel free to experiment with various colors to give your scorpion a unique outlook.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Place the paper with the desired display color side down to begin folding, fold it in half horizontally, crease it well, and unfold it.
Step 2
Fold it in half vertically, leaving a crease, and unfold it.
Step 3
Fold bottom left and right edges to align with the middle vertical crease, and unfold them.
Step 4
Fold the top left and right edges to align with the middle vertical crease, and unfold them.
Step 5
Bring up the four edges along the creases you just made to create two flaps on the left and right, then press down these two flaps.
Step 6
Flip the paper over from left to right, then fold the top point down to meet the bottom point. Then, fold the left and right sections of the top edge to align with the vertical crease, crease them well, and unfold them. Finally, unfold the paper to what it looks like after you turn it over.
Step 7
Turn over the paper from left to right, then fold the top left and right edges to align with the vertical crease, crease them well, and unfold them.
Step 8
Fold the top right edge to align with the horizontal crease, leaving a short crease as the black dotted line shows, and unfold it. In the same manner, fold the top left edge to align with the horizontal crease, leaving a short crease, and unfold it. Finally, flip the paper over from left to right.
Step 9
Mountain fold the creases indicated by the red dotted lines, and make a horizontal mountain fold in the middle, as the second picture shows. Then, rotate the paper 180 degrees from back to front. Finally, fold up the bottom point and flatten the fold.
Step 10
Rotate the paper 180 degrees from front to back, and fold the top triangle up along the existing crease indicated by the black dotted line.
Step 11
Take the bottom right edge and fold it up along the crease indicated by the black dotted line, then fold the left triangle to the right side,
Similarly, fold the bottom left edge up along the black dotted line, then fold the right triangle to the left side.
Step 12
Slightly lift the top two layers to open the pocket, then fold down the top point, and finally, close the opening.
Step 13
Fold the left edge of the left triangle and the right edge of the right triangle to align with the middle vertical crease.
Step 14
Fold the edge indicated by the red line to align with the edge indicated by the black line, then squash the right pocket along the black dotted line [pictures 1 to 3].
Repeat this for the left side, fold the edge indicated by the red line to align with the edge indicated by the black line, then squash the left pocket along the black dotted line [pictures 4 to 6].
Step 15
Lift the top two layers to open the pocket, then fold up the triangle that is tucked in the pocket.
Step 16
Fold down the top point a little to get a small triangle, then fold the right and left edges of the paper toward the center along the right and left edges of that small triangle separately, crease them well, and unfold them, getting two creases.
Step 17
Unfold this small triangle, then open this pocket on the top based on the creases you just made, next, fold down the top point [pictures 1 to 4], and then fold it up along the black dotted line [picture 5]. After that, rotate the paper 180 degrees from right to left [picture 6].
Finally, fold down the top point and flip over the paper from left to right [pictures 7 to 9].
Step 18
Rotate the paper 90 degrees counterclockwise, then fold it in half horizontally from top to bottom.
Step 19
Fold down the left part along the black dotted line, then fold it up along the black dotted line, and finally, unfold them.
Step 20
Rotate the paper 90 degrees from back to front, and expand the top opening [pictures 1 and 2], then valley fold the creases indicated by the black dotted lines, and make a mountain fold shown by the red dotted line, and fold the red dotted line toward the right side along the black dotted line [picture 3].
Next, mountain fold the crease indicated by the black dotted line and valley fold the creases indicated by the black dotted lines [picture 4].
Finally, push the left part toward the right side and close this opening, then rotate the paper 90 degrees from front to back.
Step 21
As the first picture shows, fold this small corner a little, then make a mountain fold as the red dotted line shows in the second picture.
Next, turn over the paper from left to right, then fold the small corner a little, and make a mountain fold as the red dotted line shows [pictures 4 and 5].
Step 22
Rotate the paper 90 degrees from front to back, pinch the area as shown in picture 2, and slightly press down the right part to expand it. Finally, rotate it 90 degrees from back to front to lay it flat.
Step 23
Now, let’s shape the crocodile’s snout. Create a mountain fold along the red dotted line in the first picture, then fold the top point backward as shown in the second picture.
Flip the paper over from left to right, and then repeat the same process for this side. Make a mountain fold along the red dotted line in the fourth picture, then fold the top point backward as shown in the fifth picture.
Step 24
Lift the layer as the first picture shows, then fold the edge indicated by the white line toward the right side along the black dotted line, and next, fold the right point of this folded layer to the left side, getting one of the crocodile’s forelimbs.
Step 25
Fold down the top point of the top layer, then fold the right point to the left side, and unfold it.
Step 26
Still this right point, fold it to the left side along the black dotted line and unfold it for 90 degrees, then expand this small flap from the bottom and squash it. Finally, fold up the bottom point.
Step 27
Flip the paper over from left to right, as you did in step 24, lift the layer as the second picture shows, then fold the edge indicated by the white line toward the left side along the black dotted line, and next, fold the left point of this folded layer to the right side, getting the crocodile’s another forelimb.
Step 28
As you did in step 25, fold down the top point of the top layer, then fold the left point to the right side, and unfold it.
Step 29
As you did in step 26, fold the left point to the right side along the black dotted line and unfold it for 90 degrees, then expand this small flap from the bottom and squash it. Finally, fold up the bottom point.
Step 30
Rotate the model 90 degrees from front to back, then expand it from the top. Next, fold the left point to the right side along the black dotted line, then fold it back to the left side for a short section. Finally, close this opening and rotate the model 90 degrees from back to front.
Step 31
Slightly bend its tail to create a natural shape.
What’s Next
Now you have completed making this cool origami crocodile. Next, check out our other origami animal tutorials. Happy folding!
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