Meet your new paper pal: the Origami Kissing Fish! With its plump body, signature pouty lips, and short tail fins, this creation is a joy to make and play with. It is easy to make, perfect for beginners and kids; all you need is one square sheet of paper.
When you gently squeeze its head, watch it “kiss” as its mouth opens and closes. You can also personalize your fish by drawing on eyes to give it a unique expression. Let’s start folding and bring this character to life!
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: 15×15 cm
- Total steps: 20
- Difficulty: Easy
Material
With a 15 × 15 cm square sheet of origami paper, you can make a kissing fish model about 9.5 × 8 cm.
Use paper with one red side for the lips to create a funny effect.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
With the lip color facing up, make a light horizontal fold. Crease only the far left edge to mark its midpoint, then unfold.
Step 2
Fold the bottom right corner to the midpoint you just marked, and turn the paper over from left to right.
Step 3
Identify the small triangle revealed on the top-left side. Fold the top right corner of the paper to the bottom right point of this triangle. Crease and unfold.
Step 4
Flip the paper over and completely unfold it.
Step 5
Fold the right edge to align with the existing vertical crease, and unfold it.
Step 6
Fold and unfold along both diagonals.
Step 7
Fold the bottom edge up to meet the horizontal grey line that connects the two intersection points of the creases. Crease and unfold. (pictures 1-2)
Fold the top edge to meet the crease you just made, and unfold it. (pictures 3-4)
Step 8
Flip the paper over from left to right.
Step 9
Locate the small square at the bottom right, fold its bottom right corner to meet its top left corner. Leave a diagonal crease, and unfold it.
Step 10
Fold the bottom edge of this small square to align with the diagonal crease you just made. Crease and unfold.
Repeat this for its right edge.
Step 11
Continue working on the small square at the bottom right.
Fold its bottom right corner to the intersection point of creases (not the center one). Lift its bottom and right edges down to meet the center diagonal crease. This will create a tiny flap. (rabbit ear fold) Flatten this flap down to the right side, and rotate the paper 180 degrees clockwise.
Step 12
Repeat Step 9.
Locate the small square at the bottom right, fold its bottom right corner to meet its top left corner. Leave a diagonal crease, and unfold it.
Step 13
Repeat Step 10.
Fold the bottom edge of this small square to align with the diagonal crease you just made. Crease and unfold.
Repeat this for its right edge.
Step 14
Repeat Step 11.
Continue working on the small square at the bottom right.
Fold its bottom right corner to the intersection point of creases (not the center one). Lift its bottom and right edges down to meet the center diagonal crease. This will create a tiny flap. (rabbit ear fold) Flatten this flap down to the right side.
Step 15
Rotate the paper 45 degrees clockwise, then fold the left corner to the right along the black dashed line. Crease and unfold it.
Repeat this for the right corner.
Step 16
Make mountain fold along the creases indicated by the white dash-dot-dot lines. This will raise a small square in the center, creating an arched shape. (pictures 1-2)
Then, make valley fold along the black dashed lines. Based on these valley creases, push the left and right mountain creases inward toward the center. The paper will automatically collapse into the intended form. (pictures 3-4)
Finally, rotate the model 90 degrees from right to left.
Step 17
Flatten the raised flap upward so it lies flat. Then, turn the model over from left to right and flatten the corresponding raised flap downward.
Step 18
Fold the left edge of this layer to align its top edge. Then, fold the right-side top layer over to the left (pictures 1-2)
Fold the revealed flap underneath the top square upward, using the square’s bottom edge as a guide.Then fold the layer back to the right side. (pictures 3-4)
Step 19
Flip the model from front to back. Fold the left edge of the layer at the bottom side to align with its top edge. (pictures 1-2)
Fold the top layer at the right side over to the left side, then fold the revealed flap upward. Finally, fold this layer back to the right side. (pictures 3-5)
Step 20
To make it ‘kiss’, gently press its head. The mouth will open. Feel free to add eyes as shown.
What’s Next
Congratulations on your new paper companion! This is just one of many origami fish waiting to be discovered. To fold your next one, be sure to explore my other tutorials. Happy folding!
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