This is a highly realistic and impressive origami lizard with detailed limbs, a slender body, and a natural posture. It may even scare you when you accidentally see the finished product, haha. This origami is suitable for beginners looking for a challenge and for expert folders to practice their skills.
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
- Difficulty: Middle
Material
Prepare a piece of 15×15 cm origami square paper, with different colors on each side, to create a 9×10 cm origami lizard. Experiment with different colors and patterns, making your product more unique.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Place the paper with the desired display color side down to begin folding, fold it in half vertically, and unfold it.
Step 2
Fold it in half horizontally, and unfold it.
Step 3
Flip the paper over from the left to the right.
Step 4
Fold the top left and right edges to align with the vertical crease.
Step 5
Fold the right edge of the left white triangle to align with its left edge, and unfold it.
Fold the left edge of the right white triangle to align with its right edge, and unfold it.
Step 6
Fold the bottom edges of the left and right triangles to align with their left and right edges respectively, and unfold them.
Step 7
Sharpen the bottom right corner of the left triangle and the bottom left corner of the right triangle, and all the required creases exist. Then flatten these two corners upward.
Step 8
Turn over the paper 180 degrees from left to right.
Step 9
Fold the top left and right edges to align with the vertical crease.
Step 10
Fold the bottom left and right edges to align with the vertical crease, and unfold them.
Step 11
Unfold the top two layers, fold up the two bottom edges, shape the two red dotted lines shown in the third picture, and finally flatten the fold.
Step 12
Flip the paper over from left to right, then rotate it 90 degrees counterclockwise, and finally fold it in half horizontally from bottom to top.
Step 13
Fold down the top point of the middle small triangle, then unfold this layer, and rotate the paper 90 degrees from front to back.
Step 14
Mountain fold the creases indicated by the red dotted lines to form a triangle, then valley fold the creases indicated by the black dotted lines, press down the intersection point, and finally, fold the small flap on the bottom to the left side.
Step 15
Rotate it 90 degrees from back to front, then fold down the top point, crease it well, and unfold it.
Step 16
Rotate it 90 degrees from front to back, and unfold the layer you folded in the previous step.
Next, as you did in step 14, mountain fold the creases indicated by the red dotted lines to form a triangle.
Step 17
Then, valley fold the creases indicated by the black dotted lines, press down the intersection point, and next, fold the small flap on the bottom to the right side. Finally, rotate the paper 90 degrees from back to front, to lay it flat.
Step 18
Rotate it 180 degrees from left to right, then fold down the top point of the small triangle in the middle, and unfold it.
Step 19
Expand this layer, and rotate the paper 90 degrees from front to back.
Next, as you did in step 14, mountain fold the creases indicated by the red dotted lines to form a triangle. Then, valley fold the creases indicated by the black dotted lines, press down the intersection point. After that, fold the small flap on the bottom to the right side. Finally, rotate the paper 90 degrees from back to front to lay it flat.
Step 20
Fold down the top point of the paper, leaving a crease then unfold it, then rotate it 90 degrees from front to back, and expand the layer you folded.
Next, mountain fold the creases indicated by the red dotted lines to form a triangle. Then, valley fold the creases indicated by the black dotted lines, and press down the intersection point. After that, fold the small flap on the bottom to the left side.
Step 21
Fold the top and bottom parts backward, then fold the top and bottom right edges to align with the horizontal crease, and fold the left point toward the right side.
Step 22
Fold the top and bottom left corners to meet the horizontal crease along the black dotted lines, then fold the paper in half horizontally from bottom to top.
Step 23
Fold this layer to the left side, then fold its top left point down along the dotted line, and next, fold the layer back to the right. Finally, fold it to the left side for a short section, getting a zigzag shape, that is one of its hind feet.
Step 24
As shown in the picture, fold this layer to the right and then fold down its top right point along the diagonally dotted line. Next, fold this layer back to the left, fold its left point toward the right side, and finally, fold it back to the left side for a short section along the dotted line. That is one of its forelimbs.
Step 25
Rotate it 180 degrees from left to right to flip it over to create another forelimb and hind feet.
As shown in the picture, fold this layer to the right side, then fold its top right point along the diagonally dotted line.
Next, fold the right point of this layer to the left side, then fold it back to the right side along the dotted lines, creating another hind foot.
Step 26
Similarly, fold this layer to the left side, then fold its top left point along the diagonally dotted line. Next, fold it back to the right side, then fold its right point to the left side, and back to the right side for a short section along the dotted lines, that is the other forelimb.
Step 27
Rotate it 90 degrees from front to back, and slightly bend the tail, then rotate it 90 degrees from back to front.
Step 28
Draw eyes for your lovely origami lizard.
What’s Next
This is the final shape of an origami lizard, it is cool. Now you can explore our other origami animal instructions. Happy folding!
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