Origami Elephant Instructions; There is a saying that an elephant never forgets, and once you learn to fold this charming paper model, you won’t forget it either!
In many cultures, the elephant is a powerful symbol of wisdom, strength, and good fortune. In Feng Shui, an elephant with its trunk pointing upward is said to shower good luck and prosperity upon the home.
In this tutorial, we will show you how to fold a classic Origami Elephant. This model is a “side view” design, meaning it stands up on its own and looks like it is walking across your desk. It is an low-intermediate level fold—perfect for those who have mastered the paper crane or simple boat and are ready for the next step.
Grab a sheet of grey (or lucky red) paper, and let’s make some magic!
🐘 Fun Facts: The Gentle Giants
Before we start folding, here are a few facts to share with your kids or students:
- Muscles in the Trunk: An elephant’s trunk has over 40,000 muscles! (For comparison, humans have roughly 600 muscles in our entire bodies).
- Left or Right Handed? Just like humans, elephants are “left-tusked” or “right-tusked.” They use one tusk more than the other for digging and lifting.
- The Ears: You can tell where an elephant is from by its ears. African elephants have large ears shaped like the continent of Africa. Asian elephants have smaller, rounder ears.
What You Need
- Paper: 1 sheet of square origami paper (6×6 inches / 15×15 cm).
- Color: Grey is realistic, but Blue or Red are fun for decorative elephants.
- Marker: A black marker to draw the eyes.
- Scissors: (Optional) To shape the legs if you want a more detailed look.
Instructions: The Origami Elephant
Difficulty: Low-Intermediate
1.Start with a square piece of paper.
2.Fold and unfold.
3.Fold the edges to the center.
4.Fold behind.
5.Precrease the angle bisector. Repeat behind.
6.Precrease the angle bisector. Repeat behind.
7.Reverse-fold. Repeat behind.
8.Repeat behind.
9.Repeat behind.
10.Precrease. Repeat behind.
11.Fold to point. Repeat behind.
12.Fold back. Repeat behind.
13.Unfold.
14.Precrease.
15.Precrease.
16.Fold to half.
17.Precrease. Turn over.
18.Fold through the corners so that the point falls on the line.
19.Squash fold to taste.
20.Pleat, then fold in half.
21.Reverse fold. Repeat behind.
22.Squash fold.
23.Fold behind.
24.Swivel the trunk outward.
25.Reverse fold. Repeat behind.
26.Reverse fold.
27.Reverse fold.
28.Finished!
Troubleshooting Tips
- Paper Tearing at the Trunk: The trunk involves a few layers of paper. When doing the reverse fold, be gentle. If the paper is too thick (like construction paper), it might rip. Standard thin origami paper works best.
- Elephant Won’t Stand: If your elephant is toppling over, check the legs. Ensure the folds are symmetrical. You can also press the feet flat against the table to create a wider base.
Make a Parade!
In the wild, elephants live in herds led by a matriarch. Why not fold a whole family? You can use 6-inch paper for the parents and 3-inch paper (cut a square into four) for the baby calves.
Did your elephant bring you luck? We hope so! Snap a photo of your herd and tag us with #CraftsHuddle so we can see your creations.
