How to Make an Origami Walrus

Origami is a beautiful form of art, and one of the best art forms in which to create a walrus. Alright, so not everyone would rank a walrus as the winner of a beauty contest, but when you make one using origami, rest assured that you're creating a thing of . . . well, paper.

Things You'll Need

• Square piece of paper

Instructions

Create the Base Shape

1. Crease a square piece of paper diagonally, then unfold and repeat using the other two corners. Turn so that one crease is horizontal.

2. Fold the left edges to the middle crease. It should look like a sideways kite with two long triangles on the left and one triangle on the right. Fold the right edges to the middle crease, creating two smaller triangles.

3. Unfold the last two triangles you made. On each, pull the inner corner toward you and pinch together like a mini-mohawk. Push the "mohawk" to the right, again making two longer triangles on the left and two smaller on the right.

Let the Walrus (Un)fold

1. Flip the whole thing over and lift the bottom half up. Your shape should look like a short, stubby mountain. Fold the smaller wing to the left so that the diagonal part of the triangle becomes vertical, pointing straight down from the upper tip of the larger triangle.

2. Lift the right side of the large triangle up and align it with the upper diagonal of the triangle you just made, then fold the small triangle made with this fold underneath and modify the crease to make it line up with the fin on the front side.

3. Turn the tip of the left corner of the large triangle up so that the line that was its base is now vertical. Move that shape to the other side by putting the triangle back, then folding it along the same crease underneath.

4. Take the large triangle on the right that is pointing upwards and fold it on the other side, just like the other two triangles, only sandwich this one between the main back portion and what is now the back fin. You have now made the neck.

5. Move the upper tip to form a beak, folding it behind the neck. The upper left portion of the neck becomes the horizontal line for the beak.

6. Tear about a third of the way down the beak's crease to create the tusks. Fold one pointing downward on each side.

7. Bend the tip of each fin outward, making a horizontal line. Set your creation down, step back, and admire your walrus.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep other sheets of paper on hand to practice on first.