How to Make a Baby Origami Jumping Frog

Origami can be fun for parents and children.

Origami is the popular art of folding paper that was developed by the Chinese. You typically would use washi, an origami paper, in the craft, but to make a jumping frog you might need something stiffer, like an index card.

Things You'll Need

• 3-by-5 index card or washi cut to size

Instructions

1. Turn the card so that a 3-inch side is on top. Take the top of the card and fold it down about a third of the way.

2. Open the card again. Take a top corner and fold it down to the side until the edges align. Do the same with the other top corner.

3. Open the paper again. You have some creases in your paper from the folding. Push in the sides of that top area until it forms a triangle at the top of the paper. Smooth the paper, making the folds stay in place better. This creates the head of the origami frog.

4. Take the top layer portion of the upper triangle and fold each side toward the top of the triangle.

5. Fold the side corners of each of the triangles you just folded toward the middle. These will be the front legs of the origami jumping frog.

6. Fold each of the sides at the bottom of the card in toward the middle.

7. Bring the bottom edge up toward the top so that the bottom edge meets the triangle folds. Fold it back down to meet the previous fold line, making an accordion fold.

8. Flip the paper over so that the folds are now on the surface. You have made an origami jumping frog. You can draw eyes on the frog, draw swirls on its back, or color it any way you like. To make the origami frog jump, press down on its back end, causing it to spring into action.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider using different colors of index cards, paper or card stock (cut to a 3 x 5 size) for your paper folding to make different colors of this easy origami frog.

References

• Lisa Shea's Handmade Origami Creations: Origami Terms Glossary