How to Make an Origami Koala Bookmark

Last Updated: October 20, 2020

Koalas are easily one of the cutest animals known. Use origami to create an origami koala bookmark. These bookmarks can also be used as decoration. Creating this origami piece can also further your origami skills. You may use any origami paper colors, however, make sure both papers used are the same color.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Making the Head of Koala

1
Fold paper in half into a rectangle.
- Use smaller piece of paper!
- Crease/Press down on the edges with fingers.
2
Fold paper again, up into a square.

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3
Unfold the paper all the way.
- There should be four squares formed.
4
Fold one of the corner piece into the middle of the paper.
5
Fold adjacent corner into the middle of the paper.
6
Flip paper to backside.
7
Fold third corner into the middle of the paper.
- This fold is done on the opposite side of other folds.
8
Fold fourth corner into the middle.
- Now you should have a diamond/square shaped piece again.
- There should be two flaps folded to the middle of the paper on each side of origami piece.
9
Pick one side of the origami paper.
- Face the origami piece so that flap open towards you, as shown in picture.
10
Fold outer edge of diamond that is highlighted into the middle crease.
- Make sure the sides are exactly aligned with the middle.
- If lost here, looking at second image of next step may help.
11
Fold outer edge highlighted of left side into the middle crease.
12
Flip origami piece to opposite side.
13
Unfold flaps out as shown in image.
14
Flip back to previous side.
15
Fold the bottom corner just below the side flaps.
- The tip of bottom flap should be near the tips of side flaps.
16
Fold inner side flaps in half so they touch outer edges.
- Side flaps from the opposite side that were unfolded should still be visible after this fold.
- The end of each side flap is in the middle in the beginning.
- At the end, origami piece should look like second image.
17
Fold the top corner of the paper onto the bottom.
- Just a little above the bottom edge of the head piece.
18
Finalized koala head piece back.
19
Finalized koala head piece front.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Making the Body of Koala

1
Fold in half to form long rectangle.
- Use larger piece of paper (12 cm by 12 cm here)
2
Fold in half to form a square.
3
Unfold paper to form long rectangle.
- Two squares should be visible due to crease.
- Make sure the closed end of folded paper is to the left.
4
Press against closed side of square, opening and pressing down to form large triangle.
- Follow images in order.
- A large isosceles triangle forms, with crease in middle showing two smaller triangles.
- One tip of large triangle will face you, one will face away from you.
5
Fold triangle at top tip of square corner onto bottom triangle piece.
6
Press against closed side of other square, opening and pressing down to form large triangle.
- Follow images in order.
- A large isosceles triangle forms, with crease in middle showing two smaller triangles.
7
Fold one small triangle with tip pointing at you up onto other triangle.
- Both top and bottom sides now have two triangles/flaps.
8
Turn origami piece 45 degrees clockwise.
- Top corner should face away from you.
9
Fold the top corner of triangle almost all the way to the bottom.
10
Open up piece.
11
Turn the origami piece 45 degrees clockwise.
12
Fold one outer flap down to the corner.
- This will open up origami piece.
13
Press inner flaps down.
- Make sure to press down flaps evenly and neatly.
- Piece should look like second image shown.
14
Turn 45 degrees, so outer corners face sides.
15
Fold tips of all corners pieces in as shown
16
Open up the folded corners.
17
Glue the corner edges of body piece down.
- These are the four corners that were previously folded and then unfolded.
- Glue areas where arrows are pointing.
18
Fold paper along the middle line again to show finalized body piece.
- The arms and legs can be seen.
- Make sure to crease the edge of piece with finger.
19
Finalized body piece.
- May need to flip origami piece over if not exactly like image.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Attach and Decorate

1
Glue the inside of bottom fold, for head piece.
- Put glue in area where arrow is pointing.
- Make sure to not glue top fold with it.
2
Press down fold.
- Do not press down on top flap with bottom flap.
3
Insert corner of body piece halfway in between head piece flaps.
- Make sure body piece arms and legs point to the right.
- Make sure backside of head piece still faces up.
4
Put glue inside the top fold of head piece.
- Put glue in area where arrow is pointing.
- This step is on backside of head piece.
5
Press down the top flap of head piece.
- Image shows backside of koala.
6
Flip koala so the front faces you.
7
Put glue on top flap where arrow is pointing.
- This top flap is on the front side of koala head.
8
Press down top flap onto body piece.
- Koala should look like this from the front side.
9
Decorate finalized koala using black marker.