{"title":"How to Fold an Origami Butterfly","canonicalUrl":"https://www.craftingstepbystep.com/paper-crafts/how-to-fold-an-origami-butterfly","category":{"slug":"paper-crafts","name":"Paper Crafts"},"creator":{"name":"Nishiegami","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5717AVDiZUP1dRpk7Jd8XQ","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0628i-4zRY"},"tldr":"Learn how to make an origami butterfly from one square of paper. Simple step-by-step folds for a pretty paper butterfly, great for beginners.","totalDurationSeconds":476,"difficulty":"medium","tools":["bone folder","ruler"],"materials":["square origami paper (6-inch)","patterned origami paper pack"],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Step 1: Fold the Square Into a Triangle","text":"Start with a square sheet, colored side down. Fold it corner to corner so you get a triangle, then press the crease flat with your finger or a bone folder. Open it and fold the other diagonal the same way. You want two clean creases crossing at the center. Sharp creases now save you trouble later, so take your time on these first two folds."},{"number":2,"title":"Step 2: Add the Cross Creases","text":"Open the paper back to a flat square. Now fold it in half side to side, then top to bottom, so you build a second set of creases running straight across. When you are done you should see an X from the diagonals plus a plus sign from these folds. All of those crease lines guide the collapse in the next step, so make each one firm."},{"number":3,"title":"Step 3: Collapse Into a Triangle Base","text":"Here is the fun part. Push the two side creases inward and let the top and bottom drop together. The paper folds down on the lines you already made and flattens into a smaller triangle with loose flaps tucked on each side. This is the classic waterbomb base. Press it flat once the corners meet so it holds its shape."},{"number":4,"title":"Step 4: Fold the Bottom Flaps Up","text":"Point the triangle up so the open corners sit at the bottom. Take the two lower corner flaps and fold them up toward the top point. They should stand out a little, like small tabs. These become the shaping for the lower wings, so keep both sides even. Line them against each other and crease firmly."},{"number":5,"title":"Step 5: Shape the Upper Wings","text":"Fold the top point down over the flaps you just made, then flip the model over. Now open and spread the two upper wings so they fan out from the center. This is where the butterfly starts to look like one. Gently coax each wing open with your fingers and set the crease at the base so the wings stay lifted."},{"number":6,"title":"Step 6: Form the Body and Lower Wings","text":"Pinch along the center line to raise a ridge down the middle. That ridge is the body, and it holds the two sides of the butterfly together. As you pinch, the lower wings drop into place under the upper pair. Run your fingers down the crease to set it. You should now have four distinct wings around a raised body."},{"number":7,"title":"Step 7: Curl the Antennae and Finish","text":"Two thin points stick out from the front of the body. Roll each one around a toothpick or your fingernail to curl them into antennae. That small touch turns a folded shape into a real butterfly. Give the wings one last spread and you are done. Set it on a shelf, tape it to a card, or fold a few in different colors."}],"recipe":null,"lastUpdated":"2026-07-07T16:01:15.630Z","published":"2026-07-07T15:57:42.918Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit ShowMeStepByStep with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure."}