Little Paper Dragon

Begin with one square sheet of colored paper.

Fold and unfold along both diagonals and across the horizontal and vertical centers to make the intersecting creases shown.

Bring the left and right sides inward along the creases and flatten into a small square base, with the open corners pointing down.

Fold the lower left and lower right edges of the top layer toward the vertical center crease.

Unfold the two sides you just brought inward.

Lift the lower point of the top layer upward. Bring the sides inward along the creases and flatten to make the petal fold shown.

Fold the long flap you just lifted back down.

Open the flap and collapse along the prepared creases, flattening the layers into the shape shown in the lower-right picture.

Fold the broad upper flap downward.

Turn the model over. Repeat steps 6–8 with the broad flap on this side.

Fold the broad upper flap down on this side as well.

Lift both broad flaps, front and back, upward again.

Raise the narrow point on the right diagonally upward. Make an inside reverse fold at its base to form the neck.

Fold the long downward-pointing tip of the head upward and back to form the horn, matching the head shape in the picture.

Raise the remaining narrow point toward the left and reverse-fold it at the base to form the tail.

Work from the base of the tail toward its tip, alternating upward and downward folds to create a zigzag tail.

Hold the sides of the body and arrange the paper layers at the wing roots.

Fold the front wing down at its root, then fold it back diagonally toward the upper left.

Turn the model over. Fold the other wing down at its root, then back diagonally toward the upper right.

Fold the raised wing down toward the lower right to create the next pleat.

Fold the downward-facing wingtip up, then back down to continue the pleats. Match the pleats on the other wing.

Spread the two wings to the left and right. Gently open the middle of the body into the square-shaped back shown.

Gather the body back along its creases. Arrange the folded layers of both wings into fans.

Adjust the direction of the neck and zigzag tail to finish your little dragon.