Animals · Step-by-step guide
Winged Paper Dragon
Build a small dragon with a long neck, pointed wings and a folded tail. Follow the photo panels carefully through the layered folds.
What you’ll need
- One square of thin paper
Origami · Creasing, collapse folds & shaping

Make it, step by step.
12 steps · Original diagrams with English instructions
Prepare the sheet
Open image at full size ↗Use a thin square sheet; the neck and feet contain several layers.
Make the base
Open image at full size ↗Crease both diagonals and midlines, then collapse into a square base with the opening down. Fold both side edges inward and crease the top triangle.
Sink the center
Open image at full size ↗Open the folds, reinforce the central square and collapse that square inward, following the four panels.
Fold the layered flaps
Open image at full size ↗Fold the upper section down, repeat on the remaining faces, then lift a flap upward. Make the indicated diagonal crease and reopen it.
Pinch the creases
Open image at full size ↗Make and reopen the matching crease. Pinch the creases into a raised ridge and fold that ridge to one side.
Rearrange the layers
Open image at full size ↗Repeat on the back. Turn the right front flap left and the left rear flap right; check the side view.
Shape the small points
Open image at full size ↗Open the little corner on each side. Align the indicated edges, then flatten the raised section to the left.
Separate wings and neck
Open image at full size ↗Repeat on all four small edges. Fold the broad flaps into wings and bend the narrow point into the neck.
Bend the neck
Open image at full size ↗Use the close-up to reverse-fold the long point upward, supporting its base while you press the crease.
Shape the head
Open image at full size ↗Reverse-fold the tip to make the head and adjust its angle above the body.
Flatten the tail
Open image at full size ↗Press the tail outward from its center and spread the wing folds.
Balance the dragon
Open image at full size ↗Adjust the feet, wings and tail until the dragon holds its shape.
Follow the diagrams alongside the step-by-step English instructions.
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