Paper animals
Fold a 3D animal from one printed sheet
Pick an animal, give it colors and a face, then print. It folds from a single square with no glue, and stands up on its own when you are done. Every picture is printed exactly where it shows once folded.
- One square, one cut
- 9 picture steps
- Stands up in 3D
- For ages 6 to 15
This is how it looks once folded. Drag it to turn it around.
Design it
The preview and the folding steps update as you go.
Animal
Body color
Marking color
Used for ears, legs, tails and patterns.
Pattern
Face
Optional. Printed at the top of the sheet.
Paper
Animal size
Color it yourself
Prints black outlines only, ready for crayons or pens.
Prints two pages on A4: the sheet for your paper panda, and the folding steps. To keep a copy, choose Save as PDF in the print window.
How to fold
Nine folds to a standing animal
These steps print on the second page, and every picture changes with your design. No glue, no tape, just one cut around the square.
- 1
Cut out the square
Cut along the dashed line around the picture. Ask a grown-up to help with the scissors.
- 2
Fold in half, then open
Turn the square over so the picture is face down. Fold the bottom edge up to the top edge, press the fold flat, then open it again.
- 3
Fold the bottom door
Fold the bottom edge up so it touches the middle line.
- 4
Fold the top door
Fold the top edge down so it touches the middle line too.
Check: the two doors meet in the middle and you can see the picture on both.
- 5
Fold in half
Fold the bottom half up along the middle, so the two doors are hidden inside.
- 6
Turn it over
Turn the model over from top to bottom, so the long folded edge is at the top.
Check: you can see the body picture, with the front end on the left.
- 7
Crease the head
Fold the left end up along the dotted line, through all the layers. Press hard, then fold it back down.
- 8
Push the head up
Open the bottom layers a little. Push the left end up between them along the fold you just made, then press it flat again.
Check: the head now stands straight up at the front.
- 9
Stand it up
Gently open the bottom of the body so your animal stands on its own. All done!
Use thin paper
Plain printer paper works best. Card is too thick to fold through this many layers.
Make sharp folds
Line the edges up first, then run your fingernail along every fold to press it flat.
Ask for help
Step 8 is the trickiest. A grown-up can help open the layers the first time.