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Origami Bear Face

Crossed side folds, short returned ears and a folded muzzle. Follow the folds one at a time, then add optional drawn features.

Preparation + 14 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm) of thin two-color origami paper. Ruler and pencil for shaping marks; optional pen for the face. No cuts or glue.

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Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Origami Bear Face: crossed side folds, short returned ears and a folded muzzle
Crossed side folds, short returned ears and a folded muzzle

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Preparation

The interactive guide needs JavaScript. Read every illustrated step below.

Camera only; does not change the fold.
Help · controls & diagram

Play or drag the progress slider to watch a fold from 0% to 100%. Use the view buttons or drag the diagram to look from another angle.

Blue and gold identify the original halves of one sheet. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange highlights moving paper and its hinge.

With the diagram focused: Space plays or pauses, ←/→ change steps, and Home resets.

Every step, at a glance

Compare your paper with each diagram after completing the action. Blue and gold identify the original halves of one sheet. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange highlights moving paper and its hinge.

  1. 0. Prepare the diamond
  2. 1. Fold the top down
  3. 2. Crease the vertical center
  4. 3. Open the vertical crease
  5. 4. Cross the right corner
  6. 5. Return the right ear
  7. 6. Cross the left corner
  8. 7. Return the left ear
  9. 8. Blunt the left ear
  10. 9. Blunt the right ear
  11. 10. Flatten the crown
  12. 11. Turn to the face
  13. 12. Lift the muzzle
  14. 13. Lower the muzzle point
  15. 14. Finish the chin
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the diamond

    PREPARATION · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Prepare the diamond

    Place a 6-inch square with a point at the top and the intended face color down. Blue and gold in the diagrams track material, not your paper colors.

    Layers: One uncut square.

    Check: Top and bottom points line up.

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  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the top down

    STEP 1 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Fold the top down

    Bring the top point to the bottom point.

    Layers: Fold the entire upper half.

    Check: The closed edge runs across the top.

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  3. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the vertical center

    STEP 2 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Crease the vertical center

    Bring the right point to the left point.

    Layers: Move the complete half sheet.

    Check: Opposite points coincide.

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  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the vertical crease

    STEP 3 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Open the vertical crease

    Open only the vertical center crease you just made. Keep the earlier top-to-bottom triangle closed and smooth it flat.

    Layers: Return the same half to the table.

    Check: The center crease remains.

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  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCross the right corner

    STEP 4 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Cross the right corner

    On the top edge mark 1.27 inches right of center. On the right slope mark a point 2.38 inches below the top edge. Fold the right corner inward along the line joining these marks.

    Layers: Carry both layers of the right corner.

    Check: The tip crosses slightly to the left of center.

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  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldReturn the right ear

    STEP 5 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Return the right ear

    Mark the top edge 0.51 inches right of center. Fold the crossed right flap outward along a line parallel to its previous crease through this mark.

    Layers: Move only the right corner packet.

    Check: A short ear projects on the right.

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  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCross the left corner

    STEP 6 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Cross the left corner

    Mirror the two marks from the right corner fold and fold the left corner inward.

    Layers: Carry both left layers without moving the returned right ear.

    Check: The left flap lies across the middle.

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  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldReturn the left ear

    STEP 7 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Return the left ear

    Mark the top edge 0.51 inches left of center. Fold the free crossed left flap outward on a line parallel to its previous fold through this mark.

    Layers: Move only the left corner packet.

    Check: Both short ears project by the same amount.

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  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBlunt the left ear

    STEP 8 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Blunt the left ear

    Fold the outermost left tip inward on a vertical line 2.46 inches left of center.

    Layers: Move the complete small ear tip.

    Check: The ear has a short straight outer edge.

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  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldBlunt the right ear

    STEP 9 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Blunt the right ear

    Repeat 2.46 inches right of center.

    Layers: Move the matching ear tip.

    Check: The ears match.

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  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFlatten the crown

    STEP 10 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Flatten the crown

    Fold the narrow top strip down along a horizontal line 0.21 inches below the original top edge.

    Layers: Carry all layers in the strip.

    Check: The upper corners are shortened.

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  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTurn to the face

    STEP 11 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Turn to the face

    Turn the complete packet over from side to side.

    Layers: Carry every layer.

    Check: The crossed folds are behind.

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  13. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldLift the muzzle

    STEP 12 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Lift the muzzle

    Fold only the front bottom point upward along a line 2.76 inches below the original top edge.

    Layers: Lift the original bottom half; leave the rear triangle down.

    Check: The front tip reaches 1.27 inches below the top.

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  14. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldLower the muzzle point

    STEP 13 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Lower the muzzle point

    Fold the raised tip toward you and down along a horizontal line 1.91 inches below the original top. Leave this small triangle on the front; do not tuck it behind the muzzle.

    Layers: Move only the raised muzzle tip.

    Check: The muzzle has a flat upper edge and a small front lip.

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  15. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFinish the chin

    STEP 14 · Origami Club diagram; measured shaping adaptation

    Finish the chin

    Fold the rear bottom tip behind along a line 3.61 inches below the original top edge. Add optional eyes and a nose.

    Layers: Move the rear lower triangle only.

    Check: Short ears and a broad light muzzle complete the bear.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Origami Club; diagram copyright credit: Fumiaki Shingu, Origami Club: Origami Bear Face (undated web diagram).

Complete reference diagram ↗ · Reference model page ↗

The reference diagram credits Fumiaki Shingu. This does not establish a traditional designation, public-domain status or a design-reuse license. Reference drawings, photographs, wording and code are not reproduced. Our English instructions, material geometry and diagrams are independently authored; no project-wide reuse license is implied.

Adaptation: Adapted from reference panels 1–9. Each ear is returned before crossing the other flap to avoid lifting a buried packet. Ear pleats and rounding positions are measured adaptations of the free dotted lines. The front muzzle tip folds onto its front rather than behind it: this leaves a small visible triangular lip and avoids an unmodeled lifting/tucking motion. The rear chin folds back. Optional ink is not additional paper.

Original instructions and diagrams, made with AI assistance. About & reuse

Accuracy notes

Real-paper follow-along and paper weight have not been tested. Diagrams illustrate the sequence, not paper thickness, contact, collisions or exact layer visibility. Rigid hinges retain the original material coordinates of one uncut square. Paired folds are separated and free shaping positions are specified with ruler landmarks. Zero-thickness teaching diagrams do not simulate thickness or certify physical foldability. Real-paper follow-along has not been tested.