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Origami Elephant Face

Fold two outward ears, raise and return the trunk, then turn over a flat elephant face. Add eyes with a pen if you like.

Preparation + 15 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

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

Start the interactive guide ↓
Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Origami Elephant Face: wide folded ears and a long pleated trunk from one square
Wide folded ears and a long pleated trunk from one square

Follow along

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 track the original halves of one sheet, not your paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange highlights the 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 track the original halves of one sheet, not your paper colors. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange highlights the moving paper and its hinge.

  1. 0. Prepare the diamond
  2. 1. Crease the vertical center
  3. 2. Open the vertical crease
  4. 3. Crease the horizontal center
  5. 4. Open the horizontal crease
  6. 5. Lower the top point
  7. 6. Fold the right side inward
  8. 7. Open out the right ear
  9. 8. Fold the left side inward
  10. 9. Open out the left ear
  11. 10. Raise the trunk
  12. 11. Return the trunk downward
  13. 12. Round the right crown
  14. 13. Round the left crown
  15. 14. Turn to the elephant face
  16. 15. Add an optional face
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the diamond

    PREPARATION · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Prepare the diamond

    Place the square with a point at the top and the intended face color down.

    Layers: One uncut square.

    Check: Top and bottom points line up.

    Explore this step ↑
  2. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the vertical center

    STEP 1 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Crease the vertical center

    Bring the right point across to the left point.

    Layers: Move the whole half sheet.

    Check: The opposite points meet.

    Explore this step ↑
  3. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the vertical crease

    STEP 2 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Open the vertical crease

    Unfold completely and smooth the square.

    Layers: Return the same half to the table.

    Check: A straight center crease remains.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease the horizontal center

    STEP 3 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Crease the horizontal center

    Bring the top point down to the bottom point.

    Layers: Move the whole half sheet.

    Check: The opposite points meet.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the horizontal crease

    STEP 4 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Open the horizontal crease

    Unfold completely and smooth the square.

    Layers: Return the same half to the table.

    Check: A straight center crease remains.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldLower the top point

    STEP 5 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Lower the top point

    Bring the top point to the crossing of the center creases.

    Layers: Move the upper corner only.

    Check: A level top edge replaces the upper point.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the right side inward

    STEP 6 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Fold the right side inward

    Fold along the line from the right end of the new top edge to the bottom point.

    Layers: Move the right side of the sheet. The lowered top flap stays inside the hinge.

    Check: The right tip lies just left of center.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen out the right ear

    STEP 7 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Open out the right ear

    Keep the upper-right end of the top edge fixed. Fold the free right flap outward until its outer edge is vertical. Its free corner finishes 3 inches below that fixed point.

    Layers: Move only the right side packet; leave the central backing still.

    Check: The right ear has a straight vertical outer edge.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the left side inward

    STEP 8 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Fold the left side inward

    Mirror the right inward fold, joining the left end of the top edge to the bottom point.

    Layers: Carry the complete left packet; keep the returned right ear still.

    Check: The free left tip crosses slightly to the right.

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  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen out the left ear

    STEP 9 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Open out the left ear

    Fold the left packet outward around the upper-left end of the top edge. Align its outer edge vertically, matching the right ear.

    Layers: Move only the left packet.

    Check: The two ears end at the same height.

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  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRaise the trunk

    STEP 10 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Raise the trunk

    Fold the long lower point upward along the horizontal line joining the bottoms of the ears.

    Layers: Carry every layer below the ear bottoms. Keep the broad ears flat.

    Check: The trunk tip rises a little above the top edge.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldReturn the trunk downward

    STEP 11 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Return the trunk downward

    On the raised trunk, mark a horizontal line half an inch above its lower folded edge. Fold the upper part down on that line.

    Layers: Move only the raised trunk packet; retain the narrow doubled band at its root.

    Check: A long tapered trunk hangs below both ears.

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  13. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRound the right crown

    STEP 12 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Round the right crown

    Mark 0.64 inches inward along the top edge from the right corner and 0.64 inches down its outer edge. Fold the corner inward on the line joining the marks.

    Layers: Carry all layers in the small corner.

    Check: The right top corner becomes a short diagonal.

    Explore this step ↑
  14. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRound the left crown

    STEP 13 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Round the left crown

    Mirror the two 0.64-inch marks and fold the left corner inward.

    Layers: Move the complete matching corner.

    Check: The crown has two matching sloping shoulders.

    Explore this step ↑
  15. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTurn to the elephant face

    STEP 14 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Turn to the elephant face

    Turn the entire model over from side to side. Keep the trunk pointing down.

    Layers: Turn all layers together.

    Check: A broad face sits between two ears above the tapered trunk.

    Explore this step ↑
  16. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldAdd an optional face

    STEP 15 · Origami Club elephant-face diagram; measured adaptation

    Add an optional face

    Smooth the folds. If you like, draw two eyes above the trunk and a small curved mouth beside its root.

    Layers: No new fold or extra paper; the marks are optional ink.

    Check: The elephant face is ready for a flat display.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Origami Club; diagram copyright credit: Fumiaki Shingu, Origami Club: A Elephant (face) (undated web diagram).

Complete reference diagram ↗ · Reference model page ↗

The reference diagram credits Fumiaki Shingu. This credit does not establish traditional status, public-domain status or a design-reuse license. Reference artwork, text and code are not reproduced. These English instructions, geometry and diagrams are independently authored; no project-wide reuse license is implied.

Adaptation: Follows panels 1–9: cross creases, lowered top, inward sides, outward ears, raised and returned trunk, clipped crown and turnover. Each ear is returned immediately after its inward fold so it stays accessible. Free ear shaping is fixed by aligning the outer edge vertically; the trunk return and crown clips use authored ruler marks. These are measured teaching choices, not measurements asserted by the source. Optional facial ink is learner-drawn, not added 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 folds preserve the immutable material coordinates of one uncut six-inch square, including carried top-flap material and both trunk pleat hinges. Zero-thickness diagrams are not a finite-thickness or physical-foldability certificate. Real-paper follow-along has not been tested.