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Flat Origami Egg

Shape a kite into a small egg decoration. Follow every fold, compare the front and back, and finish a small flat paper decoration.

Preparation + 11 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 the marked shaping folds; optional pen for decoration. No scissors or glue.

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Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Flat Origami Egg: shape a kite into a small egg decoration
Shape a kite into a small egg decoration

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 identify the original left and right halves, not the literal colors of your paper. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange marks 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 left and right halves, not the literal colors of your paper. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange marks moving paper and its hinge.

  1. 0. Prepare the diamond
  2. 1. Crease the center
  3. 2. Open the diamond
  4. 3. Fold the right edge in
  5. 4. Fold the left edge in
  6. 5. Shorten the lower point
  7. 6. Shorten the upper point
  8. 7. Round the upper right
  9. 8. Round the upper left
  10. 9. Round the lower right
  11. 10. Round the lower left
  12. 11. Turn over the egg
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the diamond

    PREPARATION · Source-linked flat decoration

    Prepare the diamond

    Set a corner at the top with the intended egg color facing down.

    Layers: One uncut square.

    Check: Top and bottom points are vertically aligned.

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

    STEP 1 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Crease the center

    Fold the right point to the left point.

    Layers: Move the full right half.

    Check: The top and bottom points stay fixed.

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

    STEP 2 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Open the diamond

    Return the right half fully to the table.

    Layers: Open the same half.

    Check: The vertical center line is visible.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the right edge in

    STEP 3 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Fold the right edge in

    Bring the upper right sloping edge onto the center crease.

    Layers: Move the right corner flap.

    Check: The old sloping edge lies on the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the left edge in

    STEP 4 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Fold the left edge in

    Match the upper left edge to the center crease.

    Layers: Move the left corner flap.

    Check: The two folded edges meet without overlapping.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldShorten the lower point

    STEP 5 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Shorten the lower point

    Mark a horizontal line 1.49 inches above the bottom point. Fold the point up on this line.

    Layers: Carry all layers below the mark.

    Check: The bottom is now flat.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldShorten the upper point

    STEP 6 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Shorten the upper point

    Mark a horizontal line 2.55 inches below the top point and fold the upper point down.

    Layers: Carry the full upper packet.

    Check: A short flat edge replaces the sharp top.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRound the upper right

    STEP 7 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Round the upper right

    On the current flat top edge, mark a point 0.93 inches right of the center crease. Through this mark, make a crease sloping down to the right at 45 degrees. Fold the small upper-right corner inward.

    Layers: Carry every layer in that corner.

    Check: The top-right corner is beveled.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRound the upper left

    STEP 8 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Round the upper left

    Mirror the previous 45-degree shaping fold on the left.

    Layers: Move the full matching corner.

    Check: Both upper shoulders match.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRound the lower right

    STEP 9 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Round the lower right

    At the widest part, measure 2 inches right of the center line. Fold the small outer corner inward along a vertical crease through that mark.

    Layers: Move the whole corner packet.

    Check: A short straight side joins the sloping upper and lower shoulders.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRound the lower left

    STEP 10 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Round the lower left

    Repeat along a vertical line 2 inches left of the center.

    Layers: Carry all layers in the matching corner.

    Check: The two short sides match, with a broader lower half.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTurn over the egg

    STEP 11 · Source-linked flat decoration

    Turn over the egg

    Turn the whole model over and smooth it flat. Add optional drawn stripes or dots.

    Layers: Keep all shaping flaps behind.

    Check: The plain front is ready for a card or seasonal display.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Traditional model family; photographic tutorial by Origami Guide, Origami Guide: Flat Origami Egg (web tutorial).

Reference photographs and instructions ↗ · Source attribution and copyright information ↗

Origami Guide labels the reference Traditional. That attribution is separate from rights in its photographs and text. No reference photographs, diagrams or prose are reproduced here. These instructions, geometry and drawings are original; no project-wide reuse license is implied.

Adaptation: Uses the flat egg through source step 9, without the optional standing fold. Source shaping folds have no exact landmarks; this guide supplies measured, symmetric positions on a 6-inch square. The result has straight folded edges rather than a curved surface.

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-axis teaching folds retain the material coordinates of one uncut square. Exact shaping landmarks are authored adaptations. Zero-thickness diagrams do not simulate paper thickness or prove physical foldability. Real-paper folding has not been tested.