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Flat Origami Ice Cream Cone

A pointed cone beneath three folded soft-serve ridges. Follow the moving paper, read every illustrated step or print the one-page guide.

Preparation + 19 numbered steps

Materials

6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches

One 6-inch square (15.24 cm) of thin paper with contrasting sides. Ruler and pencil for the small pleats. Optional pen for decoration. No scissors or glue.

Start the interactive guide ↓
Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Flat Origami Ice Cream Cone: a pointed cone beneath three folded soft-serve ridges
A pointed cone beneath three folded soft-serve ridges

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 identifies the moving layers and 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 identifies the moving layers and hinge.

  1. 0. Prepare a diamond
  2. 1. Crease the vertical diagonal
  3. 2. Open the diamond
  4. 3. Fold the left cone edge
  5. 4. Fold the right cone edge
  6. 5. Open the right cream flap outward
  7. 6. Open the left cream flap outward
  8. 7. Turn the model over
  9. 8. Tidy the right projecting edge
  10. 9. Tidy the left projecting edge
  11. 10. Narrow the upper right edge
  12. 11. Narrow the upper left edge
  13. 12. Turn to the cream side
  14. 13. Start the broad cream pleat
  15. 14. Return the point upward
  16. 15. Make the middle ridge
  17. 16. Return the middle point
  18. 17. Make the smallest ridge
  19. 18. Raise the final tip
  20. 19. Finish the cream side
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare a diamond

    PREPARATION · Linked complete construction reference

    Prepare a diamond

    Place the square with a corner pointing upward and the cone color underneath. The reverse face will become the cream.

    Layers: One uncut square.

    Check: The top and bottom points lie on a vertical line.

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

    STEP 1 · Linked complete construction reference

    Crease the vertical diagonal

    Bring the right corner across to the left corner.

    Layers: Move the full right half.

    Check: The diagonal from the top to bottom point is creased.

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

    STEP 2 · Linked complete construction reference

    Open the diamond

    Open the paper completely.

    Layers: Return the same half.

    Check: The center crease is visible.

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

    STEP 3 · Linked complete construction reference

    Fold the left cone edge

    Bring the lower left sloping edge onto the vertical center crease.

    Layers: Move the entire left corner triangle.

    Check: The bottom point stays fixed.

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

    STEP 4 · Linked complete construction reference

    Fold the right cone edge

    Bring the lower right edge onto the same center crease.

    Layers: Move the right corner triangle.

    Check: The two long folded edges meet to form a kite.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the right cream flap outward

    STEP 5 · Linked complete construction reference

    Open the right cream flap outward

    On the raised right flap, fold its upper inner corner down and outward. Use a 45-degree diagonal through its outer shoulder so the flap’s top horizontal edge becomes vertical.

    Layers: Move only the raised right flap; keep the backing still.

    Check: The returned flap makes a square corner at the right shoulder.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the left cream flap outward

    STEP 6 · Linked complete construction reference

    Open the left cream flap outward

    Mirror the right return on the left, turning its horizontal top edge into a vertical outer edge.

    Layers: Move only the raised left flap.

    Check: Two broad cream flaps meet above the pointed cone.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTurn the model over

    STEP 7 · Linked complete construction reference

    Turn the model over

    Turn the complete kite from side to side.

    Layers: Keep both returned flaps folded.

    Check: Small flap ends project beyond the long cone edges.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTidy the right projecting edge

    STEP 8 · Linked complete construction reference

    Tidy the right projecting edge

    Fold the small projecting right flap inward along the long sloping outline of the cone behind it.

    Layers: Move only the paper outside that outline.

    Check: The right edge is straight.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTidy the left projecting edge

    STEP 9 · Linked complete construction reference

    Tidy the left projecting edge

    Fold the matching left projection inward along the cone outline.

    Layers: Leave the broad central paper still.

    Check: Both lower edges are tidy.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldNarrow the upper right edge

    STEP 10 · Linked complete construction reference

    Narrow the upper right edge

    Bring the upper right sloping edge to the vertical center, keeping the top point fixed.

    Layers: Carry the complete upper right corner packet.

    Check: The upper half is narrower on the right.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldNarrow the upper left edge

    STEP 11 · Linked complete construction reference

    Narrow the upper left edge

    Bring the upper left sloping edge to the same center line.

    Layers: Carry the complete left corner packet.

    Check: The upper edges meet at the center.

    Explore this step ↑
  13. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldTurn to the cream side

    STEP 12 · Linked complete construction reference

    Turn to the cream side

    Turn the entire model over.

    Layers: Keep all existing folds closed.

    Check: A tall cream-colored point rises above the cone.

    Explore this step ↑
  14. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldStart the broad cream pleat

    STEP 13 · Linked complete construction reference

    Start the broad cream pleat

    Measure 2.14 inches down from the top tip. Fold the whole upper point down along a horizontal line at that mark.

    Layers: Carry every layer of the upper point.

    Check: A horizontal edge forms the lowest broad cream ridge.

    Explore this step ↑
  15. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldReturn the point upward

    STEP 14 · Linked complete construction reference

    Return the point upward

    On the lowered point, measure 0.15 inch below its new top folded edge. Fold the lower part back upward there.

    Layers: Move only the point lowered in the previous step.

    Check: A narrow zigzag pleat leaves the point facing upward.

    Explore this step ↑
  16. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldMake the middle ridge

    STEP 15 · Linked complete construction reference

    Make the middle ridge

    Measure 1.14 inches down from the raised tip. Fold that upper portion down horizontally.

    Layers: Carry the whole raised point, leaving the first pleat still.

    Check: A smaller horizontal ridge sits above the first.

    Explore this step ↑
  17. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldReturn the middle point

    STEP 16 · Linked complete construction reference

    Return the middle point

    Make another return fold 0.15 inch below the newest folded edge, lifting the tip upward.

    Layers: Move only the point just lowered.

    Check: Two paired pleats are complete.

    Explore this step ↑
  18. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldMake the smallest ridge

    STEP 17 · Linked complete construction reference

    Make the smallest ridge

    Measure 0.44 inch down from the raised tip and fold the upper portion down.

    Layers: Keep the two lower ridges still.

    Check: The smallest ridge is above the middle ridge.

    Explore this step ↑
  19. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldRaise the final tip

    STEP 18 · Linked complete construction reference

    Raise the final tip

    Fold the tip upward once more on a line 0.15 inch below the newest folded edge.

    Layers: Move only the latest lowered tip packet.

    Check: A small point rises above three graduated cream ridges.

    Explore this step ↑
  20. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFinish the cream side

    STEP 19 · Linked complete construction reference

    Finish the cream side

    Keep this cream side facing you and press the three ridges gently. Add drawn sprinkles if you wish.

    Layers: Keep all existing folds closed; do not pull the pleats apart.

    Check: The finished flat decoration has a pointed cone and a stepped soft-serve top. It is not a container.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

Origami Way, Origami Way: Flat Origami Ice Cream Cone (web tutorial).

Construction reference ↗

The linked publisher documents this construction; it does not identify its original designer. This guide does not claim traditional authorship or a license to reuse the reference photographs or prose. The instructions, diagrams and animation here are independently authored. No reference media is reproduced.

Adaptation: Scales the reference’s 7-inch square to 6 inches. The complete kite, outward flaps, side cleanups and narrowed upper edges precede three paired pleats. Each pleat loses 0.3 inch of height; its return crease is 0.15 inch from its closing crease. Exact ruler landmarks replace approximate photo spacing. Optional drawn facial features are omitted from the diagrams. For the final display, keep the clean cream side facing forward rather than following the reference text’s last turnover, which exposes the folded cleanup flaps in this construction.

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. Continuous rigid hinges preserve the original material coordinates, including hidden layers. Display openings and measured shaping landmarks are specified in the instructions. Zero-thickness teaching diagrams do not simulate paper thickness or certify physical foldability. Physical folding and stability have not been tested.