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Origami Monkey Face

Fold four narrow edge bands, then shape the forehead, side tabs and chin into a flat monkey face. Add optional eyes, a mouth and a short zigzag fringe.

Preparation + 13 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. Use a light face side and darker reverse for the border. Ruler and pencil for light shaping marks; optional pen for facial features. No cuts or glue.

Start the interactive guide ↓
Read all illustrated steps ↓Download PDF ↓ · one-page illustrated guide
Origami Monkey Face: a folded border around a light face with inward side tabs
A folded border around a light face with inward side tabs

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 moving paper and its hinge. Optional drawn features are ink, not extra paper.

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 moving paper and its hinge. Optional drawn features are ink, not extra paper.

  1. 0. Prepare the diamond
  2. 1. Crease vertically
  3. 2. Open the first guide
  4. 3. Crease horizontally
  5. 4. Open the cross creases
  6. 5. Fold the upper-left band
  7. 6. Fold the lower-right band
  8. 7. Fold the upper-right band
  9. 8. Fold the lower-left band
  10. 9. Lower the forehead
  11. 10. Fold the left side tab
  12. 11. Fold the right side tab
  13. 12. Fold the chin behind
  14. 13. Finish the monkey face
  1. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldPrepare the diamond

    PREPARATION · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Prepare the diamond

    Place a six-inch square light side up with one corner at the top.

    Layers: One uncut sheet.

    Check: The dark reverse will form the border.

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

    STEP 1 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Crease vertically

    Bring the right point across to the left point.

    Layers: Move the complete right half.

    Check: The side points meet.

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

    STEP 2 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Open the first guide

    Unfold completely.

    Layers: Return the same half.

    Check: The vertical center is marked.

    Explore this step ↑
  4. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldCrease horizontally

    STEP 3 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Crease horizontally

    Bring the top point down to the bottom point.

    Layers: Move the complete upper half.

    Check: The top and bottom points coincide.

    Explore this step ↑
  5. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldOpen the cross creases

    STEP 4 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Open the cross creases

    Unfold completely again.

    Layers: Return the same half.

    Check: Two creases cross at the original center.

    Explore this step ↑
  6. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the upper-left band

    STEP 5 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Fold the upper-left band

    Measure 0.36 inches inward, perpendicular to the upper-left sloping edge. Fold the narrow strip toward you along a parallel line.

    Layers: Move the entire narrow strip.

    Check: A dark band borders the light center.

    Explore this step ↑
  7. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the lower-right band

    STEP 6 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Fold the lower-right band

    Repeat with a parallel crease 0.36 inches inside the opposite lower-right edge.

    Layers: Move the complete opposite strip.

    Check: Two matching bands frame opposite sides.

    Explore this step ↑
  8. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the upper-right band

    STEP 7 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Fold the upper-right band

    Fold the upper-right edge inward by the same 0.36-inch perpendicular distance.

    Layers: Carry the whole strip, including the already-folded band end at its corner.

    Check: Three sides now have a dark border.

    Explore this step ↑
  9. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the lower-left band

    STEP 8 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Fold the lower-left band

    Repeat along the remaining lower-left edge.

    Layers: Carry every layer at both band intersections.

    Check: Four folded bands surround a smaller light diamond.

    Explore this step ↑
  10. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldLower the forehead

    STEP 9 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Lower the forehead

    Mark a horizontal line 2.38 inches above the original center. Fold the complete top corner down on this line.

    Layers: Carry all band layers in the upper corner.

    Check: A triangular forehead points into the light face.

    Explore this step ↑
  11. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the left side tab

    STEP 10 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Fold the left side tab

    Fold the left corner inward along a vertical line 2.38 inches left of the original center.

    Layers: Carry every layer of this corner.

    Check: A short triangular tab points into the left side of the face.

    Explore this step ↑
  12. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the right side tab

    STEP 11 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Fold the right side tab

    Mirror the fold on a vertical line 2.38 inches right of the original center.

    Layers: Carry the complete matching corner.

    Check: The two inward tabs frame the face symmetrically.

    Explore this step ↑
  13. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFold the chin behind

    STEP 12 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Fold the chin behind

    Fold the bottom corner away from you along a horizontal line 2.38 inches below the original center.

    Layers: Carry the full bottom packet, including its border bands, to the outside back.

    Check: The chin is flat; the front forehead and side tabs stay visible.

    Explore this step ↑
  14. END STATEOriginal left: blue · right: goldFinish the monkey face

    STEP 13 · Origami Club monkey-face diagram; measured edge bands

    Finish the monkey face

    Press the model flat. If you like, draw two eyes, a small mouth and a short zigzag fringe below the folded forehead.

    Layers: No new fold. Facial details are optional ink.

    Check: A bordered light face with inward side tabs completes the monkey.

    Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes

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

Complete monkey-face reference diagram ↗ · Reference model page ↗

The reference diagram credits Fumiaki Shingu. Traditional/public-domain status and design-reuse permission are not established. No source image, prose or code is reproduced. These instructions, material geometry and diagrams are independently authored; no project-wide reuse license is implied.

Adaptation: Follows panels 1–6: reopened cross creases, four contrasting edge bands in opposite pairs, front forehead and side-corner folds, then the bottom corner behind. Exact band and corner positions are authored six-inch landmarks for the free dotted lines. Paired actions are separated. Drawn eyes, mouth and fringe remain optional ink.

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 one continuous uncut square, carrying all previously folded band layers at every subsequent corner fold. Zero-thickness teaching diagrams are not general thickness/contact certification. Real-paper folding has not been tested.