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Paper Play

Animals

Pajarita (little bird)

The traditional Spanish paper bird, folded for over 200 years. Fold a windmill-style base in half and the head pops out.

  • DifficultyIntermediate
  • PaperSquare, 15 × 15 cm
  • Steps13
  • About10 min

Why this level: After many fold-and-unfold creases, three swivel folds pull the hidden corners out to the side.

You need: 1 sheet of origami paper

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Steps at a glance

  1. 1. Crease both diagonals

    White side up. Fold one corner to the opposite corner and unfold, then do the same along the other diagonal.

  2. 2. Fold the four corners to the centre

    Fold each corner to the centre point.

  3. 3. Turn over

    Turn the whole model over.

  4. 4. Crease the corners to the centre

    Fold each of the four corners to the centre point and unfold again.

  5. 5. Unfold the corners behind

    Unfold the four corners folded behind. The coloured side is up and the paper shows a grid of creases.

  6. 6. Fold the right edge to the centre

    Fold the right edge to the vertical centre line, along the existing crease.

  7. 7. Fold the bottom up and swivel out the corner

    Fold the bottom edge up to the horizontal centre line. Lift the lower part of the right flap so its hidden corner swings out to the right, then flatten.

  8. 8. Fold the top-left corner behind

    Fold the top-left corner behind along the existing slanted crease.

  9. 9. Fold the left side in and swivel out the corner

    Fold the left edge to the vertical centre line. Lift the left part of the bottom flap so its corner swings out downward, then flatten.

  10. 10. Fold the top down and swivel out the corner

    Fold the top down to the horizontal centre line. Lift the upper part of the right flap so its hidden corner swings out to the right, then flatten.

  11. 11. Turn over

    Turn the whole model over. A small coloured square shows at the top right.

  12. 12. Fold in half: head and tail

    Lift the coloured square slightly and fold the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner along the diagonal. The coloured square folds in half the other way (mountain) and pops out to the right as the head. The lower flap of the left point stays where it is and becomes the tail.

  13. 13. Open it and stand it up

    Spread the two halves of the body slightly apart and keep the coloured head and the tail in the middle. Stand the bird on its tail and its two feet — your pajarita is done!

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