Intro:

Origami is the beautiful and intricate art of paper folding, originating in Japan. With just a simple sheet of paper and some patience, you can create stunning and delicate sculptures. In this article, we’ll guide you step-by-step through the process of making an origami dinosaur, specifically a Tyrannosaurus Rex. This mighty creature from the prehistoric era will come to life in front of your eyes as you shape its form using these easy instructions.

Materials:

All you need is one square sheet of paper in any color or design. Choose whatever size suits your desired end product, but we recommend using a 15 x 15 cm sheet for beginner folders.

Steps:

1. Lay your square sheet of paper on a flat surface, colored/design side down if applicable. Make sure it is properly aligned with all corners pointing towards you.

2. Fold the paper diagonally in half from left to right, creating a triangle shape. Crease well and unfold.

3. Fold the paper diagonally in half again from top to bottom, forming another triangle. Crease properly and unfold.

4. You have now created an “X” on your paper with two diagonal folds. Locate the center point where these two creases intersect, then fold the top-left corner of the square down to that intersection point. At the same time, fold the bottom-right corner upwards so it touches the same point, resulting in a diamond shape.

5. Fold the left and right points of your diamond to meet precisely in the middle. Press firmly on each side to create crisp creases for both flaps.

6. Next, fold the top triangular flap downwards towards yourself – do not crease this fold entirely yet. Instead, use your fingers to pinch along the sides until they meet at the centerline, then press firmly at that intersection point and work your way outwards to either side.

7. Flip your paper over and repeat step 6 on the other side.

8. You’ll now find two loose upper and lower flaps on each side of your work. Fold the top layers (only the top layers) of both upper and lower flaps towards their respective edges, then unfold

9. Carefully pry open the pocket created by step 8 on both sides, then squash fold it down flat along with the folded creases from step 8. This forms a new set of two smaller triangular flaps.

10. Fold these newly formed triangular flaps backward along their long edge, flipping them over to the exterior side.

11. To shape the head of your T-Rex, make an inside reverse fold on the top flap more or less halfway down so that a smaller triangle sticks out. Finally, create a small angled fold inside this smaller triangle to form the T-Rex’s mouth.

12. For legs, make inside reverse-folds on both bottom flaps to create appropriately sized legs as per your preference.

13. Lastly, create a small crimp-fold near the tail end of your origami dinosaur for added detail.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully made an origami Tyrannosaurus Rex. Display your handiwork proudly and continue exploring different origami techniques to expand your repertoire of paper folding skills!