Just For Fun Origami Bracelet
Create these adorable and fun origami bracelets using any type of paper! When you’re done, continue the paper jewelry fun and make these paper bead bracelets. This post contains affiliate links.
These origami bracelets are a classic childhood staple – like friendship bracelets for when all you have on hand is paper! They’re easy and fun to make, with a repetitive folding pattern that lets you get into a relaxing rhythm. It’s one of those “fidget crafts” that keep the hands busy and are fun to make again and again.
Paper isn’t quite as durable as string, but these are so fun and easy that you can keep making replacements with different colors and designs to match your mood or outfit of the day. Keep them, gift them, trade them, collect them!
In fact, it’s one of those crafts where the process is just so relaxing, they are perfect for making “just for fun”.
Any type of paper should work for this craft. Copy paper will be easier to work with, while cardstock will be more durable. You can use solid colored paper to create a neat pattern of squares. Alternatively, origami paper, scrapbook paper, or even gift wrap can be used to provide decorative designs.
You can even recycle used coloring pages for this – do you or someone in your household love to color and then end up with more colored pictures than you can handle? Try prepping watercolor backgrounds to fold into origami bracelets too!
Don’t be scared off by the many steps in this tutorial. We broke it down that way to make sure everything is perfectly clear so you can craft with confidence – this craft is really very easy to learn. What are you waiting for? Grab some paper and enjoy!
What you’ll need
- Colored paper – I recommend copy paper or cardstock – more suggestions above.
- Ruler and pencil
How to make an origami bracelet
1. Cut your favorite papers into strips about 16×2 cm or about 6x 3/4 inches. The length should ideally be 8 times the width.
2. Take a strip of your choice and fold it in half by joining the shorter sides. Use your fingers to make a crease.
3. Unfold the strip.
4. Fold one end of the strip almost but not all the way to the middle crease.
5. Fold the other end likewise, almost but not all the way to the middle crease.
6. Fold the paper in half along the middle crease, keeping the loose ends inside.
7. Repeat steps 2-6 to fold the rest of the strips the same way.
8. Take 2 of the folded strips.
9. Take one end of the first strip and slide it inside one end of the second strip.
10. Slide the other end of the first strip into the other side of the second strip.
11. Push the first strip all the way into the second strip, forming a V shape.
12. Turn it over so you’re looking at a sideways V shape.
13. Take a third one of your folded strips.
14. Slide one end of the third strip through the end of the first strip (the inside one of the two connected strips) going from the inside of the V shape toward the outside.
15. Likewise, slide the other end of the third strip through the other end of the first strip (similar to how you connected the first two strips)
16. Push it all the way through.
17. When the new strip is fully inserted through the first strip, it will look like a zig-zag pattern.
18. Flip the pattern over.
19. Now, take a fourth folded strip.
20. Slide the ends of the 4th strip through the ends of the 3rd strip.
21. Pull it all the way through – you got this, now!
22. Continue to add strips, flipping the pattern over after each one.
23. Keep going until your pattern is long enough to make a bracelet. The total number of strips will need to be an even number.
24. For the last strip, take a strip of paper and fold it just in half – without folding in the sides first. Slide the ends through the loops of the last strip you attached and pull it all the way through.
25. Curl the entire pattern around to form a ring.
26. Slide the open ends of the last strip through the loops of the strip on the other end (originally the 2nd one you used). Pull the ends all the way through.
27. Fold the top end of the strip over the second strip and slide it through the loop of the last folded strip.
28. Do the same thing to the other loose end of the strip, this time folding it toward the inside of the bracelet.
All done! The bracelet can stay together just the way it is, but if you like extra security you can use a little glue to hold the last strip in place. Slide it carefully over your hand and wear it with flair!
DIY Origami Bracelet
Materials
- Colored paper - I recommend copy paper or cardstock
- Scissors
- Glue (optional - for added security)
- Ruler and pencil
Instructions
1. Cut your favorite papers into strips about 16x2 cm or about 6x 3/4 inches. The length should ideally be 8 times the width.
2. Take a strip of your choice and fold it in half by joining the shorter sides. Use your fingers to make a crease.
3. Unfold the strip.
4. Fold one end of the strip almost but not all the way to the middle crease.
5. Fold the other end likewise, almost but not all the way to the middle crease.
6. Fold the paper in half along the middle crease, keeping the loose ends inside.
7. Repeat steps 2-6 to fold the rest of the strips the same way.
8. Take 2 of the folded strips.
9. Take one end of the first strip and slide it inside one end of the second strip.
10. Slide the other end of the first strip into the other side of the second strip.
11. Push the first strip all the way into the second strip, forming a V shape.
12. Turn it over so you’re looking at a sideways V shape.
13. Take a third one of your folded strips.
14. Slide one end of the third strip through the end of the first strip (the inside one of the two connected strips) going from the inside of the V shape toward the outside.
15. Likewise, slide the other end of the third strip through the other end of the first strip (similar to how you connected the first two strips)
16. Push it all the way through.
17. When the new strip is fully inserted through the first strip, it will look like a zig-zag pattern.
18. Flip the pattern over.
19. Now, take a fourth folded strip.
20. Slide the ends of the 4th strip through the ends of the 3rd strip.
21. Pull it all the way through - you got this, now!
22. Continue to add strips, flipping the pattern over after each one.
23. Keep going until your pattern is long enough to make a bracelet. The total number of strips will need to be an even number.
24. For the last strip, take a strip of paper and fold it just in half - without folding in the sides first. Slide the ends through the loops of the last strip you attached and pull it all the way through.
25. Curl the entire pattern around to form a ring.
26. Slide the open ends of the last strip through the loops of the strip on the other end (originally the 2nd one you used). Pull the ends all the way through.
27. Fold the top end of the strip over the second strip and slide it through the loop of the last folded strip.
28. Do the same thing to the other loose end of the strip, this time folding it toward the inside of the bracelet.
All done! The bracelet can stay together just the way it is, but if you like extra security you can use a little glue to hold the last strip in place. Slide it carefully over your hand and wear it with flair!
Thank you for reminding me of this fun and easy craft. We used to make them with the silver inner wrapping of sticks of gum. My family had a very long one that stretched through our house.
Nothing like a good classic, right? That sounds epic!