Origami Maple Leaf – Step by Step Tutorial
Craft these adorable Origami Maple Leaves with this step-by-step tutorial. When you’re done, check out Learn How to Draw a Simple Maple Leaf. This post contains affiliate links.
Leaves are grabbing everyone’s attention lately as they start to change colors and fall everywhere. It’s a beautiful time to be alive in the Northeast! I like to think of it as a goodbye party for summer as we look forward to the winter.
And maple leaves are one of the most beautiful fall leaves there are – which makes it the perfect time for an origami maple leaf tutorial!
Did you know that the falling leaves actually help preserve the trees over the winter? With cold weather and less sunshine ahead, the trees need to conserve their energy instead of growing new leaves. But we can hold onto the leafy beauty by honoring them in our crafts.
This origami maple leaf craft is perfect for Fall decor; try using a variety of different colors to match the views outside. You can also save the pattern to make bright green leaves for Spring! Hang them on your windows or dangle from strings. You can also glue them to cards or envelopes for personal seasonal stationery.
The shape of this origami fall leaf resembles the leaves of the maple tree. We especially love maple trees because they give us delicious maple syrup! If you’re doing this craft with kids – or if you have young ones to share your finished product with – this is a great opportunity to teach them about the process of how syrup is made from the trees’ sap. Of course, for our Canadian readers, I don’t need to say any more for you to appreciate the symbolism of the maple leaf!
In fact, you can try making them in all red for Canada Day too! String them into a festive garland!
This project has a lot of steps including some trickier folds, so it’s good for crafters who have already mastered some easier projects – or have patience to follow the directions and pictures very closely. If you’d rather get warmed up on something easier, check out our more beginner-friendly origami posts such as this Easy 3D Origami Pumpkin Basket.
But if you’re ready for an origami adventure, grab some paper and read on! I like to use lightweight paper for origami projects to ensure a sharp crease. Which kind is your choice! Choose from origami paper, copy paper, or whatever you have handy.
What you need to make an Origami Maple Leaf
- Colored paper
- Scissors
- Bone folder (optional)
How to make an Origami Maple Leaf
1. Cut your paper into a square if it isn’t already square. We used a square measuring 15×15 cm or 6×6 inches.
2. Fold the square sheet in half diagonally and unfold. Then fold it in half along the other diagonal and unfold, leaving the square with X-shaped creases going through the middle.
3. Turn the paper over. Fold it in half vertically and unfold. Then fold it in half horizontally and unfold. Turn the paper over again.
4. Fold the horizontal/vertical creases up toward you while pushing the diagonal creases down away from you, so that the diagonal creases are going into the middle.
5. Flatten the folds so you have a smaller square with some flaps underneath it.
6. We’ll start by working on the top layer. Notice that two edges are folded and the other two edges are the loose edges of the original paper. We call those loose/original edges “open sides.” Fold one open side up to the middle crease.
7. Now fold the other open side up to the middle crease.
8. With the edges folded in, a triangle is formed on top, with the open sides forming the bottom of the triangle. Fold the triangle down along that bottom edge.
9. Unfold the last three folds to reveal a bunch of new creases.
10. Lift the bottom corner to open up the top layer of paper.
11. Fold the left side flat along the crease lines to make a long skinny triangle.
12. Fold the right side down along the crease lines the same way.
13. Fold the top corner down and flatten it to make a kite shape.
14. Flip the whole thing over to the other side so you’re looking at a little square again.
15. Repeat steps 6-13 to do the same thing on the new square.
16. Undo the very last fold by bringing up the top flap to reveal the two long triangles in a diamond shape.
17. Fold the top point down to the center of the diamond (the horizontal crease)
18. Unfold the last fold.
19. Take the flap from the bottom right side and fold it upward.
20. You’ll find that flap has an opening on the outer (right-hand) side. Slide your finger into that pocket and open it up.
21. Flatten this piece to the right, pointing diagonally upward.
22. Repeat steps 19-21 on the other (left) side.
23. Using your scissors, cut a slit up the middle of the bottom triangle (along the vertical line between the two folded layers)
24. Fold the right side up from the bottom and flatten it below the next point.
25. Fold the left side up from the bottom the same way.
26. Flip the entire piece over to the other side.
27. Working on the bottom tip on the right side, fold the point inward a little, lining up its edge with the bottom of that piece.
Fold down the triangle in middle to make an upside-down kite shape.
28. Fold the tip again by grasping the top corner and lining it up with the bottom edge.
29. Grasp the right-hand corner of the kite shape on top. Fold it upward so the bottom edge aligns with the middle crease
30. Now you can see another layer that was under the corner that you just folded up. Fold it toward the middle crease as well. As you fold it, a small pocket will open up.
31. Flatten the opening flap against the rest of the paper. It makes an irregular 4-sided shape.
32. Repeat steps 29-31 on the opposite (left) side.
33. Flip the project over to reveal the complete maple leaf shape!
I hope you enjoyed learning how to make an origami maple leaf! Follow along for more fabulous ideas!
Origami Maple Leaf
Materials
- Colored Paper
- Scissors
- Bone folder (optional)
Instructions
1. Cut your paper into a square if it isn’t already square. We used a square measuring 15x15 cm or 6x6 inches.
2. Fold the square sheet in half diagonally and unfold. Then fold it in half along the other diagonal and unfold, leaving the square with X-shaped creases going through the middle.
3. Turn the paper over. Fold it in half vertically and unfold. Then fold it in half horizontally and unfold. Turn the paper over again.
4. Fold the horizontal/vertical creases up toward you while pushing the diagonal creases down away from you, so that the diagonal creases are going into the middle.
5. Flatten the folds so you have a smaller square with some flaps underneath it.
6. We’ll start by working on the top layer. Notice that two edges are folded and the other two edges are the loose edges of the original paper. We call those loose/original edges “open sides.” Fold one open side up to the middle crease.
7. Now fold the other open side up to the middle crease.
8. With the edges folded in, a triangle is formed on top, with the open sides forming the bottom of the triangle. Fold the triangle down along that bottom edge.
9. Unfold the last three folds to reveal a bunch of new creases.
10. Lift the bottom corner to open up the top layer of paper.
11. Fold the left side flat along the crease lines to make a long skinny triangle.
12. Fold the right side down along the crease lines the same way.
13. Fold the top corner down and flatten it to make a kite shape.
14. Flip the whole thing over to the other side so you’re looking at a little square again.
15. Repeat steps 6-13 to do the same thing on the new square.
16. Undo the very last fold by bringing up the top flap to reveal the two long triangles in a diamond shape.
17. Fold the top point down to the center of the diamond (the horizontal crease)
18. Unfold the last fold.
19. Take the flap from the bottom right side and fold it upward.
20. You’ll find that flap has an opening on the outer (right-hand) side. Slide your finger into that pocket and open it up.
21. Flatten this piece to the right, pointing diagonally upward.
22. Repeat steps 19-21 on the other (left) side.
23. Using your scissors, cut a slit up the middle of the bottom triangle (along the vertical line between the two folded layers)
24. Fold the right side up from the bottom and flatten it below the next point.
25. Fold the left side up from the bottom the same way.
26. Flip the entire piece over to the other side.
27. Working on the bottom tip on the right side, fold the point inward a little, lining up its edge with the bottom of that piece.
Fold down the triangle in middle to make an upside-down kite shape.
28. Fold the tip again by grasping the top corner and lining it up with the bottom edge.
29. Grasp the right-hand corner of the kite shape on top. Fold it upward so the bottom edge aligns with the middle crease
30. Now you can see another layer that was under the corner that you just folded up. Fold it toward the middle crease as well. As you fold it, a small pocket will open up.
31. Flatten the opening flap against the rest of the paper. It makes an irregular 4-sided shape.
32. Repeat steps 29-31 on the opposite (left) side.
33. Flip the project over to reveal the complete maple leaf shape!
