The origami leaf is one of the most useful origami designs and can be used for an endless variety of occasions.
You can hang them on the wall for decorations or even use them to create leaves for a fake tree!
In this step-by-step origami tutorial, you will learn how to fold this leaf using a single piece of paper, and takes 5-7 minutes to complete.
This particular fold also gives the leaves an incredible rippling texture that makes your leaves pop and gives them a dynamic 3D look.
Let’s get folding!
To make a paper leaf, you will need a single square piece of paper. You can use regular printer paper cut into a square; however, I recommend origami paper for better-looking folds, and that traditional origami feel!
In this tutorial, I’ll be using a multi-color 6 x 6 sheet of origami paper, but you can use single-colored paper as well.
1. Start with the paper color side up
To begin the origami leaf, flip the paper so that the color side is up and the white side is down. If you are using multi-color paper, whichever color is facing up will dictate the color of your leaf.
2. Fold the paper in half diagonally
Next, fold the paper in half diagonally, bring the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner. Crease well.
3. Fold the left edge slightly in
Fold the left edge (the long side) of the paper about 1/6th of the way to the edge. This will create the stem of your leaf, which can be adjusted by how much paper you fold on this step.
4. Flip the paper over
Flip the paper over so that the stem is on the bottom right.
5. Fold the top corner down, then unfold
Next, fold the top corner down to the bottom-left corner. Crease well and unfold.
6. Fold the bottom edge to the center crease, then unfold
Take the bottom edge and fold it to the center crease made in the previous step. Crease well and unfold.
7. Fold the top corner to the center crease, then unfold
Take the top corner and fold it to the center crease. Crease well and unfold.
8. Flip the paper over
Now we’re going to flip the paper over so that we can make folds in the opposite direction to give the leaf that wavy texture!
Your stem will be on the bottom-left corner of the paper.
9. Make the upper-middle crease
Fold the top corner down to the horizontal bottom crease. Flatten it down well and unfold.
10. Make the lower-middle crease
Fold the bottom edge to the top horizontal crease. Flatten it down well and unfold.
11. Make the bottom crease
Fold the bottom edge to the horizontal bottom crease—essentially folding the bottom section in half. Flatten it down well and unfold.
12. Make the very top crease
Fold the top corner down to the top horizontal crease—essentially folding the top section in half. Flatten it down well and unfold.
13. Fold the bottom right corner to the third crease
Now it is time to shape the leaf! Begin by folding the bottom right corner up to the third horizontal crease.
You can also adjust the width of your leaf by folding more or less of the paper.
14. Round off the upper section
After the previous fold, you will be left with a triangle in the bottom right of the paper. Round off the leaf by slightly folding the upper section of this triangle.
15. Round off the lower section
Continue rounding off the leaf by slightly folding the lower section of the triangle.
16. Flip the paper over and repeat steps 13 through 15
Now we need to shape the other side of the leaf. Flip the paper over and repeat the previous three folds to the other side.
Begin by folding the bottom-left corner to the third crease (or to the same location that you choose on the other side).
Next, round off the top and bottom sections by slightly folding them in, being sure to align them with the folds on the other side of the paper.
17. Open the leaf
Unfold the top layer of paper to open up the leaf.
There you have it, an origami leaf!
If you liked this origami leaf, you might also enjoy folding the easy origami tree or the origami tulip.
I hope you found this guide helpful and if you would like more origami tutorials, visit our growing collection of origami designs.
Thanks for visiting, and happy folding!