How to: Make an Origami Hamster

Origami is a Japanese art form of paper folding that dates back to the 17th century. Among the things that can be made from origami, the hamster is one of the moderate origami techniques. The hamster is made through a series of folds and then finally shaped to stand up on its own in a way that simulates the animal.

Step 1

Fold a square sheet of paper in half on the diagonal to form a triangle. If you are using colored paper, place the sheet with the colored side facing down.

Step 2

Fold the top point of the top layer down slightly to create the ears.

Step 3

Fold a small portion of the bottom layer down and forward.

Step 4

Turn the entire paper over, and fold it in half horizontally with the points touching. It should look roughly like a triangle.

Step 5

Unfold the previous fold, and lay the paper flat with the tip of the triangle pointing upward.

Step 6

Fold a small segment of the bottom right corner up at an angle to form the hind leg of the hamster.

Step 7

Refold the paper along the large fold in the middle so that the two sides meet. Repeat the fold for the hind leg on the opposite side in a way that makes them equal.

Step 8

Unfold the main fold again, and crease the folds for the hind legs.

Step 9

Fold the raw edge of the hind leg at a point toward the edge of the previous fold.

Step 10

Refold the main body in half along the previous fold.

Step 11

Rotate the paper until the hind legs are parallel with the table.

Step 12

Pull up on the ears at an angle. Once flat, crease the paper and make a cut along the crease with a pair of scissors to complete the ears.

Step 13

Go to the tail portion, and fold the corner down; then, make a pleat fold by adding a second fold back upward.

Step 14

Hide the fold in between the layers of the legs by reversing the creases of the tail to the inside to create an inside pleat fold.