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Leaf

How to fold an origami leaf

Paper
One square sheet of paper.
Preparation
No cutting or gluing is included in these folding steps. Begin with “Turn the colored side up”.
What you will make
A leaf with a stem and folded veins.

Fold a leaf by forming a stem and vein creases in a triangle, then opening the paper and shaping the outline. Several stages involve folding and unfolding; check which crease each edge should meet. Keep the alternating mountain and valley folds when finishing the veins.

Follow the 20 steps above by scrolling. Drag the model to inspect a fold from another angle, and scroll back to review a previous step.

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Read all 20 folding steps
  1. Turn the colored side up
  2. Fold diagonally into a triangle
  3. Fold a narrow strip behind the long edge for the stem
  4. Fold the top corner to the bottom edge and unfold
  5. Fold the bottom edge to the center crease and unfold
  6. Fold the top corner to the center crease and unfold
  7. Fold the top corner behind to the lower crease and unfold
  8. Fold the bottom edge behind to the upper crease and unfold
  9. Fold the bottom edge behind to the nearest crease and unfold
  10. Fold the top corner behind to the nearest crease and unfold
  11. Open the leaf body while keeping the stem folded
  12. Turn over to see the contour folds
  13. Fold the lower right corner inward
  14. Make a small fold at the top of the right contour
  15. Make a small fold at the bottom of the right contour
  16. Fold the lower left corner inward
  17. Make a small fold at the top of the left contour
  18. Make a small fold at the bottom of the left contour
  19. Turn to the front to shape the veins
  20. Keep the mountain and valley creases to finish

Tricky points and what to check

Should the crease-making folds stay closed?

Steps to review: 4・5・6・7・8・9・10

These steps fold and unfold. Check whether the top corner or bottom edge moves and which crease it meets, then return to the open position after each step.

Opening flattens the stem or veins

Steps to review: 3・11・19・20

Keep the narrow reverse-folded stem while opening the leaf body. At the end, turn to the front and review the finish that retains the mountain and valley folds of the veins.

Step 11：Open the leaf body while keeping the stem folded

Three views from the same 3D folding sequence. Read from top to bottom.

White triangular leaf before opening, with parallel creases across it
White triangular leaf before opening, with parallel creases across it

After step 10. Compare with the next image to identify the part that moves.

Before：After step 10. Compare with the next image to identify the part that moves.
Leaf opening with a red triangular surface visible
Leaf opening with a red triangular surface visible

Distinguish the narrow folded stem from the leaf body. Open the body while keeping the stem folded.

During：Distinguish the narrow folded stem from the leaf body. Open the body while keeping the stem folded.
Opened red leaf with a diagonal center line and vein creases
Opened red leaf with a diagonal center line and vein creases

After “Open the leaf body while keeping the stem folded”. Compare the corners and layers with the first image.

After：After “Open the leaf body while keeping the stem folded”. Compare the corners and layers with the first image.
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Fold a leaf by forming a stem and vein creases in a triangle, then opening the paper and shaping the outline.

Completed origami leaf

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