3D Origami Frog Instructions

A tutorial showing how to make a 3D origami frog using the modular origami technique. This frog is made using 1/32 size pieces of paper. The difficulty is intermediate and doesn’t consume too much time.

How to make a Modular Origami Frog:

We will need a total of 337 modules for this project.

265 Green units and 72 White units will be needed.

Steps to make these triangular units is given here.

Step 1:

We will start making a connector unit in white.

Step 2:

Keep adding white such that Row 1 has 5 units and Row 2 has 4 units.

Keep this aside. We will be using it later.

Step 3:

Then build green rows in the below design:

Rows are built by increasing the number of units by one as you proceed:

Row 1 with 7 green.

Row 2 with 8 green.

Step 4:

Keep adding units till you have a row (7th Row) with 13 green  units.

Step 5:

In the next Row (Row 8) as usual increase the number of units by 1 – but use 1 white unit at both the ends.

This is how it looks at this step – used 12 green units and 2 white units for this row.

Step 6:

Add the next row (Row 9), add 13 green and 1 white unit at each corner.

Step 7:

Add the next row (Row 10), add 12 green and 2 white units at each corner.

Step 8:

Now slowly bring the corners towards each other. We will join the corners using the white units set we made in Step 3.

Here it is joined together.

Step 9:

Start inserting Row 11 with white units.

We will be adding 9 white units…

…and 12 green units in this row.

A view of the model at this point.

Step 10:

Keep adding green and white units.

Row 12 – 11 Green and 8 White units

Row 13 – 10 Green and 7 White units

Row 14 – 9 Green and 6 White units.

Step 11:

Now add only green units.

Keep reducing the number of units by 1 as you proceed to the next row.

Which means,

Row 15 (but only green units) with 8 units, Row 16 with 7 units and go on till you have 4 green units in a row.

Step 12:

Now similarly add white units. In the next row insert 7 units (increase by 1) and thereafter reduce 1 unit as you go on till you have 3 units in a Row.

This is the model we get at this point. Since we have inserted the green and white units separately, we get a head like structure with a mouth.

Step 13:

For the thighs of the frog, make this structure.

Step 14:

Make one more such piece.

Step 15:

For the legs, make the below structure.

Step 16:

We will need 2 hind legs and 2 front legs for the frog.

Step 17:

The legs will be glued on to the body of the frog. For this pull out one unit from the leg as shown here.

Step 18:

Apply glue on this unit pulled out.

Step 19:

Glue on the hind leg.

Step 20:

Now insert and glue the front legs.

Step 21:

The thighs made in Step 13 are then glued on.

The math so far is:

Body + Head = 179 Green units

4 Legs x 12 = 48 Green units

2 Thighs x 19 = 38 Green units

Belly/Body = 72 White units

Step 22:

Two coils out of green paper strip have been made for the eyes of the frog.

Step 23:

White circles cut out of paper are glued on the front and back of the coil.

Step 24:

Eyes are drawn using black marker.

Step 25:

The eyes are glued on to the head of the frog to finish it!

How does the frog look next to my lotus? Isn’t he just adorable?!!

Croak away!!!