Leaf origami is one of the activities children can enjoy while feeling connected to the seasons.
You’ll often see moments where their free ideas blossom—like, “Let’s make a red leaf!” or “I want to stick it on a big tree.” When you gather the finished leaves to make a big tree or decorate the room, it creates a warm atmosphere.
As friends compare colors and shapes, conversations come alive, and you might even hear, “I want to make more!” Through origami, children can savor the fun of using their fingers and the joy of expression, while spending a lovely time together feeling the changing seasons.
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Cute Leaf Origami! Simple Ideas to Enjoy with Kids (1–10)
How to fold a leaf with two attachmentsNEW!
Here are two origami ideas that go well with any flower.
First, fold the origami paper into a triangle, then fold both bottom corners up to meet the top corner.
Once the creases are made, return the paper to the triangle shape and fold each side so that the creases you just made line up with the center line.
Next, fold the edges outward to add a total of three creases, then open up the left and right corners and flatten them.
These will become two leaves, so fold both corners into small triangles to refine the shape.
Finally, fold the top corner down to the back, and you’re done! It’s very easy to fold and has a wide range of uses, so it’s an idea worth remembering.
Cute to add to flowers! How to fold leavesNEW!
When you make a flower with origami, adding leaves really broadens your range of expression.
It also makes the flower’s beauty stand out, so take this chance to learn it.
After folding the origami paper into a triangle, make a diagonal crease by folding up from the left corner toward the right corner.
Next, fold the top corners outward into triangles, then create the leaf veins by making parallel accordion folds from the right edge.
Once you’ve folded to the edge, unfold those sections and gently open the paper from the top corner.
Tuck the four corners created by folding the top corner to the back to refine the shape, and you’re done.
Even with plain single-colored origami, just adding veins makes for a realistic leaf!
How to make morning glory leavesNEW!
Morning glory leaves have such a distinctive shape, don’t they? I thought making one with origami would be difficult, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy! First, fold the origami paper into a triangle to make a crease.
Open it back up, then fold the upper and lower left edges to align with the crease.
Flip the paper over and fold the same way again, but this time bring the back-side corner to the front before folding.
Turn the paper over, fold the right corner to meet the left corner, and then fold it back so the tip sticks out just a little.
Flip the paper over once more, and open and fold the two central corners outward.
Now the general leaf shape is done, so make a few cuts and refine the shape to finish.
How to fold a four-leaf cloverNEW!
The four-leaf clover is known as a symbol of good luck.
If you can’t find one, try making one with origami and use it as a charm.
First, make creases by folding the paper in half into a square twice, into a triangle twice, then doing the “zabuton” fold twice while changing the side you’re working on.
Using these creases, fold the origami so that four small squares appear on top of one large square.
Next, make slits along the cross-shaped creases on the large square, then fold the sides of each slit inward to sharpen the corners.
Finally, fold three corners of the small squares into triangles, and you’re done.
Fits perfectly on the wall! How to fold grassNEW!
You can also express lush green grass with origami.
When making wall decorations and the like, having grass adds a nice finishing touch, doesn’t it? Here’s how to make it: First, fold the origami paper into a triangle.
Next, fold it in half again into a smaller triangle, then open it up.
Fold back the triangles on both ends so they align with the height of the triangle’s tip.
Once folded, fold it back so that the bottom edge becomes flat.
That’s it—you’re done.
It’s very simple, isn’t it? If you try using a few different shades of green, it might look even more grass-like.
Give it a try!
A clover made from a single sheet of origami paperNEW!
In this idea, you first create creases.
After finishing the creasing step, fold all four edges inward along the creases, turn the paper over, and make a “zabuton” fold.
Turn the paper over again and make another zabuton fold, then flip it over once more.
Next, lift the folded sections, bring the corners of the paper outward, and collapse it into a base shape.
Fold the corners of the base toward the center, and once you fold the left and right corners along each crease into triangles, it’s complete.
I thought it would also be cute to attach cardstock to the back of the clover and use it as a message card.
Since it’s a flat piece, it should have a wide range of uses.
How to fold a water lily leafNEW!
These are water lily leaves that make you want to perch a frog on them.
Since the sides of the leaves stand up, they could even work as simple little plates.
Prepare two sheets of origami paper, and on both sheets, crease by folding into a square twice and a triangle twice.
With the white sides facing inward, align the corners and stack them, then valley-fold the bottom sheet’s corner up to meet the edge of the top sheet.
Flip the origami over and fold the remaining corners the same way.
Next, fold all eight edges to the same width as the valley-folded sections to make creases, stand them up, and shape it, and you’re done.
The shape is a bit different from the real thing, but it’s cute in its own way, so I think it works, doesn’t it?