2. Fold the paper along the two dotted lines (at 90 degrees to each other) that are a quarter of a way into the square. Unfold to keep the creases.

3. Bring the above corner round to face you, and fold it forward four times, as if you’re rolling it away from you, along the dotted lines. Make one more, larger, fold along the diagonal dotted line, so that you can see half of the sprouts on the other side of the paper. Unfold just this last fold, to keep the crease.

4. Turn the paper over. Bring the top left and right sections in towards the middle. Collapse the top section down, and fold well.

5. Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner to create a red triangle.

6. Fold the top corner of the triangle down on the dotted line, to reveal Santa’s face beneath. Fold it over on the dotted line on the white paper to shape his beard.

7. Turn the paper over. Fold the bottom right and bottom left corners up to the top corner, making a diamond shape.

8. Fold along the dotted line to bring the bottom right and bottom left edges into the centre, making a kite shape. Fold the top point of the kite down a little bit. Turn it over – you’ve completed your origami Santa!

Origami Christmas Decoration

1. Cut off the instructions to leave a square of paper.

Here you can find a step-by-step guide and video to help you fold your origami Christmas decoration. Plus, if you’d like to make more, you’ll find a printable version of the template at the bottom of this page.

Good luck, and enjoy. We’d love to see your finished creation – share it with us on social media by tagging us in! 

9. To go a little further, prick a hole in the top to thread a string through, and hang the decoration on your tree. It also helps to leave your creation under a heavy book for 24 hours to make it super flat and well-folded.

Need more help?

Need an extra copy?

Here’s a printable version of the template. When you print, make sure you print double sided, and that it prints both sides the right way up; how to do this varies printer to printer. You may have to cut off the white border your printer adds to the paper.