This article was co-authored by Robert Homayoon. Robert Homayoon is an Origami Expert known for his engaging YouTube videos and accessible instructions. He has been teaching origami on YouTube since 2009. His channel has a following of over 676,000 subscribers, and his videos have garnered over 211 million views. Robert uses his channel to highlight his passion for teaching people origami, crafts, and how to solve puzzles. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 2007 and earned his D.M.D degree from Temple University Dental School in 2013.
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This origami reindeer is a simple design, and can be attempted by a paper folder of any level. It's great for using up unwanted murky brown origami paper, and it can make for a creative Christmas decoration!
Steps
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Start with a square sheet of paper.
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Fold it across one diagonal, and unfold it again.Advertisement
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Fold one side of the square to meet the line made by the diagonal fold. Repeat this for the adjacent side of the square.
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Repeat the previous two steps for the remaining sides of the square without unfolding anything.
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Fold it in half, from point to point, as shown, and then unfold it.
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Put your finger in one of the flaps and pull out the point, using the previous fold as a template, and press it down.
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Repeat the previous two steps for the other flap.
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Fold it in half along its length as shown.
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Pull the point that the flaps point towards back into the middle in a reverse fold. Flatten it down to construct the neck.
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Fold both of the flaps back as shown. These are your reindeer's front legs.
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Make a reverse fold at the top of the neck, beginning the formation of the head.
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Unfold the head as shown.
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Fold the point underneath to make the nose more flat.
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Fold the top of the head in half over to the opposite side as shown.
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Make a reverse fold and flatten as shown to create the beginnings of the hind legs.
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Make another reverse fold about halfway down the hind legs and flatten it to see the fully formed hind legs.
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Cut up the back of the neck as shown, without actually completely cutting off any part of the reindeer.
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Split the middle of this flap right up the back of the reindeer's neck. You'll end up with four little prongs.
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Fold the prongs upwards to form antlers and complete the reindeer.
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Done.
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I get the prongs?Community AnswerYou have to gently cut off just a sliver of the neck area, right about where the nape would be, while also making sure that you don’t cut it off completely. This is optional; if you’re making a doe, there will be no antlers.
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QuestionCan this be made with printer paper?ArtemiTop AnswererYes, but you will have to cut it into a square. Also, printer paper is usually more rigid and harder to fold, but if you have experience and patience, you can do it easily.
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QuestionMy deer is too big. What size square should I use?Community AnswerIt depends on how big you want it. The sides of your paper should be equal and the same length.
Video
Tips
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If you are making this during the Christmas season, perhaps you could think about adding a red nose and making Rudolph.Thanks
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Use specialised origami paper for a professional look, with brown on one side and white on the other.Thanks
Warnings
- Be careful with scissors, and if you are a child, get parental supervision.Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about origami, check out our in-depth interview with Robert Homayoon.
About This Article
Reader Success Stories
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"Made a bunch of these for decoration purposes. The instructions are super clear which is immensely helpful with origami."..." more