Origami Santa

Are you looking for an easy origami Santa Claus craft for the holiday season? Well, get your favorite craft supplies because we are making the most adorable origami Santa Christmas craft that is perfect for adults and kids of all ages!

These paper Santa crafts are one of our favorite Christmas origami tutorials for kids of all ages. Young children will be able to create a simple origami Santa Claus while they enhance their fine motor skills.

Older kids, especially those that love paper crafts, will enjoy doing these origami projects with their own hands to decorate the Christmas table, and adults will find this a relaxing activity during the holiday season.

Image shows a finished origami Santa with small Christmas trees in the background. Text reads Origami Santa Craft - KidsActivitiesBlog
Such a cute origami Santa!

Cute Origami Santa Craft

The Christmas season is already a busy season for everyone — add entertaining the kids, and you get double the work! Luckily, there are many different hands-on activities and crafts that will keep them occupied without you losing your mind thinking of fun, festive activities *giggles*.

That’s when these origami Santas come in handy! Teach your kiddo how to make these Santas with cute hats using just origami paper and markers – really, that’s all you need! It takes a while to master, but once you do, you’ll be making your own origami Santas in no time. You can use it to decorate the Christmas table, your window sill, or put a string of yarn and hang it from the Christmas tree!

What I’d do differently…

I loved how easy this origami project was to put together as it required no prep time! But if you are working with younger children, I recommend having some googly eyes at hand to make your Santas even cuter. I suggest wrapping paper to make the Santa hat more colorful and creative.

Christmas themed wrapping paper works great too because it also has a white back. All you need to do is cut out a square piece of paper and you’re ready to go!

We also added a printable doodle Christmas page that you can either print in color or print the b&w version and color it in different colors to make your own origami Santa! Keep scrolling to find the printable PDF.

You can use different colored paper like green with this same pattern to make an origami gnome!

Related: Ugly Christmas Sweater Ornament!

Image shows a finished origami Santa with small Christmas trees in the background. KidsActivitiesBlog
This is what your origami Santa craft will look like!

Supplies Needed To Make An Origami Santa

Let’s start with the basics.
  • 1 red origami paper
  • Black and red markers or coloring pencils
  • Alternative: two small googly eyes

Instructions To Make An Origami Santa

Step 1:

Take the sheet of square paper with the white side facing up.

Image shows origami Santa step 1
Let’s start with a square of paper.

Step 2:

Fold inward in half diagonally (showing the red side when folded) then open it up.

Now let’s do a simple fold.
Image shows step 2 for Origami santa
Now unfold it…

Step 3:

Fold inward in half along the other diagonal then open again to see the two diagonal creases.

Image shows step 3 origami santa
Remember to make sure no white part is showing!
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Unfold it again!

Step 4:

Fold opposing corners toward the center, using the diagonal crease to guide folds to form a ‘kite’. Make sure no white shows because this is the front side of the origami Santa.

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Follow these folding steps.
Image shows step 5 origami santa
Repeat the same on the other side.

Step 5:

Fold the sharper red top corner over to meet the opposite corner.

image shows origami santa step 5
Make another fold but this time pointing upwards.

Step 6:

Flip it over.

Image shows origami santa step 6
This is what it’ll look like from the other side so far.

Step 7:

Fold the flipped over white part down to about 1 cm away from the bottom edge to form the white triangle that will be Santa’s face and beard.

image shows origami santa step 7
It’ll start looking like Santa soon, we promise!

Step 8:

Fold the white edge down again to make a 1/2 cm strip; this will form the brim of Santa’s hat. 

Image shows step 8 origami santa
It’s starting to look like Santa!

Step 9:

Flip it over.

Image shows origami santa step 9
Now to the other side…

Step 10:

Fold the sides back to create a simple large triangle shape.

Image shows step 11 origami santa
A few more folds, and you’ll be almost done.
Image shows origami santa step 10
Almost there!

Step 11:

Flip it over again. Draw a cute face (or glue on the googly eyes and draw a nose) and you’re done!

image shows step 11 origami santa
Look how cute!
Image shows step 11 origami santa
Googly eyes are a nice touch, too.

Finished Origami Santa Craft

Your origami Santa is all cute! How cute is this craft?! And so perfect for the Christmas season, too!

Free download – Christmas-themed origami

Yield: 1

Origami Santa Craft

Image shows a finished origami Santa with small Christmas trees in the background. KidsActivitiesBlog

Learn how to make an origami Santa craft that is simple enough for kids and fun enough for adults!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Difficulty easy
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • 1 red origami paper
  • Black and red markers or coloring pencils
  • Alternative: two small googly eyes

Instructions

  1. Take the sheet of square paper with the white side facing up.
  2. Fold inward in half diagonally (showing the red side when folded) then open it up.
  3. Fold inward in half along the other diagonal then open again to see the two diagonal creases.
  4. Fold opposing corners toward the center, using the diagonal crease to guide folds to form a ‘kite’. Make sure no white shows because this is the front side of the origami Santa.
  5. Fold the sharper red top corner over to meet the opposite corner.
  6. Flip it over.
  7. Fold the flipped over white part down to about 1 cm away from the bottom edge to form the white triangle that will be Santa’s face and beard.
  8. Fold the white edge down again to make a 1/2 cm strip; this will form the brim of Santa's hat. 
  9. Flip it over.
  10. Fold the sides back to create a simple large triangle shape.
  11. Flip it over again.
  12. Draw a cute face (or glue on the googly eyes and draw a nose) and you’re done!

Notes

Christmas themed wrapping paper works great too because it also has a white back. All you need to do is cut out a square piece of paper and you're ready to go!

You can use different colored paper like green with this same pattern to make an origami gnome!

Want more Christmas crafts? Try these from Kids Activities Blog:

What did you think of this origami Santa? Did you enjoy it? Let us know in the comments!

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