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Do you have the perfect gift for a friend or family member but don’t know how to decorate it? If you have a spare dollar banknote, you can make a creative dollar origami animal! This origami tutorial will walk you through crafting a stunning origami pigeon using just a single dollar bill. It’s a fun way to transform money into a beautiful piece of paper art.

Finished result for a dollar bill origami pigeon on top of a green background. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog — Here’s a finished model of what your origami pigeon will look like.

Dollar Bill Bird Origami

Whether you have practiced long hours of origami or are a beginner, you’ll find that this craft is simple enough for all skill levels. In fact, this easy origami tutorial is great for kids of all ages, including younger kids with small hands – although they might need some assistance from adults for some folds.

Related: Our favorite easy origami ideas

Most origami crafts need a square of origami paper, but not this one! Just grab a one dollar bill and follow the instructions to fold an origami pigeon.

Dollar Bill Origami Pigeon Tutorial

Step 1:

Start by folding the dollar bill in half lengthwise, open, and then fold crosswise. This creates a clean crease that will guide your folds.

Dollar bill origami pigeon - Step 1 - Start by folding the dollar bill in half lengthwise and then crosswise to create a clean crease. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog. — This craft is super easy.

Dollar bill origami pigeon - Step 1 - Open the bill. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog. — Continue folding!

Dollar bill origami pigeon - Step 1 - Fold crosswise to create a clean crease. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog. — Don’t forget to take a look at our other origami crafts.

Dollar bill origami pigeon - Step 1 - Open to create a clean crease. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog. — Clean crease!

Step 2:

Fold down both top corners, aligning them with the central vertical crease you’ve just made.

Step 3:

Now, fold the excess part backward to form another crease. Then, unfold it to prepare for the next steps.

Dollar bill origami pigeon - Step 3 - unfold it for the next steps. Tutorial from Kids Activities Blog. — Your creased dollar bill should look like this.

Step 4:

Fold both edges inward along the newly formed crease.

Step 5:

Fold the bill along those diagonals once again, shaping it into a neat triangular form.

Step 6:

Rotate the figure to the left and fold it down neatly in half.

Step 7:

Next, fold the top layer back up as shown, repeating the same on the other side of the figure.

Step 8:

Create the pigeon’s distinctive beak by making an inside reverse fold on the left tip of the bill.

And there you have it—your very own dollar bill origami pigeon!

Tips:

Try using different dollar banknotes to create a series of origami animals or combine them to form a beautiful graduation lei or a unique gift card presentation. What a fun way to present a gift!

Yield: 1

Dollar Bill Origami Pigeon

Make a quick and fun dollar bill origami pigeon in easy steps, perfect for kids of all ages.

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost $1

Materials

One dollar bill

Instructions

Start by folding the dollar bill in half lengthwise, open, and then fold crosswise. This creates a clean crease that will guide your folds.
Fold down both top corners, aligning them with the central vertical crease you’ve just made.
Now, fold the excess part backward to form another crease. Then, unfold it to prepare for the next steps.
Fold both edges inward along the newly formed crease.
Fold the bill along those diagonals once again, shaping it into a neat triangular form.
Rotate the figure to the left and fold it down neatly in half.
Next, fold the top layer back up as shown, repeating the same on the other side of the figure.
Create the pigeon’s distinctive beak by making an inside reverse fold on the left tip of the bill.

And there you have it—your very own dollar bill origami pigeon!

Notes

Try using different dollar banknotes to create a series of origami animals or combine them to form a beautiful graduation lei or a unique gift card presentation. What a fun way to present a gift!