How to Make a Santa Claus and Christmas Trees in Origami

Learn how to create your own origami Santa Claus and Christmas tree - fun and paper art for the holidays!

Christmas is the perfect excuse to get creative. During these days, we have more time to make crafts, an ideal pastime to share with the little ones of the house during their Christmas vacations.

If you feel like decorating your home or creating original gifts for your family and friends this holiday season, don't miss this step-by-step tutorial on how to make Santa Claus and two different Christmas trees using the famous Japanese art of origami.

Origami Santa Claus, Step by Step.

Materials

- Double-colored paper (red and white)
- Scissors
- Glue

Step by Step to Create Santa's Body

1. Start by creating Santa's body. To do this, cut a 10x10 cm square from the double-colored paper (you can make it bigger if you want to increase the size of the Santa Claus) and fold it marking the diagonal.

2. Extend the 10x10 cm square again and fold the bottom and the top, leaving the white side facing out. The thickness of this fold should be about half a centimeter.

3. Turn the paper over, leaving the white side up, and fold it in half.

4. Spread the paper out and bring each side toward the center line you just marked.

5. Place the paper with the red side facing up.

6. Fold the top two corners diagonally so that it looks like the collar of a shirt.

7. Mark the folds well on each side.

8. Fold from top to bottom, so that the figure looks like in point 8 of the reference image.

Step by Step to Create the Santa Claus Hat

1. Cut a 10x10 cm square from the double-colored paper and place it with the red side facing up.

2. Fold inward, about half a centimeter, both the bottom and the left side of the square, creating two white lines on these sides.

3. In the upper right corner, make a small peak inward, also leaving a white part visible.

4. Flip the paper over, leaving the corner that you folded in point 3 on the upper left side. With the paper in this position, bring the bottom left corner to the center and the top right corner over it. You should be left with a cone shape or like a gnome's hat.

5. Fold the top part backward and diagonally, as if the top of the hat were falling. The result will be the same as in the final image of the reference photo.

6. Optional: draw Santa's face or leave it blank, whatever you like!

Final Part

Now that you have the two parts you just have to glue them together. Voilà! Here you have your origami Santa Claus to decorate your house this Christmas.

Traditional Origami Christmas Tree, Step by Step

Materials

- Two papers, one green and one red.
- Scissors

Step by Step Green Part

1. Cut the green paper in the size you want depending on how big you want the tree to be (20x20 cm is a good size).

2. Make four folds with it: in half both up and to the side and diagonally in both directions.

3. With all the folds well marked, place the paper with the corners facing sideways and grab each one with one hand. You have to join the corner that is on the right with the one on the left, lifting both upwards. The result is a smaller square. As you will see, you can change the faces of this square you just created. Do it and mark well the folds of each face.

4. Bring the corners of each face to the center line. You will be left with something similar to what is shown in point four of the image.

5. Trim off the excess beak.

6. Make small cuts on the sides of the triangle you have created.

7. Fold inward and downward the paper in the cuts made.

8. Separate each part of the triangle to shape the tree.

Step by Step Brown Part

You can leave your tree like this or add a trunk. If you prefer to make the trunk, you will have to use the brown paper cut to a smaller size and repeat the previous steps. Only one step varies, step 5, in which instead of cutting out the whole beak, you will have to cut the sides and the base. The shape that will be left will be like a brown triangle with a rectangular trunk underneath.

Final Part

If you have decided to make both parts, the last step is very simple. You just have to fit the green part on top of the brown one, making their vertices coincide in such a way that it is stable without the need to glue them.
Now, unleash your imagination and decorate your origami tree with the Christmas elements you like the most.

Origami White Christmas Tree, Step-By-Step

Materials

- Onion or vegetable paper
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Glue stick

Step by Step

1. Cut several sheets of onion paper the size you want (taller than wide). Also, draw half of a tree (as in image 1) on a piece of paper and cut it out. This will be your template.

2. Fold one of the onion papers in half.

3. Use the template to make the drawing on it.

4. Cut out following the line marked by the template.

5. Open the paper and you will see how it has the shape of a complete tree.

6. Repeat these steps with the number of papers you want.

7. Pour glue in the central part of each paper (as in point 7).

8. Join all the papers together.

As you will see, this last one is the simplest creation and you will be able to make it quickly and with few materials.

Did you like the experience of creating your decorations using the origami technique? Here are some links to courses, tutorials, and more that may interest you:

- Techniques: How to Make Origami
- Paper Jewelry-Making with Origami Techniques Course
- Christmas Slogans for Advertising