How to Fold an Origami Frog Base

Hard level, 23 steps. Traditional base. Earliest record: Kan no Mado, c. 1845.

The animated version shows each fold moving, one step per screen. This page shows every step at once.

All 23 steps

Step 1. Start white side up. Fold the top corner down to the bottom corner.
Step 2. Fold the left corner over to the right corner.
Step 3. Lift the top flap, open it, and squash it flat into a square.
Step 4. Turn the paper over.
Step 5. Squash this flap into a square to match.
Step 6. Lift the right flap upright, open it, and squash it flat so its crease lines up with the center.
Step 7. Fold the left half of the square you made over to the right, like turning a page.
Step 8. Lift the left flap upright and squash it the same way.
Step 9. Turn the paper over.
Step 10. Squash the right flap the same way.
Step 11. Turn the left half of this square over to the right.
Step 12. Squash the last flap.
Step 13. Petal fold: lift the point at the bottom of the colored triangle up along the line between the side corners. The white sides fold in to the center and stay down.
Step 14. Turn the paper over.
Step 15. Petal fold this side the same way.
Step 16. Turn one layer from the right over to the left, like turning a page.
Step 17. Turn one more layer from the right over to the left. A new kite shows.
Step 18. Turn the paper over.
Step 19. Turn one layer from the right over to the left.
Step 20. Turn one more layer from the right over to the left. A new kite shows.
Step 21. Petal fold this kite.
Step 22. Turn the paper over.
Step 23. Petal fold the last kite.
Done. This is the frog base. Its petal folds match Rice's Easter lily (St. Nicholas, April 1914), which starts here.