Jumping Frog

Start with a square sheet of paper, colored side up, lying flat on a white surface.

Fold the paper in half horizontally — bring the top edge down to the bottom edge — to form a landscape rectangle. Crease firmly.

Fold the top-right corner down diagonally to the bottom-left corner of the right half. The right side becomes a triangle while the left remains a square.

Fold the remaining left half over to complete the triangle. You now have a large downward-pointing triangle with a vertical center fold line.

Unfold back to the rectangle. The diagonal crease lines form an X or V pattern across the paper — these are your guide creases.

Fold only the right side up along the diagonal crease. The left stays flat as a square while the right becomes a raised triangle.

Complete the fold so the whole paper forms a symmetric upward-pointing triangle. A vertical crease runs down the center.

Flip the paper over. It lies flat as a rectangle with all the diagonal and horizontal crease lines now visible on this side.

Fold both short ends inward so their corners meet at the center, forming an envelope shape with pointed triangular flaps.

Fold the right panel over to the left, like turning a page. A smaller rectangular section remains on the right side.

Fold both outer panels inward to meet at the vertical center line. The paper stands slightly open like a tall narrow book.

Open everything out flat. You now see the full crease map — a wide landscape rectangle with three-panel divisions and all diagonal lines.

Flatten the paper down so it is horizontal and compact. All creases from both sides are visible — this is your complete crease reference.

Push in at both sides along the existing creases to collapse into a 3D shape. Four raised points appear — like a bat wing or accordion.

Flatten the collapse. You now have two diamond shapes sitting side by side, joined at the center.

Fold one triangular flap from the right diamond over to the left, creating an asymmetric layered shape.

Continue folding the right flap inward. Multiple layers compress toward the center, making the shape more compact.

All four triangular panels are now folded flat, creating a compact diamond with 8 triangular segments visible across the front.

Fold one corner point outward to create a small protruding triangle — this is the first leg stub.

Repeat for all four corners. You now have a star or flower shape with four small triangles pointing outward at the compass points.

Gently shape two of the corner points by bending them slightly — you are individually adjusting each of the four leg points.

Flip the model over. From this side it appears as a large flat square or rhombus with tiny corner protrusions at two corners.

All four corner nubs are now slightly more prominent. Four leg stubs are visible at every corner.

Fold the top half of the model down over the bottom half. The frog's body and head shape begins to emerge, with front and back legs visible.

The frog shape is now clear: a pointed head at the top, two front legs spread wide to the sides, and two back legs pointing downward.

Define the vertical crease down the back of the frog's body. Front legs are horizontal, back feet angle outward.

Press the front of the body inward to round out the frog's belly. The head peak is smooth and the spring fold at the base is taking shape.

Fold the internal center layers back to create the jump spring. A deep inverted-V crease forms inside the body.

Hold the frog between thumb and forefinger at the spring fold (the bottom end). This shows the front-side profile with the body and head.

Turn the frog to show the belly and front legs from below. The spring base is visible at the bottom.

Back view held in hand — the body arch is prominent, and the front legs stick out to the sides.

Side profile held in hand — the full frog silhouette is visible: head, rounded body arch, and all four legs.

Place the frog flat on the surface, face forward. Front arms spread wide, back feet flat — it is ready to jump.

Glue two googly eyes to the front of the head. Press down on the back and release — the frog leaps forward!