Jo Nakashima

Learn how to make an origami T-Rex (Tyrannosaurus Rex)
Designed by Jo Nakashima (04/Jul/2015)
Difficulty level: low intermediate

I’ve created this origami T-Rex when I was actually designing my Velociraptor and ended up with wrong proportions. Both dinosaurs were made from the same base, just changing the proportion of the head and some details in the legs and tail.

If you like dinosaurs, check out my playlist on YouTube and try also the Velociraptor and the Brachiosaurus.

Paper

In the video tutorial I’m using 20cm x 20cm Green Tissue Foil. This paper has a beautiful texture and holds the creases very well. It’s not a complex origami and you can use small sheets too.

Standard origami paper works, but it’s not the most recommended. If you use this kind of paper, check the tips below to keep the shape (specially the last one).

Tips to keep a better shape

This model doesn’t have any locks to keep it closed and a common problem is that the body tends to spread open. So, here are some tips to keep a better shape on your T-Rex:

• Use a good paper that holds the creases very well.
• Curve the tail. This will help to prevent the body from opening.
• Don’t use a large sheet if the paper is too soft (legs wouldn’t hold well the weight).
• Wet-fold if you use heavy paper that allows this technique.
• Don’t shape the back and add a small paper clip holding the internal layers (and hidden by the external ones)

Diagrams

Origami T-Rex diagrams available to download (PDF). If you have any trouble, watch the video tutorial!

T-Rex 3D Head

In the video tutorial I decided to keep the flat head for this model, but it is also possible to make it 3D like I did in the velociraptor. The video below shows how to make it:

Help video

There is one step to make the head (9:03) where people sometimes find difficult to make. All you need to do is a reverse fold using the existing creases, but there are so many folds at the same time that it can be confusing for beginners. If you got stuck in this step, watch this video:

Info and Diagrams

I designed the origami Money Bunny from a rectangle with ratio of a dollar bill. If you like it, see also my Money Cat and Money Dog!

Designed by Jo Nakashima (11/2014)
Difficulty level: low intermediate
Recommended paper size: 20cm x 8.3cm or a dollar bill (or similar rectangle)
Diagrams: download [PDF]

Origami Money Bunny tutorial

On my channel there is another cute model folded from money, the Dollar Bill Hare by Barth Dunkan. In this video I also show how to cut the proper rectangle from a square sheet of paper, so use this method to prepare the paper for my Money Bunny too.

Info and Diagrams

Designed by Jo Nakashima (25/Jan/2015)
Difficulty level: simple
Diagrams: download [PDF]

Heart Envelope Tutorial

Info and Diagrams

Designed by Jo Nakashima (6/August/2011)
Difficulty Level: simple
Time to fold it: 12 minutes
Diagrams: download [PDF]

Origami Neko Bookmark Tutorial

How to make an origami Snake
Designed by Jo Nakashima (February/2010)
Difficulty level: simple

This origami snake was the first model I created, based on Yami Yamauchi’s doodlebug. It’s a modular origami and you can use as many sheets of paper as you want to make the body blocks. This is a very fun origami toy because the body is articulated between each block.

Diagrams

Diagrams available to download for the modular version [PDF], but single sheet version is not available.

Paper

This is a modular origami and you can choose how many units you wanna use: the more units you make, the longer will be the snake. In the video I’m using 8 units (7.5cm x 7.5cm origami paper), but I recommend 10-12.

Single sheet version

You can also make the snake from a single sheet of paper using a long rectangle. Unfortunately there is only an old video for this version, so the image quality and instructions aren’t very good. However, I think this shouldn’t be a problem if you understand how the normal version works.

In addition, another little variation is the earthworm: the body is the same, but both ends are just closed.

Info and Diagrams

This origami heart stand is very easy to fold! And you can also use it as a photo holder!

Designed by Jo Nakashima – January 31, 2015
Difficulty Level: simple
Diagrams: download [PDF]

Origami Heart Stand Tutorial

How to make an origami Dragon
Designed by Jo Nakashima – 20/feb/2015
Diagrams: Download [PDF]

My origami Dragons are some of my favorite creations. They are relatively easy to fold and I liked the result a lot. The base of these models is very simple: half bird base, half frog base.

Paper

In the tutorial I’m using 20cm x 20cm Red Tissue-Foil from Origami-shop. However, it doesn’t require special paper and you can use even the standard 15cm x 15cm origami paper or copy paper.

For best results I like using the wet-folding technique on papers like Elephant Hide, Lizard Hide and Biogami.

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Chibi Dragon

Diagrams: Download [PDF]

The Chibi Dragon is a simplified version of my standard dragon. It’s one of the intermediary versions I made before getting to the final version. The head is very simple and it doesn’t have horns. I also decided to keep the wings and legs unshaped.

In this picture you can see how this model evolved:

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Bookmark versions

There are bookmark versions for both dragons! Check out the tutorials and diagrams for the Dragon Bookmark and the Chibi Dragon Bookmark!

Origami Dragons Playlist

You can find more cool origami dragons in this playlist below. There are new versions of this dragon, like the version 3 and complex Devil Dragon.

Info and Diagrams

Bloxy (or little girl) is my first model of this minimalist style.

Bloxy designed by Jo Nakashima
Design date: October 30, 2010
Difficulty Level: simple
Diagrams: download [PDF]

 

Origami Bloxy Tutorial

Watch the tutorial on YouTube:

How to make an origami Penguin
Designed by Jo Nakashima (April 27, 2011)
Difficulty Level: low intermediate
Paper: 15cm x 15cm kraft paper

Dedicated to Heloísa Lie Iyama.

This origami penguin is one of my old creations, but I still like it a lot. It makes a good use of both colors of the paper and its 3D body will keep in shape.

If you like Penguins and books, see also the instructions for the bookmark version.

Origami Penguin diagrams

Update (2023/08/26): New diagrams available with a better folding sequence. Added some reference points to make the wings easier for beginners. You can also find the old diagram here [PDF].

Gotham

My penguin has appeared in the first episode of the third season of Gotham TV series. In the scene, Edward Nygma folds this model from a piece of wrapping paper while talking to Oswald Cobblepot (the Penguin).

The full episode is available on Netflix, but you can watch this scene on YouTube:

Support my work!

If you like my work, please consider visiting and subscribing to my YouTube channel! You’ll find all my work, including models that are not in this website and also models from other origami artists. The easiest way to support my work is simply watching my videos, clicking the like button, leaving comments and subscribing to my channel!

You can also contribute with small donations on Patreon or YouTube Channel Membership. It’s basically like paying me a tip as a thanks for my work and get some rewards in return, like early access to my tutorials and your name in the video (the “thank you” list). They work with recurring payments, but you can cancel anytime so one-time donations are also possible.

I designed the origami Neko (cat, in japanese) in february 2010 and it is one of my first origami creations. This paper used in the picture above is Copper Tissue-foil, from origami-shop, but standard origami paper works too. Download the PDF or watch my video tutorial to learn how to fold it!

Origami Neko (Cat) designed by Jo Nakashima
Design date: February/2010
Difficulty Level: simple
Suggested paper size: 10cm x 10cm (special paper is not required)

Origami Neko tutorial

Origami Neko Diagrams

New diagrams made in 2023. You can see also the old pdf in this link.

Support my work!

If you like my work, please consider visiting and subscribing to my YouTube channel! You’ll find all my work, including models that are not in this website and also models from other origami artists. The easiest way to support my work is simply watching my videos, clicking the like button, leaving comments and subscribing to my channel!

You can also contribute with small donations on Patreon or YouTube Channel Membership. It’s basically like paying me a tip as a thanks for my work and get some rewards in return, like early access to my tutorials and your name in the video (the “thank you” list). They work with recurring payments, but you can cancel anytime so one-time donations are also possible.