Easy Origami Leprechaun Tutorial for St. Patrick’s Day (With Video)

Learn how to make an easy origami leprechaun with this fun step-by-step tutorial! Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day decorations, party favors, or as a lucky charm.

Hello, Craftaholics! ☘ St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, and that means it’s time for all things green, lucky, and magical! From shamrocks to pots of gold, this holiday is full of fun traditions—but what’s St. Patrick’s Day without a mischievous little leprechaun?

Today, we’re making an easy origami leprechaun, a fun and festive paper craft that’s perfect for decorating, party favors, or even a lucky charm to tuck into your journal. This craft goes perfectly with our previous origami shamrock tutorial—because what’s a leprechaun without a little luck? Fold them together to create the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day set!

All you need for this craft is a square piece of paper and a few quick folds to bring this tiny leprechaun to life. To make it even easier, I’ve included a step-by-step video tutorial so you can follow along effortlessly.

So, grab your green paper, press play on the video, and let’s fold a little St. Patrick’s Day magic together! 🍀

How to Make Origami Leprechaun

Step by Step Instructions: Easy Origami Leprechaun

Step 1: Preparing the Paper

Prepare a piece of square paper (15 cm x 15 cm) that is colored green on one side and white on the other side. If you don’t have this type of paper, you can attach a green and a white paper side by side. Make sure to use very light paper if you’re attaching 2 papers. Turn the paper and bring the white side to the top.

Step 2: Diagonal Half Fold

Fold the square paper into half, diagonally. Unfold the diagonal fold to get a diagonal crease on the square paper.

Step 3: Fold Two Adjacent Sides

Hold any one side of the current paper and fold it in. Align the side with the diagonal crease and make a fine fold. Similarly, fold in and align the adjacent side along the diagonal half crease.

Step 4: Asymmetrical Half Fold

Hold the narrow corner and fold it to the opposite side; joining with the wide corner. Turn the current pattern to the other side.

Step 5: Valley Fold

Hold the wide-open corner of the front layer and fold it down, about 1 cm away from the opposite side. The white, triangle part will be used to form the leprechaun’s beard and face. Make a small mountain fold on the open corner of the triangle part.

Step 6: Thin Fold and Turn

Make a thin fold along the closed side of the triangle part; this will be the bottom side of the leprechaun’s hat. Turn the current pattern to the other side.

Step 7: Fold Corner and a Side

Fold in the narrow-open corner by a cm. Fold in and align the left flap (on the bottom layer) of the current pattern with its adjacent top layer’s edge.

Step 8: Fold the Other Side and Turn

Fold in and align the right flap. Turn the current pattern to the other side.

Step 9: Fold Bottom Corners

Fold in the bottom right corner and slightly overlap the beard part. Similarly, fold in the bottom left corner. These are the arms of the origami leprechaun.

Step 10: Draw the Face

Draw the arm parts under the beard for this step. Use an orange sharpie to trace and fill the beard part. Use a black gel pen or sharpie to draw the face of the leprechaun.

Step 11: Attach a Coin

You can use a coin chocolate or a round coin size cut out from golden craft paper. Place it under the arms and on top of the beard. Use glue to attach the coin to the origami leprechaun.

Watch Complete Video Tutorial: Origami leprechaun

If you need a little extra help with the folds, hop over to our YouTube channel for the full step-by-step video tutorial!✨ Watching the process in action makes crafting even easier. And while you’re there, don’t forget to subscribe and turn on the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss out on more fun origami projects. Click [here] to watch and craft along with us!

Beginner Tips to Fold Origami Leprechaun Neatly

1. Use Square Paper – Make sure your paper is a perfect square before starting. If it’s not, the folds might not align properly, making the leprechaun look uneven.
2. Choose the Right Paper – Use craft papers that are colored on one side and white on the other side. Thin origami paper works best for crisp folds.
3. Fold Neatly and Precisely – Small misalignments in the early steps can lead to a lopsided leprechaun. Take your time and fold carefully, matching edges perfectly.
4. Crease Firmly – Use a bone folder, ruler, or even your fingernail to press down on folds. Sharp creases help the origami hold its shape better.
5. Start with a Practice Piece – If you’re new to origami, try folding the leprechaun with scrap paper first. This helps you understand the steps before making the final one.
6. Follow the Steps in Order – Skipping or rearranging steps can lead to confusion. Stick to the tutorial sequence for the best results.
7. Work on a Flat Surface – A smooth, hard surface helps in making even, precise folds compared to folding on a soft or uneven surface.
8. Be Patient – If a fold doesn’t look right, unfold gently and try again. Origami is all about patience and precision!
9. Add Details at the End – If you plan to draw a face or add decorations, wait until the origami is completely folded. This way, your design stays in the right place.

Enjoyed the origami leprechaun tutorial? You may like some of our other origami crafts, here are some fun origami crafts from our site.

• How to Make Origami Heart Bookmark 
• How to Make a Jumping Origami Frog
• How to make Folding Origami Envelopes
• How to Make Origami Lotus Flower
• How to Make Origami Butterfly 

We hope you had a blast crafting this adorable origami leprechaun! ☘  Whether you’re using it for St. Patrick’s Day decorations, gifting it to a friend, or just adding a little magic to your origami collection, this tiny leprechaun is sure to bring smiles.

If you give this craft a try, don’t forget to share your creations with us on Facebook or Instagram using #thecraftaholicwitch—we’d love to see your lucky little leprechauns! Happy crafting!