Make an easy origami crab craft – a super fun summer paper craft for kids! If you loved this, check out this crab craft for preschoolers too. This post contains affiliate links.

There’s nothing like a good origami tutorial to make once and repeat again and again until you master it, and this origami crab is just the cutest!

It’s got those beach vibes all over it and is a great beginner-intermediate (as in easy but not absolute beginner) tutorial.

Did you know that each animal has a “group” name? It’s called the collective noun. A group of lions is a pride. A group of pandas is a cupboard or bamboo. The collective noun for crabs is a cast of crabs.

When making origami crabs, you’ll definitely want to make a cast!

This easy origami tutorial starts with a square piece of paper, as many traditional origami projects do. You can use whatever you have – copy paper or construction paper included – to make a square.

However, this is a great tutorial for actually using origami paper.

It’s got pretty small folds. Origami paper is designed to handle small folds and a bit of abuse. Whatever you do choose, don’t get stressed if you need to try a few times to get it perfect! Remember, each origami design is a new skill, and a little practice never hurts.

What you need

Colored origami paper or light craft paper
Marker or gel pen
Craft glue
Scissors or 1/2 inch circle punch
Optional: bone folder

How to fold an Origami Crab

1. Take a piece of square paper. Fold the paper in half diagonally, from both sides. Unfold the diagonal folds.

2. Turn the paper to the other side. Fold the paper in half vertically and horizontally. Unfold again.

3. Keeping the diagonal creases facing up, fold in the horizontal and vertical creases. This will form a 4-point star-like shape.

4. Flatten the current pattern by aligning the diagonal folding-lines together. The current pattern should have 2 triangle flaps on each side.

5. Rotate the pattern by bringing the straight side along the top. Bring 3 flaps on one side.

6. We will work with the top flap. Fold 1/3 of the flap down.

7. Turn the folded flap to the other side.

8. Now, bring the next flap on the top of the folded flap.

9. Similarly, fold the current flap, by aligning the folded part with the other flap’s folded flap.

10. Bring the last flap to the other side again. Now, the 2 arms of the origami crab are ready.

11. Turn the current pattern to the other side.

12. Fold 1 cm of the current pattern along the straight (longer) side.

13. Fold the right part inside, creating a thin fold along the right-outer side.

14. We’ll work on the outer-thin part of the current pattern, on the right side. Fold and align the diagonal side with the opposite side. This is the right claw of the crab.

15. Similarly, fold the left claw of the origami crab.

16. Fold in a small part of the pointy side of the current pattern.

17. Turn the pattern to the other side.

18. Cut out and fill 2 eye patterns for the paper crab. Attach the eyes along the straight part of the origami crab pattern, between the claws.

Origami Crab

Materials

Tools

Instructions