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How to fold an origami seal on a rock

Narrow a kite into a deep chest and slim tail, fold it in half, pleat the neck twice to lift the head, lift and split the tail flippers, and lay it on a folded rock.

You need: 1 square sheet (15 cm), dark grey on one side and white on the other, a 12 x 6 cm sandy sheet, scissors, glue and a black pen. Hard, 17 steps, about 30 minutes.

Steps

  1. Crease the middle. White side up, fold the top corner down to the bottom corner, crease, and unfold.
  2. Make a kite. Fold the two left-hand edges in to the middle crease, so the left point is long.
  3. Narrow it. Fold the new edges in to the middle crease again, from the left tip all the way along. The right end stays deep: the chest and head.
  4. Turn it over. Turn the paper over, so it is all grey and the deep end is on the left.
  5. Fold in half. Fold the bottom half behind along the middle crease. The fold is the belly, the nose points left.
  6. Neck pleat 1: over. Fold the head over to the right on an upright crease 7.5 cm from the nose.
  7. Neck pleat 1: back. Fold it back to the left on a crease that starts at the belly end of the first and leans toward the nose, so the head tips up.
  8. Neck pleat 2: over. Fold the head over to the right again, 1.5 cm nearer the nose.
  9. Neck pleat 2: back. Fold it back to the left on a crease that starts at the belly end of the first and leans toward the nose, so the head tips up.
  10. Round the forehead. Fold the top front corner of the head behind on a short slant.
  11. Lift the tail. Fold the tail up through all layers on a crease 5 cm from its tip, slanting up toward the tip.
  12. Snip the tail. Snip 2.5 cm along the tail's folded edge from the tip, so its front and back layers come apart.
  13. Spread the flippers. Fold the front tip down from the end of the snip. The back tip stays up: two tail flippers.
  14. The rock. Set the seal aside. Take the 12 x 6 cm sandy sheet, coloured side up, long side level.
  15. Rock: corners behind. Fold both top corners behind on a slant, 3 cm in along the top and 3 cm down the side.
  16. Rock: round it. Fold the four new corners behind a little, so the top of the rock is round and lumpy.
  17. Up on the rock. Glue the seal's belly along the top of the rock.

Arf arf!

Draw an eye, a dot for the nose and a few whiskers.

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