Blinking Eye Origami
Step 1 of 14
Start with a square, white side up, turned like a diamond. Fold it in half from top to bottom and from side to side, then open it again.
Video step by step
If a picture is hard to follow, watch every fold here. Pause and rewind as often as you need.
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A spooky eye that really blinks
This blinking eye origami is an action origami: hold both ends and push them in, and the eye opens wide. Pull them apart and it closes again, just like a real moving eye. It is folded from one square of paper, and at the end you draw the eye inside, so every eye you make can look different.
Draw a creepy eyeball with red lines for Halloween, a cute eye with long lashes, or a cat or monster eye. It is a fun Halloween origami for older kids, teens and grown-ups.
Kids can make it with the help of their parents. You can teach your child together: watch the video, follow the step-by-step pictures and fold side by side.
Ideas for your blinking eyes
- Spooky surprise: hide a blinking eye in a bookshelf or a plant and make it blink at your guests.
- Monster party: make a whole pile of eyes in different colours for a monster or creepy eyeball theme.
- Puppet show: use two eyes and a paper mouth to make a talking monster.
- More Halloween action origami: try the flapping bat and the snapping pumpkin.
Want to know if the famous Jack Skellington paper spider snowflake trick really works? I tested it here.
Questions
How does the blinking eye origami work?
The slanted creases let the paper fold in two ways. When you push the ends together, the middle opens and shows the eye. When you pull them apart, it closes.
What paper is best?
A 15 × 15 cm origami square. Use paper with one coloured side and one white side, so the eye inside stays white for drawing.
When do I draw the eye?
At the very end. Open the eye, then draw the eyeball inside with markers.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes the first time.