2D Origami Santa

Create a fun 2D origami Santa with arms!

Perfect for hanging on the tree, adding to a garland, or using as festive gift tags.

This 2D Origami Santa with Arms is a festive and adorable paper craft that’s perfect for celebrating the holiday season.

This flat Santa design is ideal for turning into a Christmas ornament, creating a festive garland, or even using as a charming gift tag.

The addition of arms gives this traditional origami Santa a bit more character, making him stand out in your holiday decor.

Whether you're looking for an easy craft to entertain the kids or want to add a fun element to your holiday decor, this homemade craft idea is versatile and charming.

The flat design makes it perfect for tucking into holiday cards, attaching to presents, or even placing on your Christmas tree.

Plus, because it's made with paper, it's an eco-friendly decoration that you can reuse year after year.

Other super easy Christmas crafts you might like to make include this Christmas Tree Napkins Fold, 3D Origami Christmas Tree, Paper Santa or these cute Origami Reindeer.

Why You'll Love This Pattern

• Fun and festive design perfect for holiday decorations.
• Can be turned into a garland, ornament, or gift tag.
• Easy to customize with different paper sizes and colors.
• Great craft for kids and beginners.

Skill Level

Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ (Very Easy)

Materials Needed

• Square paper: 6x6 inches (15cm x 15cm) is ideal, but any size works.
• Type of paper: Use red origami paper (with white back) or cardstock for the classic Santa look.

Step 1: Start with the color you want your Santa to be facing up.

Step 2: Fold the bottom edge of your paper up to form a small strip (if using 6” (15cm) origami paper, we suggest folding it up about 0.4” (1cm)).

Step 3: Fold the paper in half from left to right.

Step 4: Unfold previous step.

Step 5: Flip the paper over from left to right.

Step 6: Fold the top left corner to the middle to meet the centre crease.

Step 7: Repeat previous step for top right corner.

Step 8: Fold the left side to meet the middle crease again.

Tips For Success

• You might like to add googly eyes or stickers to your Santa.
• Use thicker paper: If you want your Santa to be more durable, use lightweight cardstock.
• Embellishments: Add glitter, tiny pom-poms, or cotton for Santa’s hat and beard.
• Multi-purpose: Make several Santas to use as gift tags or string them together for a festive garland.

How to Make it Into a Garland

To turn your 2D Origami Santa into a garland, simply make multiple Santas and attach them to a string or ribbon using a hole punch or tape.

You can alternate between different sizes or colors of Santas for a more playful and festive effect. Hang your garland across doorways, windows, or along the fireplace for a cheerful holiday touch.

How to Turn It Into an Ornament

For a Christmas ornament, punch a small hole at the top of Santa’s hat and thread a piece of ribbon or string through it.

You can hang your Origami Santa on your tree, along a banister, or even on the doorknob. For added durability, consider using thicker paper or gluing two layers of paper together before folding.

Color, Paper Ideas, and Variations

To create a traditional Santa, opt for red and white paper.

For a modern twist, you can experiment with different shades of red, green, or even metallic paper to make your Santa shimmer. You can also use double-sided paper to add more color to Santa’s arms or hat for extra detail.

For a fun variation, create mini Santas to use as holiday gift tags, or make larger ones for statement decorations. If you’re feeling creative, draw on additional details like Santa’s face, belt, or boots to make each one unique.

FAQ

Other Paper Crafts You Might Like To Try:

• Butterfly Origami
• Origami Masu Box
• Origami Stocking
• Triangle Origami Corner Bookmark
• Origami Santa Hat
• Origami Shield

Helpful Origami Tips

If you're curious to learn more about origami, you might like to look at our basic guides on how to make some common origami folds.

Start with the valley fold and mountain fold—these are the foundation of most origami models.

Once you're comfortable, you might like to try the petal fold for 3D shapes, and explore the bird base and square base for more complex designs.

The water bomb base is also great for creating inflatable or geometric models, like this inflatable origami rabbit.