If you’ve ever been to the Scholar’s Lab Makerspace, you have at one point or another seen Lionel. Lionel is our resident kraken and the mascot of the Makerspace. Through the Japanese art of origami, folding paper, you can bring Lionel to life and create your own paper kraken. All you need is a piece of paper.

1. Fold in half, then unfold

1. Rotate the paper 90 degrees and fold in half, unfold

1. Fold in half diagonally, unfold

1. Rotate the paper 90 degrees and fold in half, unfold

1. Bend sides in, making a triangle

1. Bring the edge of one flap up to the top

1. Repeat for all flaps, unfold all flaps

1. Fold top down to the middle, unfold

1. Fold top down to middle on opposite site, unfold

2. Open one of the bottom flaps

1. Fold down the flap

1. Repeat for all flaps

1. Fold corner to midpoint, unfold

1. Fold corner again up to previous crease, unfold

1. Fold the first crease the opposite direction

1. Fold the top section using the previous fold as a guideline, unfold

1. Repeat with the other side

1. Unfold the flaps so you have a square section with all the creases

1. Fold the outer layers in

1. Continue folding in the layers until flat

1. Repeat for other side

1. Fold the single flap section up and rotate everything

1. Fold the single flap section so that the tip meets the midway point

1. Fold the flap up and then fold it down

1. Flip everything over to the other side

1. Fold the edge towards middle, unfold

1. Fold top side edge towards middle, unfold

1. Pinch the edge and fold towards the middle and upwards

1. Repeat for other side

1. Pull the inside flap out and fold out

1. Repeat with other side

1. Flip over, and fold the flap area in. This will become the face

1. Fold flaps upward

1. Use something to make space in these flaps fold them down, I used a pencil. This will become the eyes

1. Bend center crease up to give it a more distinctive face

1. Bend flap on top down away from the face

1. Press leg inwards and fold out

1. Repeat with other legs

1. Shape the legs and head as you please to give it more of a cephalopod appeareance

Congrats!!! You have successfully made an origami kraken.