Every once in a while you just need a crown. Maybe it is a birthday, maybe a school play, maybe the cat has been acting unusually regal. This little paper crown is the one to reach for: it starts from the humble origami organ base, and for the first seven steps it honestly looks like nothing more than a folded strip. Then step 8 happens. You pry the bottom open, the paper springs outward, and suddenly there is a ring with points standing up all the way around it. That reveal is the reason this model is worth learning, and it is why readers keep sending in photos of crowns on dolls, on sisters and on very sleepy cats. Give it three minutes and a square of paper and you will have something worth wearing.

This is an easy origami crown that you can fold whenever you feel like proclaiming yourself king or queen!

Origami Crown Step 1: Fold an origami organ base. It is a common starting shape that shows up in plenty of other models, so it is worth practising once or twice. You should have the shape below to start with.

Origami Crown Step 2: Flip the paper over.

Origami Crown Step 3: Fold both the right and left sides in to meet the center crease.

Origami Crown Step 4: Now fold the right and left sides on the dotted line shown below.

Origami Crown Step 5: Flip the paper over and repeat step 4.

Origami Crown Step 6: Fold the bottom tip up on the dotted line as shown.

Origami Crown Step 7: Flip the paper over and repeat step 6.

Origami Crown Step 8: Now we are going to open the paper up and transform it into an origami crown! Pry the paper open from the bottom.

Origami Crown Step 9: Flatten the middle from the top, then shape your origami crown to your liking!

From Gregory in Tulare: “This is my crown.”

From Allaine in the Philippines: “I made this crown for our school play. I was chosen to act as the Princess of the Stars. As you can see, my crown is sitting on the origami instruction book I made. I’m showing it to almost everyone I know. They really loved the origami and I have been pointing them to this site! Is my crown looking good?”

Your origami crown looks great, Allaine!

From Joseph in Florida: “I have been reading your site for months and have been waiting for my camera so I can show you all of my origami. This is my crown, measuring about 1.7 cm. Top that!”

From Celia in St. Paul: “It was fun to make and it is a last minute birthday present for my sister! She loved it! :)”

From Sowmiya in Chennai: “Origami crown.”

From Laura in Mead: “This origami crown is only a little less than 2 centimeters (take that, Joseph from Florida!). Believe it or not, it only took three minutes to complete. It was so much fun!”

From a reader in Hensley:

From E: “My origami crown is 9mm, so take that Joseph from Florida and Laura in Mead!”

From Lillian in Andover: “An old Ken doll of my aunt’s. My sister loves to play with it.”

From Daniel in Salisbury: “Beat that, E, Laura in Mead and Joseph in Florida. 7mm!!! Top that!!!”

From a reader in London: “I made a crown! :)”

From Nabilah in Kuala Lumpur: “Made it with my sister!!!”

From Genevieve in Texas: “My lovely origami crown sitting atop the royal kitty’s head!”

Your kitty looks really sleepy :)