How to Fold a Mini Origami Pop-It Button
Fold a tactile, spring-action mini origami pop-it fidget toy from a single square sheet of paper using precise mountain and valley locks without any glue.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Bone folder
- ✓ Flat rigid work surface
- ✓ Ruler
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Square origami paper (7.5x7.5 cm to 10x10 cm, 70-80 gsm)
- ✓ Spare practice paper
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Smooth creases firmly using the flat edge of a bone folder rather than fingernails to avoid friction paper cuts.
- • Do not force stubborn folds to prevent sudden tears on lightweight paper.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Create Preliminary Grid Creases
Place the square paper colored-side down on the table. Fold the paper in half horizontally, unfold, then fold in half vertically and unfold. Turn the paper over and fold both diagonals corner-to-corner, unfolding after each to create an 8-spoke starburst crease pattern.
- • Paper shows four intersecting crease lines meeting perfectly at the dead center point.
- • Sheet rests flat on the table with crisp, distinct valley and mountain folds.
- • Misaligning edge corners, causing off-center intersection lines.
Perform Blintz Fold to Center
With the colored-side facing down, fold all four outer corners inward so their tips meet precisely at the center crease mark. Press each resulting outer edge firmly with the bone folder to flatten the resulting smaller square.
- • Four triangular flaps meet at the center with zero gap and no overlap.
- • The model is a neat, flat square half the area of the original sheet.
- • Overlapping corner tips in the center, causing paper bunching.
Crease the Central Inversion Grid
Flip the model over. Fold the bottom edge up to the center horizontal line, crease sharply, and unfold. Repeat this fold for the top, left, and right edges to form a central square grid that will act as the popping diaphragm.
- • A clear smaller square grid is visibly scored into the smooth center of the paper.
- • Creases are razor-sharp on both horizontal and vertical axes.
- • Folding past the center line, making the inner button off-center.
Form the Spring-Action Dome
Turn the paper back over so the folded triangular flaps face up. Pinch the diagonal creases of each corner outward into mountain folds while pushing the central inner square downward into a valley fold. Allow the center to cup into a raised dome structure.
- • Central section forms a raised, flexible pyramidal or box-like dome.
- • Four corner ridges project outward like a shallow bowl.
- • Crushing the central paper panel instead of inverting along existing crease lines.
Interlock Edge Flaps into Outer Frame
Fold the outer edge borders inward toward the base of the dome, tucking corner points into the diagonal pockets formed by the adjacent flaps. Press each locking seam down firmly to lock the outer boundary without any adhesive.
- • All raw paper edges are neatly tucked inside adjacent corner slots.
- • A sturdy square frame encloses the raised central button mechanism.
- • Leaving tabs loose outside the pockets, causing the base to spring open.
Invert Central Dome and Test Pop Action
Hold the rigid outer frame between your fingers and press the center dome firmly with your thumb until it snaps downward. Push from the underside to pop it back out, checking for an audible tactile click.
- • Central button clicks downward cleanly and stays inverted until pressed from behind.
- • Outer frame remains rigid and intact during repeated pressing.
- • Pressing off-center, which folds the dome unevenly rather than snapping it.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by Polly's origami — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Bone folder? Smooth wooden craft stick, plastic ruler edge, or back of a spoon
- No Origami paper? Square cut from standard 20 lb copy paper or memo notes