Kirigami- Japanese paper cutting

The girls also seemed to get quite a bit of Japanese paper cutting stuff this year.  So far, the elephant seems to be a favorite.

Step 1.  Fold a square sheet of paper in half.

Step 2.  In half again.

Step 3.  Then diagonal

Step 4. Draw an elephant like this.  I freehanded this one from a sample in a book.  Make sure the tail end is one the folded edge and do not cut through the bottom of the trunk, the tail and the hind leg.

Step 5.  Cut.

Step 6. Open