Kirigami Insects: Rhinoceros Beetle and Stag Beetle

In this Instructable I will show you how I make kirigami models of the rhinoceros beetle and the stag beetle. What is kirigami? It is a combination of papercraft cuts and origami folds. For more information on kirigami or beetles check out the resource section for suggested sites and books. I have separated this Instructable into several sections:

• Rhinoceros Beetle Body
• Rhinoceros Beetle Legs
• Stag Beetle Body
• Stag Beetle Legs
• Display Box Construction
• Display Ideas
• Resources

Feel free to complete each section in whatever order you find work best for you. I do suggest doing the Body sections before completing the Leg steps.

Happy Crafting.

Materials

• Cardboard
• Craft Glue
• Construction Paper
• Hot Glue Sticks
• Decorative Paper (optional)
• Mod Podge or Watered Down Craft Glue

Tools

• Hot Glue Gun
• Pencil
• Pen
• Markers
• Paint Brush
• Hobby Knife
• Ruler
• Cutting Mat or Board
• Template (optional)
• Download here: PDF

Note: I made a template you can download from the Supplies section if you would rather not free hand your kirigami rhinoceros beetle. Skip the Free Hand Steps if you wish to use the template.

Free Hand Steps:

1. Google search Rhinoceros Beetle. Scroll down and select the View in 3D option. Once the model loads rotate the beetle to a top down view.
2. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in half long ways.
3. Sketch half the beetle abdomen along the paper's fold. See picture 12 for a diagram.
4. At the top of the abdomen draw a 5mm box attached to it. Draw a line through the center of the box.
5. Sketch half of the thorax above the box along the paper's fold. See picture 12 for a diagram.
6. Sketch a smaller horn attached to the thorax.
7. Draw a box around the small horn. This will fold into the head later. See picture 12 for a diagram.
8. Sketch the large horn attached to the box housing the smaller horn.
9. Using the hobby knife cut out the outline of the beetle sketch.
10. Use the hobby knife to cut around the smaller horn. Do not cut along the line attaching the small horn to the thorax. See image 11 for an example.
11. Unfold the beetle cutout and have the non-pencil side facing you with its horn facing up.
12. Fold the abdomen up along the box's center line. The box you ar folding is the one attaching the abdomen with the thorax.
13. Fold abdomen down along the attached box's outer line.
14. Fold the thorax back along the box's outer line attached to it.
15. Unfold the thorax and you should have a valley fold where the abdomen meets the thorax.
16. Flip the beetle model over so the pencil side faces you.
17. Place to small dots next to the valley fold side closest to the thorax.
18. Fold down the valley fold into the glue. Place the ruler on top of this new fold until the glue sets.
19. Fold the large horn down towards the abdomen so it stands straight up.
20. Fold the large horn in half to form the head of the beetle.
21. Lightly fold the box until the horn points forward away from the thorax.
22. Flip the beetle so the non pencil side faces you.
23. Fold the beetle in half and fold down the larger horn front edges.
24. Let the paper naturally unfold and you have completed the body of the rhinoceros beetle.

Template Steps (skip if you are free handing your kirigami beetle)

1. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in half long ways.
2. Print and cut out the R-Beetle Body template.
3. Trace the template along the papers fold. Maker sure to include the boxes and small horn.
4. Using the hobby knife cut out the outline of the beetle sketch.
5. Use the hobby knife to cut around the smaller horn. Do not cut along the line attaching the small horn to the thorax. See image 11 for an example.
6. Unfold the beetle cutout and have the non-pencil side facing you with its horn facing up.
7. Fold the abdomen up along the box's center line. The box you are folding is the one attaching the abdomen with the thorax.
8. Fold abdomen down along the attached box's outer line.
9. Fold the thorax back along the box's outer line attached to it.
10. Unfold the thorax and you should have a valley fold where the abdomen meets the thorax.
11. Flip the beetle model over so the pencil side faces you.
12. Place to small dots next to the valley fold side closest to the thorax.
13. Fold down the valley fold into the glue. Place the ruler on top of this new fold until the glue sets.
14. Fold the large horn down towards the abdomen so it stands straight up.
15. Fold the large horn in half to form the head of the beetle.
16. Lightly fold the box until the horn points forward away from the thorax.
17. Flip the beetle so the non pencil side faces you.
18. Fold the beetle in half and fold down the larger horn front edges.
19. Let the paper naturally unfold and you have completed the body of the rhinoceros beetle.

Note: I made a template you can download from the Supplies section if you would rather not free hand your kirigami rhinoceros beetle. Skip the Free Hand Steps if you wish to use the template.

Free Hand Steps

1. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in half long ways. If you have enough room, feel free to use the remaining paper from the Rhinoceros Beetle Body Step.
2. Align the beetle body's center fold line along the paper's fold line.
3. Sketch the front, middle and back leg.
4. Place the body to the side and draw a box connecting all the legs.
5. Draw a line through the center of the box.
6. Cutout legs using the hobby knife: If you accidently rip a leg off just reattach it with some craft glue and scrap paper.
7. Have the leg face pencil side up.
8. Fold a set of legs along the drawn line in the box.
9. Fold the other set of legs up so it mirrors the other set.
10. Rotate the model so the legs are standing on the ground.
11. Lightly pinch the legs together so the center fold line forms a tent shape. See image 11 for example.
12. Place a line of craft glue along the center fold of the legs.
13. Gently attach the body to the legs and make adjustments if needed.
14. While the body and legs dry.
15. Take some scrap paper and fold it in half.
16. Sketch the antenna along the fold of the paper.
17. Cut the antenna out using a hobby knife.
18. Cut the antenna in two along the center fold.
19. Once the beetle model is dry, glue antenna to the bottom of the head. See image 19 and 20 for example.
20. Great job! Your kirigami rhinoceros beetle is complete!

Template Steps (skip if you are free handing your kirigami beetle)

1. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in half long ways. If you have enough room, feel free to use the remaining paper from the Rhinoceros Beetle Body Step.
2. Print and cut out the R-Beetle Leg template.
3. Trace the template along the papers fold. Make sure to include the line.
4. Cutout legs using the hobby knife: If you accidently rip a leg off just reattach it with some glue and scrap paper.
5. Have the leg face pencil side up.
6. Fold a set of legs along the drawn line in the box.
7. Fold the other set of legs up so it mirrors the other set.
8. Rotate the model so the legs are standing on the ground.
9. Lightly pinch the legs together so the center fold line forms a tent shape. See image 11 for example.
10. Place a line of craft glue along the center fold of the legs.
11. Gently attach the body to the legs and make adjustments if needed.
12. While the body and legs dry. Take some scrap paper and fold it in half.
13. Cut out the Antenna template.
14. Trace the Antenna template along the fold of the paper.
15. Cut the antenna out using a hobby knife.
16. Cut the antenna in two along the center fold.
17. Once the beetle model is dry, glue antenna to the bottom of the head. See image 19 and 20 for example.
18. Great job your kirigami rhinoceros beetle is complete!

Note: I made a template you can download from the Supplies section if you would rather not free hand your kirigami stag beetle. Skip the Free Hand Steps if you wish to use the template.

Free Hand Steps:

1. Google search Stag Beetle. Scroll down and select the View in 3D option. Once the object loads rotate the beetle to a top down view.
2. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in half long ways.
3. Sketch half the beetle's abdomen along the paper's fold. See picture 10 for a diagram.
4. At the top of the abdomen draw a 5mm box attached to it. Draw a line through the center of the box.
5. Sketch half of the thorax at the top of the box attached to the abdomen along the papers fold. See picture 10 for a diagram.
6. At the top of the thorax draw a 5mm box attached to it. Draw a line through the center of the box.
7. Sketch half the beetles head and one mandible at the top of the box attached to the thorax along the paper's fold. See picture 10 for a diagram.
8. Using the hobby knife cut out the outline of the beetle sketch.
9. Unfold the beetle cutout and have the pencil side facing you with its mandibles facing up.
10. Fold the abdomen up along the center line of the adjacent the box.
11. Fold abdomen down along the outer box line attached to it.
12. You should have a valley fold where the abdomen meets the thorax.
13. Fold the head back along the center line in the box attached to it.
14. Fold the head down along the outer box line and you should have a valley fold where the head meets the thorax.
15. Flip the beetle over so the non-pencil side is facing you.
16. Fold the beetle in half.
17. Let the paper naturally unfold and you have completed the body of your stag beetle.

Template Steps (skip if you are free handing your kirigami beetle)

1. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in half long ways.
2. Print out template and cutout S-Beetle Body template.
3. Trace template along the paper's fold. Make sure to include the lines.
4. Using the hobby knife cut out the outline of the beetle sketch.
5. Unfold the beetle cutout and have the pencil side facing you with its mandibles facing up.
6. Fold the abdomen up along the center line of the adjacent the box. See picture 10 for a diagram.
7. Fold abdomen down along the outer box line attached to it.
8. You should have a valley fold where the abdomen meets the thorax.
9. Fold the head back along the center line in the box attached to it.
10. Fold the head down along the outer box line and you should have a valley fold where the head meets the thorax.
11. Flip the beetle over so the non-pencil side is facing you.
12. Fold the beetle in half.
13. Let the paper naturally unfold and you have completed the body of your stag beetle.

Note: I made a template you can download from the Supplies section if you would rather not free hand your kirigami stag beetle. Skip the Free Hand Steps if you wish to use the template.

Free Hand Steps

1. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in half long ways. If you have enough room, feel free to use the remaining paper from the Stag Beetle Body Step.
2. Align the beetle body's center fold line along the papers fold line.
3. Sketch the front, middle and back leg.
4. Place the body to the side and draw a box connecting all the legs.
5. Draw a line through the center of the box.
6. Cutout legs using the hobby knife: If you accidently rip a leg off just reattach it with some glue and scrap paper.
7. Unfold the legs.
8. Have the legs face pencil side up.
9. Fold a set of legs along the line drawn in the box.
10. Fold the other set of legs up so it mirrors the other set.
11. Rotate the model so the legs are standing on the ground.
12. Lightly pinch the leg together so the center fold line forms a tent shape. See image 8 for example.
13. Place a line of craft glue along the center fold of the legs.
14. Gently attach the body to the legs and make adjustments if needed.
15. While the body and legs dry.
16. Take some scrap paper and fold it in half.
17. Sketch the antenna along the fold of the paper.
18. Cut the antenna out using a hobby knife.
19. Cut the antenna in two along the center fold.
20. Once the beetle model dries, glue the antenna to the bottom of the head. See image 14 for example.
21. Great job your kirigami stag beetle is complete!

Template Steps (skip if you are free handing your kirigami beetle)

1. Take a piece of construction paper and fold it in half long ways. If you have enough room, feel free to use the remaining paper from the Stag Beetle Body Step.
2. Print and cut out the S-Beetle Legs template.
3. Trace the template along the papers fold. Make sure to include the lines.
4. Cutout legs using the hobby knife: If you accidently rip a leg off just reattach it with some glue and scrap paper.
5. Unfold the legs.
6. Have the legs face pencil side up.
7. Fold a set of legs along the line drawn in the box.
8. Fold the other set of legs up so it mirrors the other set.
9. Rotate the model so the legs are standing on the ground.
10. Lightly pinch the legs together so the center fold line forms a tent shape. See image 8 for example.
11. Place a line of craft glue along the center fold of the legs.
12. Gently attach the body to the legs and make adjustments if needed.
13. While the body and legs dry. Take some scrap paper and fold it in half.
14. Cut out the Antenna template.
15. Trace the Antenna template along the fold of the paper.
16. Cut the antenna out using a hobby knife.
17. Cut the antenna in two along the center fold.
18. Once the beetle model is dry, glue antenna to the bottom of the head. See image 14 for example.
19. Great job your kirigami stag beetle is complete!

Depending on how you made your kirigami beetle it's dimensions will differ from the one I made. The best way I've found making a display box is to place the beetle on a sheet of cardboard and roughly trace out a rectangle around it.

Display Box

1. Take a sheet of cardboard and cut out a rectangle to desired length and width. This rectangle will become the floor of the box.
2. Take a sheet of black construction paper and cut out a rectangle the same size as your cardboard one.
3. Use craft glue to adhere the paper to the cardboard.
4. Cut out six rectangles the same length of your rectangle. These will be used to make the sides of your display box. I made mine 2cm wide so it would be slightly taller than my beetle.
5. Hot glue three of the rectangles together to form one side of the box.
6. Do the same for the remaining three.
7. Hot glue these walls to each side of the box.
8. Once the glue dries repeat steps 4 - 7 for the remaining sides.
9. Use decorative or construction paper to wrap the box.
10. Cut the Box Mount out from template (you can download this PDF from the Supplies step).
11. Use the Box Mount template to cut out and fold the mount from black construction paper.
12. Fold and insert the mount in the center of the display box using craft glue. See image 14 for an example.
13. Seal the entire box with a single coat of Mod Podge

Prepare Beetle(Optional)

1. Apply a coat of marker to the beetle.
2. Once dry apply a single coat of Mod Podge to seal it.
3. Let the beetle dry.
4. Once dry, gently fold beetle into desired pose.

Attaching Beetle to Display Box

1. Apply a small dot of craft glue to the box mount.
2. Gently position beetle and place it on the box mount.
3. Let the glue dry fully before displaying.
4. Optionally you can glue a note card to the bottom with information about your kirigami beetle

Your kirigami beetle display box is complete!

Here are some fun suggestions for displaying your kirigami beetles:

• Book shelf buddy
• On a shelf next to your crafting area.
• On a boring wall
• Next to a fish tank.

If you make a kirigami insect I would love to see how you display it! Post a pic below and happy crafting!

If you would like to find out more about the beetles featured in this project or the art medium of kirigami see the links below:

• Rhinoceros Beetles
• Stag Beetles
• The Book of Beetles by Patrice Bouchard, Arthur V. Evans, Stéphane Le Tirant
• Kirigami Menagerie by Hiroshi Hayakawa
• Beginner's Guide to Kirigami by Ghylenn Descamps