What Is a Bone Folder? How Kids Use One for Origami and Cards
Your child is halfway through a greeting card, and the fold looks soft, a little crooked, and covered in fingerprints. Pressing harder with a thumb doesn't fix it. That small job is exactly what a bone folder was made for.
Quick Answer
A bone folder is a smooth, blunt hand tool for pressing paper. You fold the paper by hand first, then run the folder along the fold to make the crease sharp and flat. Traditional bone folders were made from polished animal bone; most sold today are plastic or a nonstick material. It has no cutting edge, so it makes a good first paper tool for kids, and it's handy for origami, greeting cards and folded mini books.
Table of Contents
- What a bone folder does
- What bone folders are made of
- How to use a bone folder with kids
- Good first projects
- Frequently asked questions
- A bone folder for your craft table
What a bone folder does
Despite the name, a bone folder doesn't fold bones, and it isn't a knife. It's a flat, smooth strip with rounded edges, and usually one end tapers to a blunt point. The long edge presses along a fold. The narrow end reaches into corners and marks fold lines.
A bone folder presses paper into shape. It doesn't cut the paper.
Fingers fold paper perfectly well, and for many projects that's all you need. A fingertip spreads pressure over a wide area, though, so on thick paper or a small model the crease comes out soft. A folder presses along a narrow line, so the fold stays crisp and flat.
It does three jobs:
- Crease: Run the long edge along a fold you've already made by hand to sharpen it, so a card stands up straight or an origami model holds its shape.
- Score: Draw the pointed end along a ruler to press a dent where the fold should go. Cardstock then bends cleanly on that line instead of cracking.
- Smooth: Press down a glued flap or layer so it lies flat, without leaving fingerprints behind.
What bone folders are made of
Bookbinders have used folders for centuries to crease the folded pages of books, which is why the traditional material is polished bone and why the name stuck. Today you'll find three main types, and they all do the same basic job.
| Material | Good for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Bone (traditional) | Crisp folds in cardstock and plain paper | Can leave a shiny line on dark or coated paper |
| Plastic | Everyday crafts, cards and origami | The easiest type to find; smoothness varies with the finish |
| Nonstick (PTFE, often sold as Teflon) | Glued or damp paper | Less likely to leave a shiny mark or pick up glue |
That shiny line is called burnishing. Pressing hard on dark or coated paper can polish the surface where the folder rubs. The fix works with any folder: lay a scrap of plain paper over the fold and press through it. If you're not sure how a sheet will react, try the folder on an offcut first. The paper itself matters too, and our guide to which paper works best for origami explains the differences.
For a child's first folder, choose a smooth one with rounded edges. A nonstick folder is worth it only if you work with glue or damp paper. If you'd rather not use an animal product, a synthetic folder does the same job.
Our Origami Tool Kit pairs a bone folder with a second, curved tool for pressing creases.
How to use a bone folder with kids
A folder sharpens a fold, but it doesn't decide where the fold goes, so hands come first.
- Fold by hand first. Line up the corners or edges and make a light fold with your fingers.
- Work on a flat, hard surface. A table works better than a lap or a soft mat. Slip a scrap sheet underneath to protect the table and the project.
- Hold the folder comfortably. Some children hold it like a pen; others lay it flat under the palm. Either is fine as long as the long edge sits on the fold.
- Press from the middle out. Start at the center of the fold and slide toward one end, then return to the center and slide toward the other. This keeps the paper from creeping out of line.
- Use steady pressure, not force. One or two firm passes are usually enough. Scrubbing back and forth causes shine and wrinkles, so for dark or coated paper, press through a scrap sheet.
With younger children, show one motion at a time and let them watch the crease sharpen. Older children usually take over quickly and start using the pointed end for corners on their own.
Scoring with a ruler
Scoring helps when cardstock is stiff enough to crack or fold unevenly. Lay a ruler where the fold should go and hold it steady, which is a good job for an adult's hand. The child draws the pointed end of the folder firmly along the ruler's edge, then folds on the dented line and presses it flat with the long edge. If any trimming or cutting is needed, an adult handles it.
A quick safety note
A bone folder has no cutting edge, so it's one of the gentler tools on a craft table. The pointed end is blunt, but it's still a point. Show kids that the folder is for pressing paper, not poking, and that it stays on the table while they work.
Good first projects
The best first projects are ones where a sharp crease makes a difference you can see.
- Greeting cards: A single center fold is the easiest place to start, and a crisp fold lets the card stand up. Press down any glued layers too.
- Origami: Fold by hand, then go over the key folds with the folder. It helps most on small models and on paper that's thicker than usual. Once you've made a few, here are some ideas for finished origami.
- Folded mini books: A single sheet folded into a small booklet needs several creases that line up. A folder helps the pages sit flat.
- Pop-up card tabs: Small tabs and hinges fold more cleanly when they're scored first.
Pressing a crease along a line gives small hands something specific to practice. For more activities in the same spirit, see our list of fine motor activities for kids.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bone folder made of real bone?
Traditional ones are polished cow bone. Many sold today are plastic or a nonstick material such as PTFE. They all do the same job, so check the label if the material matters to you.
Is a bone folder sharp?
No. It has no cutting edge. One end usually tapers to a blunt point for corners and scoring, so show kids it's for pressing paper, not poking.
Do you need a bone folder for origami?
No. Fingers are enough for most models. A folder helps when the paper is thick, the model is small, or there are many folds to keep crisp.
What can I use instead of a bone folder?
The back of a spoon, a craft stick, or the edge of a plastic card or ruler will press a crease. A folder is easier to hold and gives a straighter line.
Why did my bone folder leave a shiny line?
Pressing hard on dark or coated paper can polish it. Lay a scrap of plain paper over the fold and press through it.
How do you score paper with a bone folder?
Line up a ruler where the fold should go, draw the pointed end firmly along it, then fold on the line. It works well for cardstock that cracks when you fold it without scoring.
A bone folder for your craft table
Want a folder of your own? The Origami Tool Kit pairs a bone folder with a curved creasing tool, for kids 5 and up. If you need paper too, the same two tools come bundled in the Origami Paper Kit With Folding Tools and the Flower Origami Kit With Folding Tools, or browse all our origami kits.
