Start with a square sheet of paper
Place the paper colored side up if it has one
Fold the paper in half diagonally to make a triangle
Unfold it
Fold the paper in half diagonally the other way
Unfold it
Turn the paper over
Fold the paper in half horizontally
Unfold it
Fold the paper in half vertically
Unfold it
Bring the top, bottom, left, and right corners together into a smaller square base
Position the open corner at the bottom
Fold the left and right edges of the top layer toward the center line
Fold the top point down over the two flaps
Unfold those last three folds
Lift the bottom point of the top layer upward while folding the sides inward
Flatten to form a long diamond shape
Turn the paper over
Repeat the same folds on the other side
Fold the left and right edges of the top layer toward the center line again
Fold the top point down
Unfold
Lift the bottom point upward while folding the sides inward
Flatten
Fold the narrow left and right points inward to make the legs and neck
Fold one narrow point upward to form the head
Pull the wings down
Shape the crane as needed