Making Waves: Pokémon #008 – Wartortle
Hi everyone!
Following hot on the heels of the Squirtle Squad, I am so excited to share the next evolution in my 151 Pokémon Book Folding Challenge: #008, the fantastic Water-type, Wartortle!
After the multi-character complexity of the previous fold, I wanted to strip things back a little bit and focus entirely on the brilliant character design of this mid-evolution stage.
Meeting Wartortle
Wartortle is the often-overlooked middle evolution between the adorable Squirtle and the powerhouse Blastoise. Known as the Turtle Pokémon, its most defining features are its large, fluffy ears and long, furry tail, which it uses to maintain balance while swimming at high speeds. In Pokémon lore, that beautiful tail is actually a symbol of longevity! I really wanted this fold to capture those unique, flowing details.
The Design: Striking Lines
For this book, I decided to go with a very clean, bold line image featuring just the Pokémon itself. Wartortle has such distinct features—especially those fluffy, wing-like ears and that swooping tail—that I felt a straightforward portrait would show them off perfectly.
The Build: Clean and Monochrome
To bring this design to life, I returned to a wonderfully simple cut and fold technique.
There is something really satisfying about getting back to basics. Just like the Squirtle build, I decided that this piece didn’t need any colouring. To make those bold lines truly pop off the page, I meticulously added black card stock into the folds.
The monochrome contrast creates an incredibly sharp, graphic look that feels both classic and striking on the shelf.
The Final Result
I am really thrilled with how this one turned out. Sometimes, keeping the technique simple and focusing entirely on high contrast is exactly what a pattern needs to shine.
With Wartortle complete, this beloved Water-type evolution line is coming along beautifully. There is only one logical place to go from here to complete the trio.
On to the next challenge: #009, Blastoise!
