How to Make an Interlocking Origami Box

An origami box can show off the beauty and functionality of the art, and an interlocking box in particular showcases origami design. Although traditional origami boxes are folded from a single piece of paper, interlocking origami boxes can be folded from multiple sheets of paper that lock together to form a sturdy box and create a lovely design. What's more, an interlocking origami box can be used to store small items, or make a special wrapping for a gift.

Things You'll Need

• Four pieces of square paper, equal in size

Instructions

1. Lay a square piece of paper flat in front of you, color side down.

2. Fold the paper in half, bringing the bottom edge to meet the top edge.

3. Fold the top edge of only the top layer of paper down until it rests along the bottom edge. Crease well, then unfold.

4. Fold the bottom left corner up at an angle, so what was the bottom half of the left edge rests along the center line you created in the previous step. Fold the top left corner down, so that what was the top of the left edge rests along the center line. Fold the top right corner down, so what was the top half of the right edge rests along the center line.

5. Fold the paper vertically to the left, along the inner edges of the left corners you previously folded in. Crease and unfold. The crease you make will run along the edges of these corners.

6. Fold the top edge of the top layer of paper only back down to meet the bottom edge.

7. Flip the paper over, so you can see the back. The side of the model that has one angled corner should be on the right.

8. Fold the top left corner of the model down on a diagonal, until it touches the bottom edge of the model, near the left side. This creates a crease that starts at the top of the vertical crease on the right side of the paper, and runs on a diagonal down and to the left. The exact placement of this crease is up to you, as it will determine how the star design on the final box looks. A narrower crease creates a narrower star.

9. Flip the paper over again, moving the right edge over to the left and exposing the back of the paper.

10. Lift the bottom half of the model, as you pull the left edge inward. As you do this, the paper will collapse at the bottom left corner, allowing the bottom edge and left edge to become two walls.

11. Make three more units as outlined above.

12. Interlock the units by pushing the short "wall" edge of one unit into the pocket on the long "wall" edge of a second unit. The outer piece of the pocket on the second unit slips inside the pocket on the short edge of the first unit, locking the units.

References

• "Trash Origami"; Michael G. LaFosse, et al.; 2010
• "Practical Origami"l Rick Beech; 2006