How to Make Paper Nesting Boxes

Nesting boxes are containers that fit one inside the other. The boxes are in graduating order, each one the same proportion larger than the ones inside it. Beautifully decorated and crafted nesting boxes are prized by collectors. These boxes can be made of virtually any material.

Things You'll Need

• 4 sheets of paper 8 1/2 by 11 inches
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Place a sheet of paper on a flat surface with the long side facing up. Fold the sheet in half so that the paper becomes a strip that is 11 inches long. Unfold the sheet.

2. Fold the long sides in toward the center of the sheet. You should have 4 folds in the sheet. Unfold the sheet and open it.

3. Rotate the sheet so that the short side is facing up. Fold the sheet in so that you end up with a rectangle that is 8 inches long. Re-open the sheet.

4. Fold each of the 2 short sides in toward the center. Leave the paper folded.

5. Fold each of the 4 outer corners of the sheet inward toward the center fold. You should have 4 triangles at the corners of the sheet that do not quite reach to the middle of the sheet. This leaves 2 narrow strips that run lengthwise in the middle of the sheet above and below each pair of triangles.

6. Fold each narrow strip up towards the pair of triangles on its side of the paper. Press down the fold. This will hold the triangles in place.

7. Open the box by gentling pulling on the paper strips. Do not unfold the strips. The paper will "unfold" into the form of a rectangular box. Simply push out the corners by hand to get the proper shape.

8. Take another sheet of paper and cut off a 1-inch strip down the long side of the sheet. Cut off a 1-inch strip down the short side of the sheet as well.

9. Repeat Steps 1 through 7. You will have made a second box that is smaller than the first. Repeat Step 8 with the third sheet of paper, and then repeat Steps 1 through 7. For the fourth sheet, follow the instructions for the third sheet.

Tips & Warnings

• Use different kinds and colors of paper to produce different effects. If you use larger sheets, you can make even more nesting boxes.

• Try to make folds as evenly as possible, especially the 4 triangles. The wider the 2 strips created in Step 5, the sturdier your box will be.

Resources

• Silk Road Collection Chinese nesting boxes and other decor and furnishings
• eBay nesting boxes and other goods
• USBox.com nesting gift boxes and other boxes