Instructions for Making an Origami Box

Make your own origami boxes.

Origami is the art of paper folding. Using origami methods, you can make everything from animals to beautiful flowers to useful boxes. With a simple origami box, keep your favorite trinkets and candies in your own personal box that is easy to make with one piece of paper. There are, of course, many variations on the origami box. For a simple version, make an open, square-shaped box.

Things You'll Need

• Square origami paper

Instructions

1. Lay the paper on a flat surface with the colored side face down.

2. Fold the paper in half with a mountain fold, forming two rectangles. To do a mountain fold, turn the paper over and bring the left side of the square to the right (forming a "mountain" crease on the non-colored side). Crease and unfold. Fold the paper in half with a mountain fold again, instead from top to bottom. Crease and unfold.

3. Fold each of the four corners into its center, using the creases to guide you. This forms a small square with the colored side up.

4. Fold the left and right sides in to meet the center.

5. Fold the top and bottom edges down to meet the center.

6. Unfold the folds from Step 5 and Step 6. Unfold the top and bottom corners, leaving only two colored triangles on the left and right sides.

7. Put your finger behind the top-most point of the left colored triangle. Do a reverse fold, pressing in at the corner and folding along the crease nearest to it. You will see how the corner begins to shape the box. Repeat this on the opposite corner (on the right side).

8. Tuck the top flap inward, folding at the creases and flatten the pointed top into the floor of the box. This forms the third side of the box.

9. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 on the opposite side to complete the fourth side of the box.

References

• Origami Instructions: Easy Origami Box Instructions