How to Fold a Paper Drawer

Make a doll chest of drawers out of a box.

Folded paper drawers can turn a small box into a doll's chest of drawers. A long box that is about as deep as it is wide can be made into a cute little chest by standing it up and filling it with several paper drawers. Glue a little round bead to the front of each for a drawer pull. It would be especially cute with each drawer made in a different primary color.

Things You'll Need

• Small box
• Paper
• Scissors
• Plastic pony beads
• Glue

Instructions

Folding the Drawer

1. Place a square piece of paper right-side up on a table. The paper should be three times the width of the box minus1/2 inch.

2. Fold the paper in half by bringing the two opposite sides of the paper together, matching corners. Crease only the edges of this fold. Make only small, 1/2-inch creases and then unfold.

3. Turn the paper 90 degrees and fold the paper in half the opposite way. Make only tiny creases on the edges and unfold.

4. Fold all four corners into the center, using the creases you made previously as a guide. You will form another square.

5. Fold the top edge down and the bottom edge up until they meet in the center. Crease these folds sharply and unfold.

6. Turn the paper 90 degrees and repeat the previous fold.

7. Unfold the top and bottom flaps.

8. Fold the sides in along the inner folds you made previously. Crease sharply and unfold to 90 degrees. They should be standing straight up. These are the sides of your box.

9. Grab the top edge of both sides, one in each hand and bring them together. This will bring the bottom of the box straight up and form the third side.

10. Rotate the box 180 degrees and repeat the previous step.

11. Lay the box down and fold the two flaps which are sticking up down into the box.

Assembling the Chest.

1. Cut a piece of paper into two strips (three if you made four drawers) each one inch wider than the box and as deep as the box. Make a crease 1/2 inch from each side of the width. Fold the creased ends up so they are at a 90-degree angle to the paper. Glue each paper into the box along these tabs to serve as drawer separators.

2. Stand the box up so it opens toward the front. Stack the drawers inside, each on top of a drawer separator. If there is a gap at the top cut several sheets of cardboard to fit the bottom of the box and place the drawers on top. Add cardboard until the gap is filled.

3. Glue small round beads on the front of the drawers for handles if desired.

References

• "Paper Creations"; Gay Merrill Gross; 1997

Resources

• Origami Instructions: Box