How to Make an Origami Heart Box

A heart box is one of the many things that can be made with origami paper.

Origami crafts are entertaining for not only children, but they can be exciting for adults as well. Whether you are already advanced in origami technique or are just starting out, you can create origami objects. Making an origami heart box, however, is certainly one of the more advanced objects that can be created. Give your origami heart box to a loved one on Valentine's day, or keep it for yourself to use as a jewelry box.

Things You'll Need

• Construction paper

Instructions

Base

1. Cut a piece of construction paper in half. One side will be used for the heart box base, while the other half will be used for the lid.

2. Fold the widest side of one of the halves of construction paper in half. Fold one side in half again. On the same side, fold one of the corners into the middle crease to make a triangle. Make a vertical crease in the paper where the side of the triangle ends.

3. Unfold the triangle, and fold the vertical crease. Bring the top horizontal crease to the right edge to make another triangle. Fold the top horizontal crease down to the middle, and fold the first two squares of the right side up. Fold the triangular section that is left to the right, so that it horizontally aligns with the center. Tuck half a triangle of the paper behind what is visible so that a vertical triangle is formed. Tuck the new triangle behind the top vertical folds.

4. Fold the first square of the top vertical fold to the back. Fold the construction paper in half vertically. Fold the bottom left corner to the horizontal crease. Make a vertical crease where that triangle ends. Unfold the left side, dividing the left rectangle into four equal sections. Divide the right rectangle into four equal parts as well.

5. Make a diagonal crease on each section of the left rectangle below the center line. The diagonal creases should be going up from left to right. Repeat the process on the right side. These diagonal creases should go down from left to right.

6. Fold the top to a 90-degree angle. Crease the bottom middle upwards and fold it to the right. Fold this new triangle in half so that it hits the middle crease. Un-tuck this pocket, folding the right crease inward so that it is even with the middle crease. Fold the bottom corners to the center, and fold the middle bottom edge up. Tuck the point downward to make one upward facing triangle.

7. Use the diagonal creases on the left side to swivel the four segments in toward the middle. Tuck the swiveled edge into the middle pocket. Do the same with the right side. Insert the square tab found on the right side into the pocket on the left side.

Lid

1. Use the other half of construction paper. Fold it about 2mm from the bottom edge.

2. Repeat steps 1 through 5 on the base section.

3. Fold the top horizontal flap down to the back using the right square tab as a guide.

4. Follow steps 6 and 7 of the base section.

References

• Origami Heart Box (Robin Glynn) - Part 1/2 (Base)
• Origami Heart Box (Robin Glynn) - Part 2/2 (Lid)