It's not difficult to make a simple box out of your favorite origami paper patterns with a few basic origami box instructions. They are great for storing your own personal items or to give as a gift for your family and friends.
There are varying degrees of detail and difficulty involved in making origami boxes. Simple origami boxes are standard square boxes that have few details, but are functional and easy to make. The key to making a well-built origami box is to ensure that all of your folds are flattened properly and that all of your cuts and folds are even.
Department store boxes are a very simple form of origami. If you look inside of a shirt box, you will notice the cardboard is folded inward and tucked inside the corners of the box. That folding is a very simple origami technique.
Origami Box Instructions
1. Start with a square piece of origami paper. Fold the paper in half. Now fold the paper again. Unfold the paper and lay flat on your table.
2. Fold the four corners to the center of the paper.
3. Fold the right side to the center of the square. Do the same with the left side of the square so that the two edges meet.
4. Now fold the top edge down and the bottom edge up.
5. Undo the folds you made in steps 3 and 4 and lift up your top and bottom flaps that should be folded towards the center of your square.
6. Following the fold lines created in steps 3 and 4, carefully push the side of the top flap in and fold along the line. Start to flip the top flap over toward the inside of the box.
7. Tuck the point down into the box so that it is laying flat at the bottom of the box.
8. Go to the opposite side of the box and follow steps 6 and 7 again. The box should be complete.
Origami Paper
Origami paper comes in a wide range of styles, including different patterns and colors. Origami paper can be purchased at your local art or craft stores. There are wonderful designs for the holidays, baby showers, wedding showers and many other special occasions.
Origami boxes work best when origami paper is used, although a heavier type of paper can be used as well. Choose your paper based on the items you plan to place in the box. A lightweight item will work well with the origami paper, but a heavier item may call for a heavier paper.
How to Use Your Origami Boxes
Origami boxes are great to serve holiday candy or give with small gifts. You can also stack your origami boxes in the kitchen and place your cooking spices into them.
Origami boxes also work well as party favors, especially at birthday parties and baby showers. They are easy to match with holiday décor or other special occasions by using a particular style origami paper.
Creating origami boxes is a wonderful group activity for kids who love crafts, and paper folding also helps them develop fine motor skills.
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