Homemade Christmas – Project: Origami Boxes

I originally learned how to make these cute little boxes out of Christmas cards when I was in elementary school. They crept back into my head when I was creating my advent calendars and became the perfect container for a little treat.

1. Start with a square piece of paper. I started with a 4” square, which results in a box that is approximately 1 ⅜”.

2. Using a ruler and a pencil, draw lines from corner to corner so that you have an “X”.

3. Fold each of the four points to the center mark. Make sure you crease very well; this will help the box hold its shape later.

4. Now that you have folded each of the points to the middle, you have created new crease marks. I have marked them in red on this picture. Fold each of the points to the opposite crease mark.




5. Unfold square.

6. Fold one of the points to the middle.

7. While holding this down firmly, fold this point along the newest created crease, I have marked this in green.

8. Repeat on the opposite side.



9. Flip the paper over and fold the remaining points to the closest crease.



10. Repeat on opposite side.

11. Flip paper over.

12. Bring two sides up to look like this.



13. While holding one of the newly formed sides, you’ll notice that the side is a rectangle and directly to the left and the right there is a square. You’ll see below that the rectangle is outlined in red and the squares are outlined in black. There is a diagonal line that I’ve drawn inside each of the squares. Fold the paper inward along this line.



14. Repeat on opposite side.

15. Fold flap into box.

16. Repeat steps 13, 14 and 15 to create the remaining side of box.



You now have the top of a box. Create a bottom by following these instructions on a piece of paper that is slightly smaller. I use a square that is 3 ¾” for the box bottoms.



If the flaps of the box don't stay tight within the box, your creases may not be strong enough. Try unfolding and recreasing.

As always, just ask if you have any questions.