This is the 3rd 4th in a series. The first two three were:
I threatened to do a series of origami posts and by gum I’m gonna. i think it’s magical to take a 2 dimensional sheet of paper and watch it become a 3 dimensional object that has function. So let’s make an open box. Like the yellow one I made a dozen years ago. It’s a pretty straightforward fold. A single sheet.
now, I’m not sure how these diaries are gonna go. I mean, we can’t all fold at the same time. Somehow live-blogging origami doesn’t seem like it would work.
so I’m winging it.
i chose this Masu open box because the folds are simple. I like geometric shapes. Also cause it’s traditional. Which seems like a good place to start practicing origami.
i’m going to mix photos of me folding with images of the instructions and some random rambling that may or may not explain what to do. Along the way I’ll introduce some terminology that you’ll see in origami instructions.
This paper has a front and back. It matters. Origami instructions often require you to flip the paper. If you are using paper that does not have two sides (printer paper for instance) you just need to keep track and flip it over when required. I choose the print side to be the front so when I am done it will face out.
All righty. First two terms.
- mountain fold
- valley fold
face your paper and fold it so the back sides come together. that is a mountain fold. If you unfold it the crease will be up towards you. Like the ridge of a mountain.
and if you fold two edges together so the the faces or front sides come together it will be a valley fold. If you unfold it the crease will be down and paper will form a valley.
Let’s get folding
step 1
Speak of the devil. Valley fold the paper in half. Then unfold and fold it the other way. Flip it over and rotate45 degrees. You’ll find steps in origami often include multiple steps….which can be confusing.
Ok here we do the first valley fold, side edge to side edge.
And then the “other way”
Step 2
Remember they said to flip it and rotate? The flip was important. The rotate not so much. Take each corner and fold it to the center
Try to be precise but don’t stroke out over it. You can always re fold and tweak. Also, it only paper. Sometimes you just need to start over. First corner folded in.
Skipping to the third corner
All 4 corners folded in to the center. Step 2 is complete.
Step 3
You got that? Take each edge, one at a time and fold it to the center. The unfold it. Repeat for each edge . Then open the left and right sides by pulling from the center.
Hard to see. I have folded an edge to the center (which is under my index finger) after creasing it unfold it and do the next edge.
Ok all 4 edges were folded to center and unfolded. The left and right sides are open.
Step 4
This is easier to do than it is to explain. You are folding up what will become the sides of the box. The corners will naturally follow the existing creases and fold in.
Folding up the sides and showing how the creases lay.
This seems like a repetitive step to me…
First I folded up the sides, then as I folded the ends I guided the corner to fold in.
This is the final step
Finishing the last fold.
Completed box
And viewed from the bottom
if you have advice, links, questions, corrections, complaints, drop in the comments!
oh and origami adjacent stuff with glue, tape, staples,etc are all welcome. It’s a big tent, right?
happy folding !
