Origami Boxes

So I've been going crazy folding these origami boxes. It's my favorite, and I can't seem to let it go. I am using old letterhead, and stamping a design on a portion of the paper. It really helps to let the pinwheel show up. It takes 12 pieces of paper, but becomes quite solid when you fold it.

It has been a long time since I'd folded it, but after about two I got the hang of it again.

This page is to show you some of the great origami boxes that I've folded. Hopefully this page will inspire you to try some things out and to think "outside the origami box" in regards to presentation and what gorgeous origami boxes you can create. You can see some of the alternatives in regards to paper and presentation. This is a launching site for your ideas, so take a look at what is here, be inspired and come back often for updates. I love folding, and meet with fellow folders once a month to see what is new in origami and origami boxes.

Origami boxes are a favorite project of mine. Of course the queen of Origami boxes is Tomoko Fuse, who I had the great honor of meeting several years ago. I have some examples of her boxes using several different types of papers. Her artistic application of the fold has excelled her origami from a craft to a true work of art.

Presenting an origami box (usually with a little treasure inside) is a great way to give a present. Even if it's something small like a teacher gift or a simple thank you.

Origami paper (click here to see different origami paper you can buy )is the most common material used to make boxes, but there are several alternatives that can make and create very interesting projects.

Photo copier paper - for more intricate folds it will tear and be hard to fold, but for simple folds (or for boxes) it is a good alternative because it is so stiff, it makes a nice sturdy box. The one downfall is that it is the same color on both sides. This can be fixed by decorating one side of the paper with rubber stamps or other fun applications. Another thing I did was take some old photocopies that were to be recycled and folded them into boxes. It's fun to see what comes out.

Magazines - this can be fun because you don't really know what will end up on the outside and what is on the inside. This paper can be quite flimsy so smaller boxes are better.

Wrapping paper - sometimes when you bend the paper the color comes off on the bend, so be aware of this. Also the wrapping paper is quite flimsy, so generally appropriate for smaller boxes.

Maps - I had lots of fun with this. I used some old maps from National Geographic, and they made some great boxes. Again the paper was nice and sturdy, and the graphic elements of the maps make the boxes unique.

Fliers, Brochures, and posters - I had this stack of fliers that were to be recycled and so I folded some, they made fun boxes, with the pattern repeating on each piece of paper.

Really just take a look around you and see what you can come up with. I've used the foil from the inside of coffee wrappers to fold with (Nabob has a great gold lining under their label). You can also take wax paper and iron it to some tissue to make a paper (use an old iron, and some blotter paper). This is your chance to be environmentally friendly and re-use some things you maybe would have passed by before.

I have several of Tomoko's books, and the absolute favorite of mine is the Origami Boxes book. I love her Unit Origami book, and have a book on her Origami Quilting.

If you don't have the knack to fold them yourself, you can purchase these already folded boxes. Unique designs are ready to go.

visit my Etsy Shop for details.