Home › Christmas crafts for kids
Origami gift box with lid for Christmas
Age: 8+ · Time: 30 min · For:
A handmade box makes even the smallest present feel special. This classic origami box with a lid is folded from just two square sheets of paper, with no glue or tape. Once children know the folds, they can make boxes in any size.
Ideas for what to put inside
Homemade cookies or candy, a handwritten voucher ("I will clean my room without being asked"), a small drawing, a hair clip or a few chocolate coins.
Tips
- Sharp creases are the secret to a neat box. Run your fingernail along every fold.
- Make a set: boxes in three sizes that fit inside each other make a lovely nested present.
You need
- 2 square sheets of strong paper, one 8 x 8 inches for the lid and one 7¾ x 7¾ inches for the base
- scissors, a ruler and a pencil
- stamps, markers or stickers to decorate (optional)
- a ribbon or piece of string
Steps
- Start with the larger square for the lid, colored side down. Fold it diagonally both ways and unfold, so you have an X of creases.
- Fold all four corners to the center point.
- Fold the top and bottom edges to the center line, crease well and unfold. Do the same with the left and right edges. You now have a grid of creases.
- Unfold two opposite corners (top and bottom).
- Lift the left and right sides up along the creases to make two walls. Push in the ends so they fold along the existing creases, forming the other two walls.
- Fold the open top corner down over the wall and into the box. Repeat with the bottom corner. Your lid is ready.
- Repeat all the steps with the slightly smaller square to make the base, so the lid fits over it.
- Put a small gift inside, put on the lid and tie a ribbon around it.
Questions
Why does the base need to be smaller?
So the lid slides over it. Half a centimetre smaller is enough for paper of normal thickness.
Which paper is best?
Slightly thicker paper, like wrapping paper, origami paper or an old calendar page, makes the strongest box.
You might also like
