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How to fold an origami keepsake box

Two folded-in-half sheets: a deep box and a slightly bigger, shallow lid. Tape them edge to edge as a hinge and the lid swings open like a treasure chest.

You need: 1 rectangle, 15 × 20 cm, for the box and 1 rectangle, 12 × 14 cm, for the lid. Medium, 9 steps, about 15 minutes.

Steps

  1. Box: fold in half. Fold the top edge down to the bottom edge. Both sides are now coloured.
  2. Box: crease the ends. Fold the left and right edges in by 3 cm, crease well, then unfold.
  3. Box: crease the sides. Fold the top and bottom edges in by 3 cm too, crease well, then unfold.
  4. Lid: new sheet. Set the box aside. Take the smaller sheet, white side up.
  5. Lid: fold in half. Fold the bottom edge up to the top edge.
  6. Lid: crease the ends. Fold the left and right edges in by about 1.2 cm, crease, then unfold.
  7. Lid: crease the sides. Fold the top and bottom edges in by the same 1.2 cm, crease, then unfold. These are the lid's shallow walls.
  8. Tape the hinge. Lay the box below the lid, their long edges touching in the middle. Tape along that join to make a hinge.
  9. Raise and open. Lift the walls of the box and of the lid, folding each corner flat inside. The hinge holds the lid up, propped open behind the box.

Treasure goes in here!

Keep shells, beads or secret notes inside and swing the lid shut. Draw a little lock on the front if you like.

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