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How to fold an origami masu box

The Japanese measuring box: corners to the centre, crease the walls, then lift them up and fold each corner inside. No glue, and it holds sweets or paper clips.

You need: 1 square sheet, 15 × 15 cm or larger. Easy, 6 steps, about 6 minutes.

Steps

  1. Crease the middle. Fold the left corner onto the right corner, crease, then unfold.
  2. Crease the other way. Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner, crease, then unfold. The creases cross at the centre.
  3. Corners to the centre. Fold all four corners in so their tips meet at the centre.
  4. Crease the side walls. Fold the left and right edges in to the middle, crease well, then unfold.
  5. Crease the end walls. Fold the top and bottom edges in to the middle, crease well, then unfold.
  6. Raise the walls. Lift all four walls up on the creases. Push each corner in so it folds flat against the inside of the top or bottom wall, and pinch the edges sharp.

A tidy little box!

Fill it with sweets, beads or paper clips. Fold a second one a little bigger for a lid.

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