Handy box from scratch paper

This isn't original as such, I learned it back when I was into origami as a child, but it took me ages to realize how handy they are. It's not at all a complex fold, so it should be ok even for people not generally into that sort of thing. I use them continually especially for a quick container to hold screws, bolts, small parts, etc when taking something apart and I'm somewhere where a more normal container isn't around but a piece of paper is.

Step 1 Start with a piece of paper

Doesn't have to be unused, in fact it helps a bit if it's printed with text for horizontal/vertical straight guides. In this guide I'll be using a half-letter sized promo flier for the movie Eragon someone sent me, now way past it's due date. Larger pieces make larger boxes and the shape has effects on the height of the sides, though anything rectangular (within reason) should work.

Comments

[Raidne]

This is great. I am forever taking things apart and losing them all over the floor. I actually did this with a piece of A5 (about half letter) that was sitting in front of me on the desk. For a very thin piece of paper, its surprisingly sturdy - oh, and the piece of paper had instuctions on it for putting together a cheap decorative box I bought, heehee.

[casey321b]

I remember doing this. I havn't done origami in a while tho.

[annaharris]

Sweet and just as simple as you said. I just made one out of my overdue phone bill. Nice.

[Neired82]

I've been instructabling all afternoon, now I have a place to put all my what-fors

[lazidd]

i am such a dummy but with your instructions in 2 mins.done pat you on the back! thanks

[stone3408]

That is great! I made mine on the first try excellent instructable. These would be perfect for taking apart stuff. You could keep screws and parts in them and write where the came from inside the box. Lots of great uses, fine job another 10 out of 10 here.

[stone3408]

Note this design will hold water if made out of wax paper, plastic or foil. Very handy in a pinch.

[lucianoabcd]

Not only will it hold water, but you can even boil it (the paper won't burn as long as there is water inside the box) Great instructable!

[Visitor]

If one uses a tape measure one can make the box without any useless extra folds (they make the box a bit flimsy). The obvious and easy one is the center fold in step 2. If one does not want to waste time in measuring, making small folds to the edges of the paper (not across the whole sheet) is also enough. Another useless fold is created when the corners are folded in step 4, but getting rid of that requires a bit more creativity and measuring (each corner fold actually creates two folds, one that is required and, one that is useless).

[LarrySDonald]

An alternative in step 1 is to fold the corners together (gently, without creasing the whole thing) and then making small pinches at the sides. This would eliminate the full fold at the center. Measuring might be slightly better, but really if that's the amount of effort one is prepared to spend, buy a two dollar set of gladware containers (or appropriate generic) or ziploc bags (generic often a dollar/100 for the "snack bags", almost rivaling unused paper) already. Someone prepared should really have a few bags of a used altoids container on their person, but we're all caught with the pants down sometimes..

[Fenwick]

Great instructions - not only does this box utilize all possible space for a paper box, but it is very simple. I remember a strikingly similar box that I've learned before, but you needed a square piece of paper and needed to fold it in quarters or something. This box pops up great, and quickly.

[hmhegedus]

I am #1 klutz. This is #1 Klutz-proof. Thanks! With the addition of the extra fold after step 4 - well, i've been going crazy all afternoon putting things in paper boxes.

[animaldito]

really cool thanks.

[jimis]

this is very useful! ive made origami boxes before but they are usually fiddly and time consuming. this one can be knocked together in seconds! Ive just made one out of A4 paper (that around about USletter size) and it is perfect to keeping pens in. (i hate tubular desk tidies, things get lost in the bottom)

[royalestel]

This is great. Made one on the fly reading your instructions the first time through. I'm adding this really useful sucker to my repetoire!

[Shifman]

Great Instructable but there is a easyer way to do it but it looks crappier nice job!!!

[eviloverlord]

Makes a great emergency baking tray if made from kitchen foil.

[westfw]

Nicely done. I've seen this before for square boxes, but never generalized to rectangular pieces of paper.

[xilli]

its easier if you do this after step 4

[LarrySDonald]

Good point. I kind of had to do it just to watch myself do it since it's all right-brain-half at this point, but It would put the creases in without having to pinch them in after.

[circumlocution]

Great instructable! Easy and useful.

[uzerzero]

I live in an Augusta as well (Georgia) You guys have insanely cheap movie tickets. For a matinee showing at any of our big theatres (the ones that play all the new movies), it ranges from $7-7.50. And one of the theatres just recently changed their matinee times to anything before 4 o'clock. Which is pointless, because there are one, maybe two airings of a movie before 4. For regular times, the prices range from $8-8.75. Ridiculous! But on to the instructable: very robust, simple, yet useful. Which is what makes the best instructables. I enjoyed it, even though I already knew how to go about doing it (I was into origami as a kid as well).

[LarrySDonald]

I think they are more expensive most of the time, though I don't really go to other places that much. This particular venue is an old preserved theater from the 30s-40s or so, still with original paintings on all the walls, oldschool neon lighting, etc, so it's preserved by law as a landmark and mostly operated by volunteers. It often does random showings of old movies on the cheap (I've seen both Casablanca and Creature from the black lagoon (in 3D) there) so the ticket price for "normal" movies probably mostly goes towards renting the reel and electricity, maintenance and such. It's really not a modern for-profit venture, most of it is done by enthusiasts just for fun. Thanks on the instructable, I know it's not a new concept but I'm sure some may not have caught it as kids.

[rimar2000]

Interesting. Thanks.

[Gthing 2.0]

just what iv been looking 4 i give u a 10 out of 10