Paper container

Very low cost folded paper container, for holding small items (such as screws) during repair, assembly, construction etc.

Can also be used as an envelope for carrying items securely.

It's disposable, recyclable, sustainable, environmentally friendly plus widely and freely available.

Step 1 Making a paper square from a rectangular sheet

Take a rectangular sheet of paper. In America this could come from a legal pad, or in Europe an A4 notepad.

You are going to use basic paper folding techniques to crop it square.

Use your finger/thumb nails to form sharp, straight creases. If your nails are too short, use the edge of something like a credit card or a plastic ruler.

Comments

[Puzzledd]

Great 'ible, thanks, with very clear and thorough instructions. .. and what good comments, too :)

[peterbryenton]

Thank you.

[Ninzerbean]

Very easy directions to follow though I am sure they were far from easy to write out. I was able to make my cup happily stand up just by folding the little points on the bottom inwards, though it will probably fall down if I put too much in to it. This is great and thank you for sharing.

[peterbryenton]

Thank you. Glad yours stood up on its points.

There are some useful suggestions amngst the comments about this 'ible.

[josefu0]

it like a cup.

[peterbryenton]

Yes, it's a paper cup too, thanks josefu0.

[yokonga]

that's cool...

[jukie]

I haven't read through all the comments so I don't know if these things have been mentioned, but I make these for my kids' snacks sometimes and don't have time to cut or tear off the bottom of the magazine page that I've used. So I just leave it attached (keep it folded up and just continue with the folding. Also, I don't use tape and it holds just fine.

[peterbryenton]

Thanks. Your snack sacks also sound like a good way to encourage young readers. Peter www.brypix.com

[Mintyhippo]

i have been making these since 3 years ago! I was just about to post mine until i saw this. Mine has a cup holder, should i still post?

[peterbryenton]

Of course you should post. The great wonder of people is their different approaches to the same ideas. I look forward to seeing your version. Regards, Peter Bryenton www.brypix.com

[Mintyhippo]

thanks, and i will give you partial credit if you want.

[Phoenix2602]

These would be great for holding your dice at an RPG gaming session!

[peterbryenton]

Especially if your character was a magician called Origami.

[AdamK]

Great instructable. I tried printer paper when I did this, only to find that it leaked through the paper itself. I then discovered that I could filter sugar water (but not salt water) with my make-shift filtering cup. Could be a very useful application by chemists if they have the right type of paper. Or even to drain starch out of pasta? Haha

[peterbryenton]

Shame about the salt water: I suddenly had a vision of a gigantic, eco-friendly ocean-based desalination plant.

[mailkd7]

I just made it, and I am eating Cheesz-Its Out of it right now. Good Instructable! Mmm.... Cheese...

[peterbryenton]

Ah, the old calorie-free container with the calorie-loaded filling trick, eh?

[blooper]

woo-hoo! let's hear it for silly paper hats!

[Tomton]

Seconded.

[gnose]

if youre using it for drinking/food and the sheet you have is printed on one side: when you reach step 6 make sure the printed on side faces outwards. when youre done, the inside surface of the cup is blank :)

[I HACK]

lol great idea thanks

[lifelong-newbie]

Brilliant idea
Tried it at home went into the kitchen, i managed to refill it from tap 8 times, and after that the only damage was a small leak from the bottom, i can imagine this was only bec8ause the water from the tap was hitting it hard. 8 times refill from standardd white A4 paper. Genius.

[peterbryenton]

Good, thanks. www.brypix.com

[PVC marxman]

when Im thirsty in school i use these lol

[peterbryenton]

Me too.

[Cornflower]

Used the idea for years. Just to add to it, you can get away without the tape if you flip the right side (step 8) behind the cup, not over the left side, and then in steps 9 and 10 you can tuck the top flaps inside the right and left flaps with the whole thing holding together.

Another thing, I sometimes make a second one out of wax paper or tin foil if I need a drink of water, and put it inside the paper one. Kept the two in my back pocket when visiting another city a few years ago.

[peterbryenton]

Elegant solutions, thank you. Peter Bryenton www.brypix.com

[origamimavin]

you know, it wouldn't last too long, but that can also hold water. if you make it out of wax paper or something, it'd hold for a while. the only thing keeping it from holding it longer is whatever paper you use.

[peterbryenton]

Good suggestion, thanks.

[iPodTouchMaster08]

WATER CAN GO IN THIS!!!!!!! no i'm serious..

[peterbryenton]

Yes, the wax paper comment here is so much "greener" than plastic cups. Folds back flat again too, for re-use: sustainable!

[gowithflo]

I think this would be great for starting seedlings in too, then just plant right in the soil. I'm going to try it.

[peterbryenton]

Thanks: yours is one of the most unusual suggestions I've heard about this in years. I'll tell my friends at the local college of horticulture what you said. Let me know how your seedlings turn out -- maybe some pictures too? Peter Bryenton www.brypix.com

[Ben.land101]

cool

[peterbryenton]

Thank you.

[blindmen]

very good and usefull idea

[peterbryenton]

Thank you.

[lucashaley]

You can make these free-standing by folding the bottom corners into the middle. They then stand quite nicely. Great tutorial!

[peterbryenton]

Thank you. I'll have a go, then photograph & publish the result.