DIY Folded Paper Boxes

My youngest daughter wanted to sort and classify her sea shell collection.  This was a great Nature Study and Science activity, but we needed several smallish boxes to store the different shell types.  She displayed her shell collection on our Nature Study tray.

We quickly made these paper boxes.

The nifty, practical aspects of these folded paper boxes are:

• You can make them in different sizes … so they can nest in each other or form a top and a base to close your box!
• The boxes can easily be stored flat, unfolded and ready for the next occasion.
• You can use decorative craft paper or card stock for really pretty gift boxes or display boxes.

Here are the instructions and a free download ~ Folded Paper Boxes

You will need:

• square paper or card stock 28cm X 28cm
• scissors
• glue/ cellotape/ stapler

Fold your paper:

• Fold the square horizontally in half & re-open.
• Fold the square vertically in half & re-open.
• Fold the bottom left corner and the top right corner to the center of the square, forming opposite triangles.
• Fold both the newly made folds to the middle & re-open these folds.

• Cut along all 4 of the new fold lines, from the paper edge up to the edges of the triangles.
• Take the top left corner and the bottom right corner and fold the corners into the center.
• Fold again in half, so that the last fold is at the end of the cut lines.
• Fold all 4 pointed strips to form folds in line with the 2 middle double folded pieces.

Assemble your paper box:

• Fold the pointed flaps around the outside of the 2 center folds.
• Insert the corners of the center folded piece into the diagonal fold of the flap. This part is a little fiddly, so mom, you may have to help here!
• Tape/ glue or staple the outside overlapping flaps to the box.

Enjoy this craft project!

Blessings,