BASIC BOXES - SERIES ONE

This is the first in a series of boxes that have been designed as sturdy stand alone containers, insert receptacles for decorative origami wraps, or bases for pretty lids made from a different pattern.





As of today, there are ten different boxes in the Basic Boxes Series.  Each  has a different feature. I will post details of each as I complete the diagramming and instructions.





The first in the series was designed to have very strong ends.












This makes it a good insert for the Crossover Box that I posted about on this blog some time ago.  That decorative wrap requires some downward force on the top during the final part of its construction.  The original box tended to collapse which resulted in a couple of us origami enthusiasts coming up with some modifications to accommodate this.  This is an additional one. 

I will come back to this box in later months as I have designed other variations.

All variations of the box can be squashed flat.  This means that it can be sent through the mail, put in a pocket or transported in a purse or a binder for later reconstruction.

 



The simplest version is made from construction paper (12" x 9" --> 8 x 6 grid) or other material with a 4:3 ratio. This version has a single layer floor.

If you use construction paper I would recommend using high end heavy duty fade resistant alternatives. These fold much better than the cheaper versions.





The more complex versions of the pattern, made from square paper or generic oblongs, have a double layer floor.












Here are the Crease Patterns for the three versions. I recommend making the simple 8 x 6 grid one first as the others require that you pull out the second layer of floor from the side walls, and then lock the model by folding over the end walls underneath this layer.









Full instructions, with copious diagrams and photos, are available for purchase from my ETSY shop. This can be accessed from the Side Bar of this Blog.

CHECK HOLDER ENVELOPE OR LETTERFOLD

This item was designed for 24lb American Letter sized paper and meant to hold a standard American sized check.

The pattern can also be used with A4 paper, Construction Paper (typically 9 inches by 12 inches) and sturdy (kraft-based) gift wrap cut to an appropriate size.












The model looks particularly good when folded from Letterhead paper, especially one with a strong border.


 








Here is the Crease Pattern for the back of the model showing how it is folded up around the check/cheque.


 

This is a very easy pattern and is suitable for beginners, just as long as they are comfortable making a couple of "about here" folds when bringing in the side flaps and they can turn back a flap so that the gap between it and the crease it is lined up with is just a little over the thickness of the paper.









Full instructions, diagrams, photos and other images can be purchased at a very reasonable cost from my ETSY shop. See the side bar for a link.

WALLET LETTER FOLD

Today we continue with more letter folds.  

I've called this one the Wallet Letter Fold because it has similarities to one of my origami wallets.  Unlike the real wallet, this fold does not have sides;  it is for letters only.

 The model is based on squares with sides that are equivalent to a quarter of the width of the paper.  There are two rows of these at the "bottom" of the sheet, and two rows of them at the "top" of the sheet.  The creases that don't fit this pattern (marked in orange and green instead of red and blue) are made in the last couple of steps when the model is folded in half.  They occur because, as you may have figured out by now, you are working with paper that is rectangular and not the traditional origami square.  

To help you figure out how this folds up, here is a diagram from my instruction sheet (which will you will be able to buy from my Etsy Shop very, very soon). 

You are not restricted to using standard letter sheets or letter head.  You can use any sheet of paper that has at least one side that you can write, print or draw on.   The examples shown at the beginning of this entry show letterhead paper (left), sturdy wrapping paper (not the thin stuff that crumples and cracks) (top) and wallpaper - the kind that is not pre-pasted and is crisp enough to hold a crease (right).  

 Nor are you restricted to writing letters on your carefully folded sheets.  You can use these letter folds for paper that contains recipes, instructions, poems, drawings, paintings, music manuscript, graphs, formulae, puzzles, and so much more.  Be creative! 

RIBBON BOW LETTER FOLD - Part Two

I tried out the Ribbon Bow Letter Fold on an A4 sheet

 And a sheet of American Legal sized paper.

Both of these paper sizes works well with this model.  The longer the paper, the longer the straight section at the end of the bow "loops".   I particularly like the effect with the legal sized paper which is the one to use if you want to write a looooonnnnng one sheet letter to a friend or lover.