The Masu Box — Cut It Out and Fold It

Making · Origami · Page 1 of 3

1Cut out the square
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2Fold 1, then 2, then 3…
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3Page 2 shows each fold
Fold in the order of the circled numbers, printed side facing you. Press every crease hard with a thumbnail.
valley — fold toward youmountain — fold awaycut along this linecircled numbers = the order to fold in
12345678910A SQUARE — cut on the dotted line

The Masu Box — The Folds

Making · Origami · Page 2 of 3

DIRECTIONS: Any square of paper works. Each picture shows the paper before the fold.
1.
Crease both diagonals: fold corner to corner, open out, then the other way.
2.
And the other diagonal, the same way. The two crossing creases find the middle for you.
3.
Fold the top left corner in until its point touches the middle.
4.
The top right corner in to the middle.
5.
The bottom right corner in to the middle.
6.
And the last corner. All four points meet in the middle — this is called a blintz.
7.
Fold the left edge in to the middle line, then open it out again.
8.
The right edge in to the middle, and open out again.
9.
The top edge down to the middle, and open out.
10.
The bottom edge up to the middle, and open out. Every crease you need is now in the paper.
✓
All the creases are in. Build it as below.
Build it. Open the paper flat. Fold the left and right corners back to the middle. Lift the top and bottom edges up along the quarter creases: the sides stand up. Tuck the two pointed ends down inside and press them flat. No glue, no tape, no cuts.

The Masu Box — A Box Made of Nothing But Folds

Making · Origami · Page 3 of 3

Name Date
DIRECTIONS: Build it first.
  1. Measure the square you started with, and measure the finished box. How wide is the box compared with the square?
  2. Where did the paper for the sides of the box come from? It was flat a minute ago.
  3. Fold a second one from a square twice as wide. What happens to the box — is it twice as big in every direction?
  4. A box needs a lid. Make one from a square just slightly bigger than the first. How much bigger did it need to be?
  5. Why does this box hold together with no glue at all? Name the part that does the holding.