Origami Square Envelope

This origami square tutorial does double duty. Not only can you fold your letters into a square, but you can also use it as a simple square envelope.

For this tutorial, I used a sheet from the Colorbök Beach House Signature Collection, one of my favorite double-sided paper stacks. Cut a perfect square. The finished square size will have an edge length 1/3 of the original sheet. Keep that in mind if using the square as an envelope.

You will start out by folding the square into three.

You can mark the thirds with a ruler, or use a Scoring Tool ( Amazon | I Try DIY shop ) to make things easier.

Make your creases sharp, so folding is easier later on. Just don’t over-crease such that your paper actually rips!

Repeat the folds in the other direction.

You should end up with nine small square sections.

Next, make a diagonal fold. Remember that center square section? You can actually skip making creases in that area. Repeat the diagonal fold in the other direction.

As you can see, when you avoid the center square section, you get a pristine unfolded base for your square envelope.

Next, you’ll make more diagonal folds. This time, instead of folding one corner all the way to the other end, just fold the corner 2/3 of the way there. Repeat with all four corners.

If you look closely, you’ll see a pinwheel shape with the folds. This is what you need to keep in mind for the next steps.

Take two opposite corners, and pinch with your thumb and pointer fingers.

Keeping the pinch, slowly twist both corners in a clockwise direction. It will feel like the corners are being pulled in opposite directions. I often tell students to “listen to the paper” when doing origami. Here, you should “hear” your paper wanting to collapse towards the center.

You’ll know you did the right thing when your square ends up looking like a pinwheel with a square center.

Now, let’s close this origami square envelope! Take the left flap and fold towards the center.

Do the same with the bottom flap.

And the right flap.

Tuck the remaining top flap into the small pocket under the first/left flap. This will keep the square closed shut.

All done!

I checked to see if my I Try DIY stickers fit in my origami square envelope, and it sure did!

What do you think? Will you use this origami tutorial to package some of your goodies?

Tag @mikkomix or  @itrydiy when you post your craft projects on Instagram! I’d love to see what you’re working on. Happy Crafting!