Origami · folding only

Envelope

Growing (level 3 of 5)
10 min
8 steps
Ages 6–11 (a guide, not a rule)

No scissors
No glue
No adult help needed

Start Making Print

This envelope holds a folded note, a drawing or a paper heart. Two creases find the middle, the side corners fold in, and the bottom corner folds up past the middle so the top flap can tuck under it and lock. Use colored paper with a white back so you can see each layer.

Before you start

You need

Square of origami paper, 200 x 200 mm (8 x 8 in). Colored on one side and white on the other. A 15 cm (6 in) square makes a mini envelope about 10 x 8 cm.

Decorating (optional): Draw a stamp in the corner and write a name on the smooth front side.

No square of origami paper? No origami paper? Fold the corner of a printer sheet over to the opposite edge and cut or tear off the extra strip to make a square. Wrapping paper or a page from an old magazine also works.

How to place the paper before the first step — **Your paper:** Put the square down like a diamond, with one corner pointing up and the white side facing up.

Valley fold: blue dashes. Fold toward you, like a valley.
Crease: a thin gray line where you folded before.
Hidden edge: gray dots show paper behind another layer.
Turn over: flip the whole model to its other side.

Step by step

Each step shows what to do (left) and how it should look after (right).

Do this

Result

Step 1 of 8 Fold and unfold Fold the bottom corner up to the top corner. Press, then unfold.
Do this

Result

Step 2 of 8 Fold and unfold Fold the left corner over to the right corner. Press, then unfold. The two creases cross in the middle.
Do this

Result

Step 3 of 8 Valley fold Fold the left corner to the middle, where the creases cross.
Do this

Result

Step 4 of 8 Valley fold Fold the right corner to the middle too, so the two points touch.
Do this

Result

Step 5 of 8 Valley fold Fold the bottom corner up until its point reaches the line across the tops of the side flaps.
Do this

Result

Step 6 of 8 Valley fold Fold the top corner down along the tops of the side flaps.
Do this

Result

Step 7 of 8 Tuck Lift the edge of the bottom flap a little and tuck the point of the top flap under it. The envelope is locked.
Do this

Result

Step 8 of 8 Turn over Turn the envelope over. The smooth side is the front, ready for a name.

A blue folded paper envelope with side flaps and a pointed top flap tucked under the bottom flap.

You made it!

Yours may look a little different. That is part of making things by hand.

Print the steps

If something goes wrong

The side flaps overlap or leave a gap in the middle.

Check your creases: each side corner must land exactly where the two creases cross.

The top flap will not stay tucked.

Fold the bottom corner up a little higher so it overlaps the top flap more, and press every fold hard.

The note does not fit.

Start with a bigger square, or fold the note in half once more.

Helpful hints

Press every fold with your fingernail so the envelope stays flat.
To put a note inside, untuck the top flap, slide the folded note under the side flaps, then tuck the flap again.

A traditional square-paper envelope with a tucked flap, a widely taught fold. Diagrams drawn for PlayOwl.