Dear Bloggers & Readers,

I wish all of you a very happy diwali and I’m pretty sure you must be having great fun with mithais, gifts, new clothes and crackers. For diwali, I do not choose to be innovative; in my opinion, it is best to stick to tried-and-tested recipes when cooking is done for a crowd. This year, my sweet box was filled with Gato Batate, Boondi Laddoo, Milk Burfi, Napolitaine, Khaja and Gulab Jamun.

For the occasion, I shaped and styled origami boxes from lighweight white card paper. This technique of folding paper, originally from Japan, is now a popular art form  where the artist strives to turn a flat sheet of paper into an intricate sculpted pattern. The design I used below, known as the masu box, is the most common origami box around. It can be made into any size you choose to and can be topped with a lid. For this, you simply have to start again with a square piece of paper 1/4″ longer than your finished origami box.

ORIGAMI BOX

Requirements:

11″ square lightweight card

12″ ruler and soft lead pencil

 

Method:

  • Start with a square piece of paper. Mark the center point of the square with a pencil .
  • Fold the four corners of the paper toward the center point.

  • Fold the top and bottom of this square into the center and open out again to create these creases.
  • Open out the top and bottom triangular flaps. Fold the sides of the model into the centre, creasing well.

 

  • Fold down top corner of model and then open out again.
  • Fold down model in the other direction You should now have 2 new diagonal creases like this.

  • Repeat step 6 & 7 at the other end of the model, so you have the new creases at both ends.
  • At one end of the model, open out model along the creases you just made.

  • This will raise the top portion of the model vertically. Fold top of model over into the box. 
  • Repeat Step 9 and 10 at the other end of the box… and it’s finished!

Happy Diwali!