Christmas Gift Tags Tutorial: Useful Origami

With Christmas bells ringing and knocking at the door very soon, here is a quick and easy DIY that you can try all by yourself this season.

I had made a few origami stuff for Christmas a month back with the intention of making some cards but I couldn't make them due to unavailability of time. Some origami elements I had in stock were; an Origami Santa, a Boot, a Heart, a Xmas Tree, a Snowman and a Bell. As usual, left with a tight schedule for the day, I had to make something that would be quick and easy too and something that I could use as gifts this season itself. So after a little bit of online searching, I had decided, no cards, nothing complicated...let's keep it simple and let's make it fast.

Here, is how they ended up... cute little Christmas Gift Tags that I could use this year itself.

Christmas Gift Tags 

Below is a brief tutorial, with pictures that highlight the steps the way I made them - the Art Hours' way. Well, that's what my FB page is called..."Art Hours" - this is where I keep uploading most of the work we do as students and teacher.

Generally, the gift tags come in various standard sizes such as; 1.75"x3", 2.25"x4.5", and more...However, the gift tags shown are of size 4"x 2.5" in size and I didn't follow any standards for I made use of whatever scrap paper I had in hand. I make sure to use every scrap paper even newspapers for that matter since I believe in recycling and reusing of paper. I am sure unlike many other crafters or artists, I am comparatively more frugal when it comes to making use of paper and I use every last bit of scrap. So let's begin with the tutorial. 

Materials required:

Card paper, origami paper, scissors, scale, pencil, glue, a hole punch and some ribbons or strings.

Step 01:

Prepare the base for the tag. Here I have used two different sizes, one for the base and another layer to add on the base. I would suggest use card paper or any thicker sheet for the base. 

Here, the orange base is about 4"x 2.5" in size, and the green paper is about 3.5"x1.5" in size.

Step 01: Prepare the base for the gift tag

Step 02:
Glue the green paper on the orange base, leaving equal borders on the 3 sides and more margin on the top to insert the ribbon. You can also leave more space on the bottom to write personalized messages. The size of the 2nd layer depends on how you want to design your gift tag.

Step 02: Glue one colored paper over another.

Step 03:

Now, glue the origami element made earlier onto the surface of the tag. I used several different elements viz: the Xmas tree, a Heart, a Boot, a Santa, a Bell and so on. These origami elements have been made using square origami papers of size 3.0"x3.0".

Step 03: Glue the origami element on the base

Step 04:
Once, the origami element is added, make a hole on the top center of the tag using a hole punch. 

Step 04: Make a hole at the top center

Step 05:
Next step is to give a shape to the tag, you can trim the top sides or you can even leave them as it is.

Step 05: Shape the tags by cutting the top sides

Step 06:

Now, all you need to do is insert some strings or ribbons through the hole made and the gift tags are ready. 

Step 06: Pass the ribbons or strings through the holes made

Step 07:
Lastly, add messages to your tags. You can either follow a calligraphy style or write messages in your own good handwriting to make it more personal. You can even use stamps or stencils to make it look neat. I leave that option for you to decide.

Step 07: Add personalized messages

Here's how the Christmas Gift Tags look like after adding the handwritten messages.

Christmas Gift Tags with Handwritten Messages

You can use these lovely gift tags to tie with your gifts or you can even hang them as decorations on the Christmas tree. If not then you can just gift them to your friends as a small gesture of love and good wishes for the season.

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Recycle Magazine Papers to something Useful: Origami Envelope

What would you do with magazine papers or newspapers that would otherwise end up in trash. Try some origami instead. We all know the importance of paper and why there is the need to reuse and recycle them. 

You will be surprised to know that despite the digital boom, every household and the corporate world using digital and electronic gadgets, the use of paper however has not reduced. We are using more and more paper every day for different purposes. If we cannot reduce the use of paper, we can play a small role ourselves in recyling them in whatever way we can. A data says that each ton of recyled paper can save 17 trees, 3 cu. yards of landfill space, 4,000 kw of energy and 7,000 gallons of water. This represents around 65% energy savings, around 60% water savings and 60 pounds less of air pollution. Isn't that wonderful!

Recently, I had an Origami Workshop with one of the leading industries in UAE. I was glad that I got this opportunity to show the benefits of practising Origami and the role of Origami in recycling and reusing paper waste. Origami techniques can be used to make a plethora of useful things that would come handy in our day to day lives or can be used in schools and offices too. The options are endless such as: envelopes, bookmarks, pencil toppers, stationery holder, visiting cards cases, wallets, photoframes, coasters, card holders, boxes and containers, and much more...

Origami - Recycle and Reuse Papers

Origami - the art of paper folding, doesn't preach you to use colored sheets only. Infact, Origami is a great way to recycle paper. Instead of using expensive colored sheets to practice origami, it is better if you use newspapers or magazine papers to fold the complex models before you get the steps right. Not only will it give an idea of how your final model will look, but will also tell you about the right size and type of paper to be used. For example, an origami model that requires several folds, would work best using a thin quality of paper. Similarly, if you need to make several folds, it will be a difficult exercise if you use a small sized paper. So, its better you try folding them several times using newspaper or magazine papers, before you make the final origami project. 

Here's a brief tutorial that shows how you can make an envelope from a magazine paper.

The design and pattern on the magazine page will affect the final outcome of your origami project. Hence choose your paper accordingly. 

The papers used in the tutorial below are around 8"x12" rectangles cut out from an old magazine. We need to cut them into squares. So here's how we cut them into squares without using any tools or measurements.

Magazine papers for Origami

Hold the top left corner and fold it to touch the bottom edge as shown in the picture below. You will get a triangular shape, but make sure that the bottom edges are aligned perfectly. Cut off the remaining rectangular part to get a square paper.

Cutting a rectangular paper into a square

You will get squares of around 8"x8", depending on the size of the magazine paper.

Square papers from rectangular sheet

Tutorial for folding an Origami Envelope using a Magazine paper

Step 01: 
Start with a square sheet of paper, keeping the side you want to be used on the top as shown. Here the size is 7.5"x7.5" square paper.

Step 01: Start with a square paper keeping the colored side on top

Step 02:
Fold it into half along the diagonal. Keep the coloured side or the side you want to be seen on the top.

Step 02: Fold into half diagonally

Step 03:
Now, take the top flap and fold it down to touch the bottom edge at centre. At this step you can glue the flap to the bottom or leave it as it is.

Step 03: Fold in the top flap to touch the bottom edge at centre

Step 04:

Now, take the left corner and fold it in as shown. Actually the bottom edge can be divided into 3 equal parts aproximately. You can use a scale to measure and mark the edge using a pencil into three equal parts if required. Then it makes it easier to fold the left corner to about one third part over to the right side. Glue the flap if needed at this stage. 

Step 04: Fold in the left corner to about 1/3rd part over to the right

Step 05:

Similarly, take the right corner and fold it to about one third part over to the left side. Don't apply glue at this stage.

Step 05: Fold in the right corner to 1/3rd part to the left side

Step 06:
Fold the flap back touching the right end as shown.

Step 06: Fold the flap back touching the right end

Step 07:

Open the small flap as shown.

Step 07: Open the flap

After opening the flap, flatten it well to get a square shape as shown. This will help to seal and secure the envelope without the use of any glue.

Step 07 (contd.): Squash or flatten the flap to get a square shape

Step 08:
Fold the top corner of the envelope down and crease well.

Step 08: Fold the top corner down

Done:

Tuck the top flap of the envelope into the bottom square pocket you formed in step 07.

Done: Tuck in the top flap into the square pocket as shown

The envelope is ready. The top flap is secured into the bottom square. You don't need any glue to secure it further and a beautiful envelope is ready to use.

Origami Envelope from recycled magazine paper

The final size of the envelope is around 3.5"x 2.75". You can use a bigger sized sheet to get a larger sized envelope.

Make some envelopes with the magazine papers or fold them into interesting origami creatures. Its your choice if you want to recycle and reuse the paper to make something useful or make something for fun. Rest for sure, both are better options than to just throw these beautiful, glossy and colorful sheets into the trash bin.

Origami using Magazine papers

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Origami Triangular Box: Useful Origami

This origami triangular container box is very easy to make since it doesn't involve any complex folding. Once ready it can be used for various purposes. I made several of them and have used it for storing many things ranging from beads to pins to buttons and more. 

Origami Triangular Container

You can also use this model to discuss mathematics with children, after all, origami is all about geometry and symmetry, shapes and angles. As kids fold these models by themselves, it becomes an excellent tool for visualization of 3d shapes and geometry, something that not all kids are comfortable with...or some kids just find it boring...but origami can make it easy and a fun activity too.

Materials required:

You can use three sheets of the same color or use three different colored sheets to make it look more interesting. Also, if you are going to try making this container for the first time, then I would suggest you use three different colors, that would make it easy at the time of assembling the units. 

One little piece of advice, I give to all my students doing origami is precision folding to get a neat result. Though there is no complex folds involved in this origami model, don't be in a hurry to fold and finish it off. Take time to make neat folds and you will be happy with the result at the end.

For this origami box, all you need is just three square sheets and some glue. Here, the material used is color sheets of size 10.5 cm x 10.5 cm.

Procedure:

Step 1: 

Make diagonal creases along both the directions. Then fold the sheet into half along the horizontal diagonal and you have just learned the first base fold in origami i.e. shawl fold. So now the shape you see is a triangle. Be ready to count the triangles from this stage onwards!

Left inset: Make diagonal creases along both the direction.
Right inset: Fold the sheet into half along the horizontal diagonal.

Step 2:

Fold in the right flap to meet the crease at centre. Fold in the left flap too, such that both the flaps meet at the centre.

Left inset: Fold in the right flap
Right inset: Fold in both the flaps to meet at the centre. 

Step 3:

Unfold the flaps. Now you see two triangles with one square between them.

Now fold in both the layers of the bottom flap to touch the top, then unfold it. 

One unit for the origami triangular box is ready. And all we did is just make and count triangles!

Left inset: Unfold the flaps.
Right inset: Fold in the bottom flap to touch the top, then unfold it.

At this stage in my class, my students smiled gleefully when they could identify the triangles, one of them also went ahead to calculate the area of the triangles. Origami is fun when kids enjoy doing them!

Step 4:

Make totally three units, following steps 1 to 3.

Step 4: Make totally 3 units for the origami box

Step 5:

Insert one flap into the pocket of the other unit. Note, here the green unit acts as the pocket and the pink one acts as the flap. Now insert the flap of the pink unit into the pocket of the green unit such that the triangular flap completely fits into the triangular pocket of the green unit.

Left inset: Insert pink flap into the pocket of the green unit
Right inset: Fit into the pocket completely.

Step 6:

Insert the blue flap into the pocket of the pink unit. Next, insert the green one into the pocket of the blue unit.

You see the box taking shape.

Left inset: Insert the blue flap into the pocket of the pink unit, and
the green flap into the pocket of the blue unit.
Right inset: This is how it looks once all the flaps are inserted.

Step 7:
Now let's deal with the base. Alternate the bottom flaps one over the other and apply glue from the top side. Turn the model over and apply glue to the base flaps.

Left inset: Apply glue to the bottom flaps in the base from the top side
Right inset: Apply glue to the bottom flaps in the base from the bottom side

Turn it over and the triangular container is ready for use. If you want to use it, then gluing the base is essential. If you just want to make it for fun, then no need to apply glue, you can just alternate the base flaps one over the other and leave it so.

Origami Triangular Container ready for use

Suggestions for use:

This box can be used for several purposes, provided the base is firmly glued. You can use it for serving dry snacks or candies during parties. The container can be used as an organiser too. Use it for storing craft materials like beads, sequins, buttons, etc.

If you try making this origami container, let us know how many triangles did you count during the entire process. Did you identify the type of the triangle? I am sure you could.

Also, let us know what did you use the container for. Your suggestions and ideas are welcome. 

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