The star box is probably one of the first things people learn to make in origami.  It’s simple, it’s only valley and mountain folds. It’s a traditional model.  This means it is a model that was invented so long ago, no one knows who came up with it. And given that the first invention of origami was in around 100 AD, we can understand the “inventor” of star box origami would be unknown to us.

What was an origami star box get invented for?

I sometimes wonder what the first folders of a star box were trying to do.  Given that paper was a precious commodity in the AD years, it doesn’t seem the first star box was actually used to just hold stuff.  But maybe it was  Given that the paper was so expensive, I am guessing special tokens were kept in the boxes.  I am suddenly picturing a Chinese princess with several little star boxes, one for each set of jewelry she wears.

What will you put in it?

I don’t plan to store my jewelry in this box –though you are welcome to do it. I have seen many people like to fold these and then put candy in them. This works best with little candies like jelly beans (Easter), red hots (Valentine’s) or M&Ms ®(pretty much every holiday these days).  Or you could put just one Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup ® into the box. That would be my family’s preference.  We take Reese’s over all else (except me, I am more equal opportunity)

This model uses what is called a square base (the names for things in origami or rather dull, I know).  But the square base is just like many of our other bases (star, blintz, bird, waterbomb etc).  It isn’t a model in it’s own right, but rather the means to making more origami models.

If you like the video of how to make a star box origami, please subscribe to the channel Origami Foodie  and the FaVeMom and check out other origami instructional videos.