Origami Candy Box: Easy DIY Tutorial

Looking for a fun, creative, and inexpensive way to elevate your next party? This origami candy box DIY project is the perfect way to display small treats at a party table. Whether you’re a beginner or just searching for new origami ideas, this origami tutorial will show you how to make an adorable origami box that’s as practical as it is cute. With origami step-by-step instructions, you’ll find this one of the best easy origami projects around. These origami candy boxes also make the perfect origami gift box to let guests know where they are sitting at a party. Read on for the easy origami candy box activity!

My Origami Backstory

Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes. I first became acquainted with it years ago, when I was in college and I had the opportunity to travel to Japan. The people there were very welcoming, hospitable, and were always sharing simple gifts. I stayed with a few host families, and it seemed to give them great pleasure to present me with beautiful tokens of friendship. I have many treasured keepsakes from my time there, and when I returned to the U.S., I continued trying to improve my origami skills. One of the patterns I found in a packet of origami paper was this cute origami candy box. I have used these cute folded candy boxes as part of table settings for years. Only recently did I learn that it’s officially known as an origami star box. Since it’s a traditional origami pattern, so no one owns the copyright. Anyone can learn and use this simple design!

Easy Origami Candy Box Tutorial

Years ago, I made an origami video for my fourth-grade students when they were learning how to fold a paper crane. Although I could have made a video for this origami design, I found one that is very polished to include instead. You can find that further on down. For those who prefer to look at still shots, here is a simple photo collage of the main steps.

Choose a square piece of origami paper, 5 or 6 inches is a great size for this project. You can make them larger as well. (No origami paper? No problem! Try one of these easy-to-find, inexpensive substitutes.)

Step 1: Fold the paper in half.

Step 2: Fold the paper in half again.

Step 3: Open the paper, then fold diagonally.

Step 4: Open the paper, then carefully press in on each side, indenting the fold lines and flatten into a square.

Step 5: Fold the top layer into a kite shape, keeping the open flaps at the bottom.

Step 6: Flip the paper and do the same on the other side.

Step 7: Flatten each side of the kite into a mini kite.

Step 8: Flip and repeat on the other side.

Step 9: Turn the paper like a knife, peel open the two sides and flatten.

Step 10: Fold the layers up into another kite shape.

Step 11: Flip and do the same on the other side.

Step 12: Fold the bottom tip of the kite up.

Step 13: Turn and repeat the same fold for all four sides.

Step 14: Carefully open the bottom end, holding down the flaps. Turn the opening to the top.

Step 15: Work your fingers into the opening, press the bottom of the paper onto a flat surface and flatten the bottom into the box shape.

Here’s the video to watch as well:

 

This design can be used in any season, and can be adjusted to fit any celebration based on the origami paper you choose. Here are some ideas for parties throughout the year.

Origami Candy Box for a New Year’s Party

Celebrate the new year with black, shiny gold, or silver origami candy boxes. This pack of gold and silver origami paper would make stunning table decor.

Origami Candy Box with Valentine Origami Paper

For Valentine’s Day, you could make origami candy boxes from heart-patterned paper or choose a simple pack of red paper. The size is up to you. Most of the time, I work with paper that is 5 or 6 inches square. This pack is a generous 200-sheet bundle.

Origami Candy Box with St. Patrick’s Origami Paper

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with green origami candy boxes made with this green origami paper pack, the color of shamrocks and rolling Irish hills. A little pot of gold! Fold these squares into festive containers, ready to be filled with sweet green treats to bring a touch of handmade joy to your celebration.

Origami Candy Box with Easter Origami Paper

Host an Easter dinner or tea party and use these origami candy boxes to direct guests to their places. Fill the boxes with pastel-colored treats for guests to enjoy. This pack of floral origami paper would make a lovely addition to any Easter table setting.

Add Origami Candy Boxes to a Mother’s Day Tea Party

Celebrate the mothers in your life with a fun Mother’s Day tea party. Lovely floral origami candy boxes would add a beautiful touch to each place setting. Or you could pamper Mom on Mother’s Day with a sweet surprise treat on a breakfast tray, like little yogurt-covered raisins. You could also send Mom on a Mother’s Day scavenger hunt using little floral origami boxes to contain treats and clues along the way. There are many possibilities, and this floral origami paper pack would get you off to a great start.

Fourth of July Origami Star Box

Get creative with patriotic patterned paper for July 4th, or fold origami candy boxes out of solid colors, alternating between red, blue, and white. Here’s a pack with all three colors included.

Origami Candy Box with Halloween Origami Paper

Here’s a delightful stack of cute patterned origami paper adorned with tiny pumpkins, ghosts, and playful black cats on a variety of cheerful backgrounds. Each sheet in this pack holds the promise of becoming an adorable little candy box, a whimsical vessel for Halloween treats. These charming squares are just waiting to be folded into sweet containers that will add an extra touch of cuteness to the spooky celebrations. Ideal for a class party!

Origami Candy Box with Thanksgiving Origami Paper

Add a festive touch to your Thanksgiving table with autumn-themed origami candy boxes. Fill the boxes with candy corn for guests to enjoy. I love the colors in this autumn-themed plaid paper pack.

Origami Candy Box with Christmas Origami Paper

If you already have solid red paper from Valentine’s Day and solid green paper from St. Patrick’s Day, then you could alternate with red and green origami candy boxes at your holiday table. If you prefer a festive pattern, this pack contains a variety of colorful holiday designs. There is a different pattern on each side for double-sided fun!

Birthday Party Origami Candy Box

No matter what the birthday party theme, origami candy boxes can fit right in. You could purchase a generously-sized multi-pattern pack to add color to the party table. You could even have guests make their own origami candy box as a party activity.

These make great party favor boxes for a tea party birthday party. Fill them with candy and tea bags to fit in with the theme.

Free Printable Party Planner

Organizing a party takes planning, no matter what your party theme. Whether you are planning a holiday gathering, a watermelon party theme, a sunflower-themed party, a lemon-themed party, an apple-themed party, dahlia-themed party, a chicken-themed party, an elephant-themed party, a butterfly-themed party, or a tea party, here’s a FREE monthly planner you can use to plan your party or any other event. Use it throughout the year to keep daily, weekly, and monthly tasks organized. Since it’s undated, you can print out a new planner each year or anytime you need a fresh place to put your ideas. Get it here!

Get the planner!

Have a wonderful week, and may all of your origami and party endeavors turn out well!

 

 

 

Lisa Mitchell is a wife, mom, and teacher who gets inspiration for craft projects from the beautiful outdoors surrounding her family’s small Pacific Northwest farm. To learn more about what this website has to offer, click on over to the About page.

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