Origami Paper Folding into Pots

In just 14 easy steps, turn origami paper folding into pots!

Whether used for paper or real flowers, origami pots are perfect and come in all sizes and weights. Indeed, with a liner, these pots are quite durable and can be made out of any kind of paper on hand, from newspaper to washi to card stock.

With this slideshow, even beginner folders can learn how to turn origami paper folding into pots. Instructions are based on a basket diagram by Gay Merrill Gross and are found in his book, The Art of Origami. The pots are strictly decorative -- ideal for a garden party or for sprucing up a desk.

You can use any paper you like. Paper with some weight to it will be easier to fold, but you can practice with newspaper or computer paper. The paper must be square however. So if you have a rectangle before you, simple remove the excess and move onto Step 1...

Note: This slideshow will use card stock paper.

The square base is used for a number of origami models, including the frog, the star box, and the flowerpot. To create the base:

1. Fold along a diagonal. Crease and unfold.
2. Mountain-fold from top to bottom. Crease and unfold.
3. Mountain-fold again, this time from east to west. Crease and unfold.
4. Flip paper over and make another diagonal fold, opposite the first. Crease and unfold.
5. Now, push the paper together and let the creased folds collapse. Squash into a square.

Take the top layer of the model and fold it up; lining it up with the upper half. Crease.

Next, fold the tip down towards the middle of the triangle. Crease and unfold.

Fold the tip to the guide line.

Fold down twice more. Crease.

Repeat Steps 2-5 for each of the three remaining sides. The result should look like this.

Undo the last fold. Fold it down on both sides.

Down the middle, there should be a crease from when the square base was made. Choose a side and fold the "middle" tip to the center. Crease.

Repeat this for the other three tips as well. The result should look like this. (Note the "green" squares opposite each other. On your model, find the corresponding squares.)

From Step 6, fold the origami flowerpot's rim back up. When doing so, close the "squares" up and line them up with the diagonals -- as in the photo. Squash down and crease.

Flip the model over and repeat the process. The result should look like this.

Fold the excess paper behind the model and tuck away, like a rabbit fold.

Repeat this for the other three corners. The result should look like this.

To create the base, fold the bottom of the model up and crease. (Line up the bottom with the two diagonals.)

Next, simply open the pot.

Squash the base on a flat surface. The model should pop into place (especially if you use a heavy paper).

Here, you can see that the rim still has tabs sticking out. To get rid of these, simply tuck them under. There's a pocket at each corner that can conveniently hide the tab. See next image.

A close-up of the tab tucked away. Repeat for the remaining three corners.

Your origami paper folding into pots has resulted in a lovely flowerpot, ready for little candies, potpourri, or pretty flowers!

Note: Find the exact diagram by Gay Merrill Gross at How to Do Origami.