Make a Paper Cube

Paper cubes can make fun toys, decorative features, or Christmas ornaments, among many other uses. Choose different types of paper or folding methods to get different results for every occasion! Read below for a few different types of paper cubes...

Steps

Printable Cube Template

Doc:Paper Cube Template

Making a Basic Cube

  1. Take a piece of paper. The bigger your paper, the larger the final cube will be.
  2. Draw the main body. In the center of your paper, draw a long rectangle and divide it up into four {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} squares.
  3. Draw the right side. Draw another square to the right of the second square from the top.
  4. Draw the left side. Draw another square to the left of the second square from the top.
    • Now it should look like a cross with six equal sized squares and the the longest part should be closest to you.
    • If you have a printer, you can print out the image below to use as your pattern. Note the “ears,” or tabs, on the sides and top of the cubes—these are useful if you wish to glue your box together.
  5. Cut it out. With scissors or a hobby knife, cut along the outside edges of the shape. If you printed the pattern and are gluing the box together, be careful not to cut off the tabs!
  6. Fold the paper. Follow along the inside lines, and fold the paper inward.
    • If you’re gluing, make sure you fold the tabs inward as well.
  7. Align the folds. The square on the very bottom should be folded so it is parallel or directly across from the square that was in the middle.
  8. Finish up your box. Tape all of the sides together, and you’re done!.
    • If you are gluing, apply a couple drops of hobby glue or paste to the tabs, and then press the outside of the box against the glued tabs.
  9. Finished!

Folding an Origami Cube

  1. Get a square of paper and fold it. Fold it in half the other way, then unfold it. Fold it diagonally, then unfold it. Fold along the other diagonal, then unfold it.
  2. Form a tent. Take the edge points of the half-fold and bring them together, so that the diagonals become the edges and the paper becomes a triangle. Press it so that it lies flat in this shape.
  3. Fold the corners. With the open section closest to you, take one of the four bottom corners and fold it up to the top point.
  4. Then, take the point of the little triangle this forms and fold it to the center line.
  5. Tuck the triangles. Take the corner that you folded up to the first point and bend it down to tuck it into the pocket formed by the smaller triangle. Flatten.
  6. Repeat for the other side. They should look like mirror images.
  7. Continue until all four original corners look the same. You will need to flip the paper to do the other two.
  8. Fold the top and bottom points. Fold the top and bottom points towards the center on one side and then back to the center on the other side.
  9. Spread the sides. Spread open the paper so that it forms an X.
  10. Blow in the hole to open the cube. Blow a quick puff of air into the hole to blow up the paper like a balloon. This will form the cube. Pinch and fold into the preferred shape and enjoy!

Tips

  • If you want, you can draw some dots on the faces to turn them into die!
  • Watch the video for another fun way to make paper cubes.
  • Make a lot of small paper boxes of different colors, and put them on mini lights for a festive decoration. Never leave them unattended, though!

Things You'll Need

  • Piece of paper
  • Markers or colored pencils
  • Scissors or hobby knife
  • Tape
  • A Ruler
  • Printer (optional)

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