Simple origami pencil holder – step by step tutorial with pictures

　　Learn how to fold a simple pen or pencil holder from a piece of paper! This origami tutorial gives you pictures with step by step instructions.

　　You’ll need a square of paper – I’ve used standard origami paper, which is 15x15cm and fairly thin, but you can cut a square from an old magazine, newspaper, or sheet of printer paper. You’ll also need some glue or tape.

　　My two main rules of origami are fold neatly and crease firmly; if you don’t have a creasing tool you can run the back of your thumb nail over the creases to make sure they’re nice and sharp.

　　Ready? Let’s fold!

　　If you’re using paper with a different pattern/colour on each side, start with the pattern you want to be on the outside facing down.

　　With the inner side of the paper facing you, set the paper square ready for folding.

　　Fold in half from side to side, bringing one edge over to meet the opposite edge.

　　Crease & unfold.

　　Taking one side, fold that edge to meet the centre crease you’ve just made.

　　Do the same with the other side, folding the edge over to meet the centre.

　　Unfold both sides. You should have three evenly spaced vertical creases.

　　Take the top right corner and fold down so the top edge meets the centre crease.

　　Take the top left corner and fold down to meet the left-hand crease.

　　The next step is folding it all up, using the existing creases. Fold the left-hand crease to the center…

　　…then fold from the center crease over to the left…

　　…and lastly, turn the model over, then fold the remaining flap over the back.

　　This is basically the model finished, but we’ll need to fix it together so your stuff doesn’t fall out! So, open it all back up…

　　Run a thin layer of glue along the bottom edge – where the arrow is!

　　Then do the same up the short side edge.

　　Now, just follow the steps to folding it all up, making sure you press firmly where the glue is to secure.

　　You can also use tape to hold it in place – you just have to fold it all up, then cut a piece of tape to fold over the bottom opening and another to tape up the side.

　　You’re done! If you’ve used a roughly 15x15cm square, you should be able to fit 3 or 4 pencils/pens in – but you can easily make bigger or small ones using different sized pieces of paper.

　　These make a really nice way of wrapping stationery to give as a gift.