Secret notes passed between friends and loved ones during class is an old tradition that is well known among schoolchildren everywhere. Next time you need to send a message to someone you know, try these paper folding techniques to keep your message safe and secure.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Basic Square
Step 1. Fold the note into a vertical quarter
Fold the paper in half vertically. Make a second vertical fold so the paper is now 1/4 of its original width.
Note that the paper height or length should not change
Step 2. Fold each corner inward
The top left corner must be folded diagonally to the right and the top right corner must be folded diagonally to the left.
Fold the edge over just enough so that the corner of the remaining folded edge aligns perfectly with the edge of the paper line
Step 3. Make inward diagonal folds at each corner
The triangle above must be folded down and to the right and the triangle below must be folded up and to the left.
There should be a slanted parallelogram on each edge, and the original triangle should hang from the main body of the paper
Step 4. Turn the notes over and fold each edge horizontally
Turn the note backwards. Fold the top triangle to the right and the bottom triangle to the left.
- What remains should be two triangles that hang from the main body of the note but align with the edges of the main body.
- At this point, there will be two triangles distinguished one on the front and one on the back.
Step 5. Turn the note back and fold the bottom up
Flip the note back to the front. Fold the bottom edge of the back bottom triangle over to meet the bottom edge of the front top triangle.
Step 6. Fold the top down
The top edge of the back of the triangle should be folded over the front of the note so that it meets the bottom edge of the note.
Your note should be square at this point. What remained was the final maneuver that held his record
Step 7. Insert the outermost triangle into the bottom pocket
Move the tip of the triangle facing you into the pocket at the bottom of the note.
- What remains should be a square note that is divided into four separate triangular sections.
- This will complete the fold.
Method 2 of 4: Basic Rectangle
Step 1. Fold the top right corner diagonally down
Bring the top right corner diagonally down and to the left.
The crease of the left edge should be directed to the left edge of the note
Step 2. Line up the right edge with the left edge
Fold the top right edge so it meets and lines up with the left edge.
The bottom edge of the previous fold should be under the most recent fold
Step 3. Flip and fold in the bottom up
Turn the paper backwards. Fold the bottom edge up, using about 1/3 of the total paper height.
Step 4. Repeat this a second time
You should use the other 1/3 of the paper.
The resulting shape will look like a triangle resting on top of the rectangle. The bottom corner of the triangle should remain at the midpoint of the top edge of the rectangle
Step 5. Bend the top of the triangle down the front
The top edge of the triangle should meet the bottom edge of the rectangle.
Don't worry if the tip doesn't fall to the bottom edge. Records can still be completed even if this is the case
Step 6. Tuck the small end into the top of the pocket
Fold the ends of the triangles into the diagonals that lie on the rectangle. Fold well to secure.
This step completes the basic rectangular fold
Method 3 of 4: Arrow Note
Step 1. Fold the paper in half vertically
Use an inward fold (valley fold).
Note that the width will be halved but the height will not change
Step 2. Fold the top and bottom triangles
Bring the top left corner diagonally down and to the right. Fold the bottom right corner diagonally up and to the left. Unfold when finished.
- The edge of each corner must be parallel to the edge of the note.
- Fold the edges so the crease leaves a mark.
Step 3. Fold the bottom and top in opposite directions
Bring the top right corner diagonally down and to the left, and the bottom left corner diagonally up and to the right. Open.
- Again, each corner edge should align with the edge of the main body of the note.
- Fold well before unfolding.
Step 4. Bring the top and bottom in
Fold the top edge down so that the edge meets the bottom mark you left on the previous crease. Fold the bottom edge up so that it matches the bottom crease.
Step 5. Tuck the folded corner in
Press on each corner of the note, gently pressing between the top and bottom layers of the paper.
When you're done, there should be a triangle at the top of the paper and a triangle at the bottom. When looking at the top triangle from below, each inserted corner should form an “M” shape
Step 6. Fold each vertical side to the center
Slightly lift the left edge of the two top triangles, exposing the bottom of the note. Bring the left vertical edge to the center and fold it. Repeat on the right edge.
- Now you should have a double-sided arrow shape.
- Each edge must exactly meet the vertical center of the note.
Step 7. Fold the note in half horizontally
Bring the down arrow up so that it overwrites the up arrow.
Step 8. Slip the bottom layer into the up arrow
Open the note slightly and tuck the overwritten down arrow into the fold of the original up arrow.
- What remained was one powerful arrow that had one head.
- This completes the crease of the arrow.
Method 4 of 4: Diamond Note
Step 1. Fold the note in half vertically
Bring the right edge to the left edge.
The width will be halved while the height will not change
Step 2. Fold one of the top corners and one of the bottom corners into a triangle
Bring the top left corner diagonally down and to the right so that the edges of the folded triangle cover the edges of the main body of the note. Fold the bottom right corner diagonally up and to the left in the same way.
Fold well, then unfold
Step 3. Repeat the fold for the other two corners
Bring the top right corner diagonally down and to the left and the bottom left corner diagonally up and to the right.
- The edges of the two triangles should cover the edges of the main body of the note.
- Fold well before unfolding.
Step 4. Fold the top and bottom inwards
Bring the top edge down so that it meets the bottom of the crease above the resulting triangular crease. Do the same for the bottom edge by bringing it up to meet the appropriate crease.
Step 5. Gently push the folded corner inward
Push each corner, inverting it so that the corner fits between the top and bottom layers of the note>
- From the front, the resulting shape should look like a short rectangle with a triangle on top and a triangle on the bottom.
- When looking from under the fold, each tucked corner should form an “M” shape.
Step 6. Flip the paper over and fold it in the bottom triangle up
From the back of the paper, fold the bottom triangle in and up.
The base of the triangle should line up with the new bottom of the paper
Step 7. Fold in the top triangle to the bottom
From behind, bring the point of the top triangle down so that it meets the base of the bottom triangle.
- Fold well and unfold temporarily.
- Note that the base of the top triangle doesn't need to line up with the top of the paper. It is important that the point of the upper triangle meets the base of the lower triangle.
Step 8. Shape a small diamond with the bottom corner
Take the top layer from the bottom right corner and fold it so that it meets the dot from the bottom of the triangle. Repeat with the bottom left corner.
Step 9. Refold the top triangle and form a diamond with the corners
Repeat as needed to overlap the top and bottom triangles. Fold the top layer from the bottom right and left corners to the edge of the top of the triangle.
Step 10. Bring the bottom corner in temporarily
You will need to make horizontal creases to the left and right sides of the newly created top diamond.
- Take the bottom left half of the top diamond you just made. Bend the tip inward, towards the top end of the diamond. Fold it well before unfolding it again to the previous shape.
- Repeat for the right half.
Step 11. Pull the cap from the bottom diamond into the top diamond
Bring the bottom right half of the diamond out so that it crosses the base layer of the paper but remains behind the top right of the diamond.
Repeat for the lower left half of the diamond so that it remains under the left half of the top of the diamond
Step 12. Slip the top lid of the diamond into the newly made pocket
This will create a strong diamond in front.
- Carefully unfold the right flap. Fold the right flap in the opposite direction, tuck it into the top pocket.
- Repeat this to the left lid.
Step 13. Cover the paper and fold the sides in
Flip the note backwards and fold the right vertical edge over to the left. Fold the left vertical edge to the right.
- Fold the edges only as far as they can comfortably and nicely.
- The left side should slightly overlap the right.
Step 14. Tuck the left side to the right and flip the note
Tuck the left side point into the right side corner to strengthen the shape. Flip the note towards the front after one more time.
