Paper / 20 minutes

A folded desk tray

Choose a square of medium-weight paper, roughly 24 cm across. A used calendar page works well if it is not brittle. Practice with scrap before using a favorite sheet.

1. Fold the square in half in both directions, opening it after each fold. The crossing creases mark the center.
2. Bring each corner to the center. You now have a smaller square with four triangular flaps.
3. Fold the upper and lower edges to the center, crease, and unfold. Repeat with the left and right edges.
4. Open two opposite corner flaps. Lift the two remaining folded sides to form walls.
5. At each open end, pinch inward along the diagonal creases, lift the end wall, and fold its corner down into the base.

Press the base flat. This light tray is for dry, small objects such as paper clips; it is not a container for liquids or heavy tools. If a corner resists, open that end and sharpen the crease instead of forcing it.