Design: Traditional
Text-Only Instructions copyright 2025 by Lindy van der Merwe
Paper to be used: Square, any size; for a large scoop, recycle brown paper bags, advert pamphlets or newspaper.
Folding level: Easy/Beginner
Steps: 8
Description: This is a folded dustpan or scoop that can be used if the real thing is not available. It resembles a classic dustpan-shaped utensil with three raised sides and a fairly wide, flat opening on one side into which dust, food scraps, glass shards, spilt dry ingredients, etc. may be collected.
Depending on the paper used, it may not be a rigid, strong structure, so keep this in mind when folding it for everyday use.
If you prefer, you can fold the high, square sides outwards at an angle so they will slope down towards the open edge of the scoop.
Remarks:
This is a great beginner project that is also very useful.
Any recycled paper may be used instead of kitchen towels.
Dustpans may be folded in advance and stored flat for use at any time.
After use, dustpans can be recycled or simply discarded with whatever it has helped pick up.
Step 1
Place a square piece of paper down on a hard, flat surface with its edges to the
left and right, top and bottom.
Step 2
Fold the top edge down to meet the bottom edge to form a two-layered rectangle.
Step 3
Fold the paper in half from left to right again to make a four-layered square and then open it back out to a rectangle.
Step 4
Now fold the left and right edges of the rectangle to meet at the center crease line. Crease on both sides and leave folded.
You will have two rectangles next to each other. Make sure that the folded edges of the figure is furthest away from you, with the raw edges nearest you before proceeding.
Step 5
We are going to make diagonal precreases in both directions with both corners of the rectangles in preparation for two squash folds.
5.1 Focus on the left rectangle first. Find its two-layered top right corner and bring this corner diagonally down so the top edge will come to rest on the left edge of the shape, forming a small triangle on the top left of the square figure.
Crease well and unfold.
5.2 Take the same corner and now fold it to the inside of the rectangle, using the diagonal crease you have just created. This is a mountain fold that will make the triangle disappear within the layers of the paper.
Crease the diagonal well again and then unfold the small triangle.
5.3 Now, focus on the right rectangle. Find its two-layered top left corner and bring this corner diagonally down so the top edge will come to rest on the right edge of the shape, forming a small triangle on the top right of the square figure.
Crease well and unfold.
5.4 Take the same corner and now fold it to the inside of the rectangle, using the diagonal crease you have just created. This is a mountain fold that will make the triangle disappear within the layers of the paper.
Crease the diagonal well again and then unfold the small triangle.
Step 6
Now, you will perform a squash fold.
6.1 Work on the left rectangle first again. It has two layers. Insert your finger between the layers, near the top right corner of the rectangle. Using the diagonal precrease, keep lifting up the top, single layer, moving the opened paper towards the left, while, at the same time, pressing down the paper into a flat triangle shape.
You will know you have folded correctly if you now have a triangle with its vertical center lying on the very edge of the model with the left side of the triangle extending out beyond the larger square.
Result: The left side of the model will resemble a house with a wide, triangular roof and just below the roof, there should be two separate squares.
6.2 Do the same squash fold on the remaining rectangle on the right, but in the opposite direction.
Result: A similar house shape should now also have formed on the right of the figure, so you will have what looks like two houses, side by side now.
Step 7
Next focus on the long, raw single-layered edge of the figure, nearest you.
Laying on top of this single layer of paper, you will find a 2-layered flap, where the sides of the houses touch.
Fold this flap away from you to meet the top edge of the model.
Crease well and leave folded.
Step 8
With the fold in the previous step, you will have created a multi-layered rectangle that will now cover half the roofs of both houses. To open your model, insert a finger underneath the rectangle in question and press it so it stands upright, at a 90 degree angle in relation to the table. As you do this, the sides of your scoop will also rise into their final upright position.
Reinforce the side creases. Your scoop is now ready for use.
Making origami accessible through text-based tutorials.
For non-commercial use only.
Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, November 2025
This text copyright 2025 by accessorigami.com
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