Written by Bill Adams. Archived from the wayback machine on 2026-02-14.
This model is based off of Denis Moskowitz's pieces, but I modified it to be sturdier, stackable, and requiring no tape.
Take a regular square sheet of paper. I've used origami paper to show which side will be visible. To duplicate the sizes of the icehouse pieces, use the following dimensions:
use mountain folds for the diagonals and valley folds for the vertical and horizontal folds.
collapse the fold so that the hidden side (in this case white) is on the outside.
bring the bottom of the front leaf up to the top.
Repeat for the other three sides.
This form is called a "blintzed waterbomb base." It the basic form of Moskowitz's pieces, but the blintz will allow us to make the pieces stackable.
Take the left leaf and fold it about a third of the way along the top point.
fold the right leaf over top of the left leaf.
Turn it over and repeat the last two steps.
Unfold the paper. You should be able to see the guide folds we will be using.
Turn the paper over and step fold one edge toward the corner to its left using the pre-existing folds.
fold the flap in the rear to the left while folding it along the edge. This is referred to as a rabbit fold.
Fold the corner to the right, making sure that the second layer is completely folded.
fold the inner layer back to the left, making a crease that goes along the center line.
Open up the center pocket and push it flat, thereby separating the two corners.
You now have one edge completed.
Repeat the above steps with the opposite edge...
Unfold the paper..
and repeat the process with the other two edges.
Carefully refold one of the two edges.
Move the right flap under the flap below it. This is an optional move, but it helps keep the piece balanced.
Do the same for the other side.
At this point, the piece can be flatened out in order to solidify the creases.
Now all that remains is pushing the points inward. Here's the first one done.
One more to go...
Finished.
Here's a boxed set I created for a friend's birthday. I got the paper from flyers off bullitin boards; four sheets of each color is enough to create a stash. Here are four stashes set up to play Mini-Volcano.
Unfortunatly, I can't provide directions for the box, but look for the book called "Origami Boxes" by Tomoko Fuse. It has the instructions in it (warning, a lot of patience is required in order to put it together.)