Chopstick bags are the origami equivalent of a good party trick: half a minute of folding, and a plain table setting suddenly looks as though somebody made an effort. They are the sort of thing you notice at wedding receptions and restaurant tables, and once you know how they go you will find yourself making a stack of them without really meaning to.

The heart version is the nicest of the bunch, because the shape arrives almost by accident. There is no drawing and no cutting; you simply fold a point back on itself at the very end, and a heart quietly appears where a plain pocket used to be. Use plain red or pink for a thank-you gift, patterned paper if you are laying a table, and remember to write your message on the back before you start folding rather than after.

What You Need

One sheet of origami paper.

If you would like to write a thank-you message or decorate the bag to make it your own, have a pen and some stickers ready.

You can also dress it up with beads for a fancier look, but small children should be careful when handling them.

How to Fold a Heart-Shaped Chopstick Bag

STEP 1. Start folding with the back side of the paper facing up.

STEP 2. Fold the paper in half horizontally and make a crease.

STEP 3. Fold the lower right corner up into a triangle to the horizontal centre line and make a crease.

STEP 4. Fold the upper right corner down into a triangle to the horizontal centre line, then open it again.

STEP 5. Turn the paper over and place it so that the creases on the triangle are on the left.

STEP 6. Fold the upper right corner into a triangle along the horizontal centre line.

STEP 7. Fold the left edge in to the centre.

STEP 8. Fold the upper left corner down into a triangle, taking one layer only.

STEP 9. Fold the lower left corner into a triangle in the same way, taking one layer only.

STEP 10. Turn the paper over and fold the upper right corner in to the middle.

STEP 11. Fold the left edge in half, bringing it up to the fold line.

STEP 12. Fold the bottom up to the middle line and make a crease.

STEP 13. Fold the top down to the middle line.

STEP 14. Open out the part you folded in step 13.

STEP 15. Fold the bottom right corner up to the crease.

STEP 16. Fold the bottom down to the crease.

STEP 17. Fold the bottom left corner over to the right.

STEP 18. Fold the bottom left part in half and fold the left edge along the dotted line.

STEP 19. Open out the upper left part and fold it from the top down to the centre line.

STEP 20. Fold the upper part up into a triangle and make a crease.

STEP 21. Flatten the triangle to shape the bag.

STEP 22. Fold the whole thing in half.

STEP 23. Fold the lower left corner up.

STEP 24. Tuck the corner into the triangular part that sticks out.

STEP 25. Fold the pointed tip of the heart back to round it off.

STEP 26. Your heart-shaped chopstick bag is done. Slip a pair of chopsticks inside and it is ready to give.