Make an Origami Box for Small Gifts like Small Friends/Småkompisar!

We hope to inspire you to do some origami paper folding crafts in December. We just love these origami boxes that will make all your Christmas gifts, even a tiny gift, seem impressive. We find them beautiful, useful and believe it or not - very simple to make. We give you step by step folding instructions further down the page.

Hang them on a sting in the Christmas tree, or many boxes in a row to make a countdown Christmas Advent calendar. 

 

Now, you will need some pretty origami paper to get started! We use standard size 15 x 15 cm (6 x 6 inch) square origami paper.

1. Start with a square piece of paper, white side up. Fold in half diagonally into a triangle.
2. Fold that triangle in half by taking the right corner and folding it to the left.
Now, you have a smaller triangle. Crease and unfold your small triangle.
3. Take the bottom right corner and fold it to the top corner, and the bottom left corner and fold it to the top corner.
4. Make 2 more modules so you have 3 altogether.

5. To join modules, slip one set (paper 1) of “legs’” into the opposite “square” (paper 2). Push the legs in as far as they will go.
6. Place your gift (a Small Friend) inside before closing the origami box.
7. The final steps is a bit tricky, but with the third piece of paper, repeat step no. 5.

Friends Of The Month, December 2011!

Join us in this great cause, to provide all children at the Children's Home in Udupi, India a safe and loving home, education and hope for the future. We appreciate all fundraising efforts and donations no matter how small it is. 100% of your donated funds go directly to the Children's Home, to manage the cost of running the home, medical needs and education. The cost for each child is about 150 SEK (1000 Rs) per month.

We raise extra money for Christmas presents for the children this year. Donations can be made to "Småkompisar Helps" Swedish bank account no. 225-1130. To make a transaction from abroad - please e-mail us for IBAN no. Thanks for your contribution!

For more information about the Children's Home, please visit Barnhemmet i Udupi Facebook page for latest updates and pics.

If you would like to be a part of this great project throughout the year - please contact us at info (at) smakompisar.com.

The Children's Home in India was established in 1992, with a mission to provide destitute children a better future. The present building was constructed in 2002, through support from SIDA, PMU and many helpful individuals in Sweden. Today, it is home to 72 children from age 4-16. To manage the cost of running the home, they are dependent on the donations received from friends around the world. No grants or any kind of funding comes from the Indian government.

Create your own Advent Calendar filled with Småkompisar!

An Advent Calendar is a fun way to count down the days until Christmas. There are many different types of calendars, and many creative ways to make your own. Our home-made calendar hangs in red ribbons from a hook in the ceiling, window or door frame. It´s very quick and easy to make, since we have already wrapped our 24 (25) Small Friends, see our previous post. Here are a few variations on the same theme.

How to wrap Småkompisar the Japanese way!

Create your own Advent calendar and fill it up with small treats that the children (or grown ups) can enjoy each day until Christmas, staring December 1st. But first, we provide you with some tips on how to wrap all 24 (25) gifts in a nice way. Japanese-style gift-wrapping, called tsutsumi, uses paper and cloth to create elegant wrappings. The most common paper-wrap in Japan is an asymmetric wrap that is attractive from any side. All you need is some lovely paper and lots of Småkompisar! :)

111111

We are lined up to mark the day - today's date is 111111!

Friend Of The Month, November 2011!

We would like to introduce you to our Friend of the Month. This is Gunilla from Blomstermåla.
On this first day of November, we, Gunilla and her two grandchildren and a whole bunch of us, have been out walking in the park collecting treasures along the way, playing in the leaves, throwing them up to rain down. Autumn is such a gorgeous time of year, and we really enjoyed being out in the nature with our good friends on this beautiful day.  

Småkompisar/Storkompisar - eco friendly Christmas gifts for employees and clients, colleagues and friends!

It's time to think off Christmas gifts for your employees and clients, colleagues and friends! We offer you our friendly Friends (adorable and loved by all) - Big Friends/Storkompisar and Small Friends/Småkompisar - customised (or non customised) with your logo or message on the ball!
Would you like further info, send us an email to: info@smakompisar.com

Chocolate kisses greetings from Busca!

If you ever visit Busca in northern Italy, don't miss out on this little gem. Entering the ground floor of this building on Via Stadio 3, in the middle of a residential neighborhood in front of the sports facilities in the centre of the town, you´ll find this family owned factory/shop and the world's best chocolate according to Småkompisar! Baci di Busca is the name for these generously-sized, delicious chocolates, well-wrapped in pretty paper with printed lace. All chocolate lovers, this is the place to be! We've been there! :)

Laboratorio Artigiano Pasticceria Cioccolateria Fagiolo Piero snc 
Via Stadio, 3, Busca, Italy
 

Småkompisar visited the Po Valley/Valle Po!

We are in northern Italy surrounded by high mountains and beautiful valleys. Today is a perfect day to go along with some outdoor activities, and to visit the Pian del Re Nature Reserve. After a few hours of driving and hiking, we finally reach the source of the Po River. It strikes us that we could actually follow the water path that flows eastward across northern Italy to the Adriatic sea, and eventually end up in Venice.. What a great idea! But first we will enjoy the view, the spectacular mountains, the warm sun and lunch included..

Friend Of The Month, September 2011!

Manfred, a 15-year-old skater from Vaggeryd, Sweden, is our Friend of the Month in September! Owner of 20 Little Friends, more or less, we can be used for everything! It only requires a little bit of imagination! :-)

Last Days of Summer!!

Summer fun isn't over yet. Enjoy the few last splashes of summer before school and work starts and days are back to normal.

Friend Of The Month, August 2011!

Each month, we feature a new friend of ours here on our blog and Facebook page. Casper from Vaggeryd, Sweden is our Friend of the Month in August. Would you like to be our Friend of the Month, send us your image to info@smakompisar.com.

Friend Of The Month, July 2011!

This is Ellen, our Friend of the month in July! Ellen is 7 years old. Her first year of school is finally over and now it´s time to play, all summer long!

Småkompisar at The Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm!

We highly recommend a visit at the Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm for anyone with an interest in history, traditional cultures and social anthropology of far away lands. This museum contains thousands of items collected during centuries of Swedish seafaring from around the globe. While here, you might want to go on a guided tour and check out the temporary exhibitions - a Voodoo exhibition is on display right now. You may also like to visit the café area and the outstanding gift shop located in the entrance hall. The Museum is situated within walking distance from Stockholm city centre. Click here for more info.