The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Secret Note Square

Suprise your friends with this cute gesture

Want to fold a note in a compact and unique way? Folding a piece of paper into a secret note square is very fun and easy, and is a simple way to pass the time in class. Secret note squares are a great way to pass along a secret message to one of your friends during class and to impress your friends with your folding skills.

Steps

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1
Use a letter-size piece of paper. Letter size is 8.5" by 11". (If you're outside the US, use A4. You need to cut it or else this doesn't work.)
- If your piece of paper is too big, cut it down to size using an exacto knife.
Make sure the side with writing on it is facing the inside, so you can't see it.
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Now you have a long, thin piece of paper.
Make sure the two edges of the triangles are parallel; not like a trapezoid, (two parallel sides and two non-parallel sides) but like a parallelogram (two pairs of two parallel sides).
5
Fold each triangle over diagonally again, forming a thin parallelogram on each end. Make your fold so that the edge of the triangle that's closest to the center of the rectangle moves up so that it's parallel to the long side of the rectangle. If you do this with both triangles, you will create something that looks like an "S" turned 90 degrees counterclockwise.
- If you fold the triangles inward, you will get a rectangle, and this is wrong.
You should have two triangles making a square shape in the center, with an equally-sized triangle sitting on each side.

Community Q&A

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Question
How should I dispose of my secret note?
Community Answer
Tear it up into small pieces, and throw them away. If you can, try throwing the pieces away into different trash cans. If you are very careful, you can also burn the note instead.
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Question
What if an enemy finds out how the note works?
Community Answer
Abort the mission immediately. Stick the note in your pocket, or conceal the note by closing your fist around it. Find a way to burn the note as quickly as possible.
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Question
Do I put the note inside of it or just write it on the cover?
Community Answer
You probably write it inside to keep it secret. That is the purpose of doing this.
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Tips

If a teacher does catch you and opens up the note, it would be handy to have the message written in some form of code or cypher. The teacher won't have a clue what you're talking about.
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You can slip small pieces of paper inside the "pocket" on each side of the square. These can serve as distractions or you can hide the real note inside them.
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Give your friend a way to crack the code at your break then send the note and the teacher won't see or understand it.
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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of How.com.vn readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on How.com.vn, please submit it in the field below.

Use a pencil when you write your top secret notes — it's much easier to erase than a pen, and you avoid any stains or evidence. Only write on paper, too, not your hand or anything else that could get you in trouble.
Take it slowly when learning origami folds; don't rush it. Going too fast leads to mistakes, frustration, and wasted paper. Be patient with yourself as you practice — it takes time to get the technique down.
Pass notes super sneakily in class, like when the teacher has their back turned. And subtly slip it to the friend sitting right next to you. Don't make it obvious! Waiting for the right moment takes patience.
Don't put any major secrets in notes that could get you in big trouble if caught. Save sensitive stuff for discussing in private later on. Notes can easily fall into the wrong hands. Better safe than sorry.
If you need to use a secret code, try writing the note with your non-dominant hand. The different handwriting helps hide your identity if it falls into the wrong hands. Clever, right?
After your friend reads the note, tear it up into tiny pieces and toss them in different trash cans. That way, no one can find and reassemble the evidence! Scattering it is key.

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Warnings

Remember to make sure the receiver of the note understands how to open the note, or else they'll be very confused.
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These instructions were designed for 8.5 x 11 inch paper commonly used in North America. To make it work with the A4 paper, you should trim the paper 3 centimeters. If you don't cut the A4 sheet, after step 5 you will have a rectangle instead of a square. Fold a little concertina in the middle of this to form a square.
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Write on the top half of the paper. Some areas on the bottom portion are visible after the square has been folded.
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Be careful when passing notes in a classroom; some teachers get really upset about it and you might get in trouble.
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Always be patient, and don’t get frustrated. Remember, always write the notes in code.
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