Crafting

Bow Origami and Bear Kirigami for Gift Wrapping

March 12, 2015 · By Rachel ·

After the last experience I had with gift-wrapping during Christmas last year, I have since given up on patterned papers for gift wrapping.

I didn’t do such a bad job with it, but I felt the prints were kind of busy and it was not that worth spending money on since gift wrap paper was not exactly that cheap from Typo. The prints were lovely and festive, but they were ‘time-sensitive’, as I am not able to use the remaining Christmas gift-wrap paper until Christmas comes around this year.

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I like to work with cheap and easily accessible materials for crafting. And the best place for cheap but useful materials to be used in crafting? It’s Daiso, of course (this is not a sponsored post btw, just sharing my fondness for cheap craft materials from Daiso).

The thing with Daiso I realised, is that you need to have a rough idea of what you plan to craft and be very specific with the kind of materials that can be used for your project, if not, you will end up cluttering your home with lots of cheap but don’t-know-what-to-do-with-them materials.

As I am into Origami and Kirigami lately, I have been buying Origami Paper. And from my last trip to Daiso, I couldn’t resist getting 2 of the $2 Washi Tapes that were sold there.

Since we are into the topic of Washi Tape, let me show off my collection.

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Yup. It’s just 10 rolls of multicoloured washi and the two new rolls that I got from Daiso. You were expecting a whole stash, isn’t it? Well, I did say that I was a cheap crafter, I only buy what I know I will use. I have been using the multi-coloured tapes so much for my #InHisLoveMail snail mail packages, that I might have to get a replacement set quite soon.

I think Washi is one of the most ‘dangerous’ craft materials that are out there, especially the MT branded ones. It is easy to become a MT Washi Collector, but a little more challenging to be a frequent Washi user and knowing how to use them tastefully for crafting projects. Enough from me, griping about the dangers of Washi…

So without further ado, here’s sharing a gift wrapping idea combining Origami, Kirigami, Kraft Paper and Washi Tape.

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What you will need;

1. Origami Paper (3 sheets, colour of your choice)

2. Kraft Paper

3. Washi Tape

4. Scissors

5. Sticky Tape

6. Kirigami Bear Pattern (available together with the pattern in the next post)

*You don’t need a self-healing mat for this, as the Kirigami Bear Pattern can be easily cut out using a sharp pair of scissors

Making the Origami Bow

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1) Select to compliment colours for the ribbon, I chose grey and pink

2) Have the white sides of the origami paper facing one another

3) Glue the back of the origami sheets together

4) You will then get a single sheet of origami, front is coloured grey, and the back is pink.

The instructions to make the origami bow is found in a YouTube video here:

Kirigamibow1

5) I used a gold pen to draw dots on the origami bow to make it a gold polka-dotted bow, you can keep it plain if you prefer.

Making the Kirigami Bear

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1) Fold the 15cm x 15cm Origami paper in half

2) Fold it into quarters – this is known as the Kirigami Rectangle 4-Fold

3) Make sure that the double v’s of the folds are facing the left side

4) Staple the bear pattern at the barn of the 4-fold rectangle, making sure that the edges are lined up with one other.

5) Cut out the pattern, and unfold the paper. You should see 2 pairs of bears joined together.

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Wrap the box or present with Kraft Paper

Paste the Washi Tape vertically across, indented to the left of the box

Intersect the Washi Tape horizontally across, indented to the 3/4 top part of the box

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Paste the Origami Bow on the intersection where the Washi Tape crosses one another

And paste the Kirigami Bear diagonally below

And there you have it, a gift wrapping design with a Bow Origami and Bear Kirigami! This gift wrapping design can be for a guy (my dad’s birthday is coming up in April) as you can skip the drawing the polka dots on bow, and the bears make it less feminine. But it is adaptable for a gift for a child or a lady too.

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**Note : The Kirigami Bear pattern will be available together with the pattern for the next post

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Categorized: Craft and Handmades, Inspiration · Tagged: Crafting, Kirigami, Papercrafts

The Art of Paper Cutting

March 12, 2015 · By Rachel ·

When the words ‘Paper Cutting’ is mentioned, perhaps an image like that comes to mind?

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剪纸 or Chinese Paper Cutting originated from China, as paper was invented by a Chinese in the Eastern Han Dynasty in Chinese. It is one of the oldest and most popular folk art forms in China. Some of the patterns are of a single image, while others are symmetrical designs that are cut after the paper is folded in half or into more proportioned folds. Chinese paper cut designs are mostly used for decorative purposes and till today, during Chinese New Year, many Chinese still follow the traditions of putting up designs on their walls, windows or doors that indicate their wishes for the new year.

The art has evolved beyond China and have adapted various cultural styles over time, there are Indonesian, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Jewish, Mexican, Swedish and Swiss versions of their Paper Cutting art.

Artofpapercutting Source L to R; Jewish, Swedish, Swiss, Indian Style Paper Cutting

Kirigami

Playing with Paper Craft recently, I got rather intrigued by Japanese Origami and discovered a variation of origami that includes not just folding the paper, but cutting paper as well. Kirigami patterns start with folded original paper, then the pattern is cut, opened to make the finished product. Like 剪纸, the patterns are mostly symmetrical, and it is alot easier to do then it looks, and the patterns go beyond just snowflakes

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Snowflakes are simple enough for children above 5 years old to cut, however when it comes to other patterns that require more detailed cutting with a Xacto knife, the activity will be more suited for children 12 years old and above.

Kirigami patterns can be used for decorations, card-making, gift-wrapping, to personalise stationery and add some texture to scrap-booking layouts.

So what are the tools that you will need for Kirigami?

1. 15cm x 15cm Origami Paper (You can get it for $2 a pack from Daiso)

2. Penknife

3. Sharp Scissors

4. Xacto Knife

5. Self-Healing Mat

6. Stapler

The Xacto knife and Self-Healing Mat are good investments if you want to give Paper Crafting a try. I got them from Art Friend at below SGD$11 each.

Kirigami tools 1

For more on Kirigami, go to this site or go to this post on the uses of Paper Crafts.

Next post, I will be sharing some ideas on how to make and use Kirigami.

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Categorized: Inspiration · Tagged: Crafting, Kirigami, Papercrafts

For the Love of Paper Craft

March 6, 2015 · By Rachel ·

I recently discovered my love for Paper Craft, after embarking on #InHisLoveMAIL initiative.

Paper Craft is one of the most accessible forms of crafting, and most who think of Paper Crafting, think of Scrap-booking. Scrapbooking is a great way where stories can be preserve behind the photos and one can express themselves creatively with beautiful embellishments, memorabilia on patterned papers.

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When I found out I was pregnant with K in 2006, it was the first time I got myself some Scrap Book elements and was all ready to journal my journey having my first (and only) child through photos in a Scrap Book.

But I never got around doing it.

I realised that I have never been a Scrap-Book Crafter, and will never be. Although the embellishments sold in Scrap Book stores were so tempting, I curbed the temptation and saved quite a bit of money. Have you seen how expensive Scrap Book Materials are?

8 years down the road, I am now exploring Paper Crafting, but techniques other than Scrap Booking

Great for First Time Crafters

Paper is accessible, forgiving and cheap. People who want to start on crafting should start with paper, as it is less daunting compared to the other craft techniques.

There is so much you can do with Paper Crafts. All is take is some coloured or plain paper, thick or thin, and you can create something new by folding, cutting, colouring, sticking or layering.

Paper Craft can be used in a variety of ways;