Paper Craft
There are numerous paper crafts, some simple to master and some that require a lot of time and practise to create a work of art.
Lets start with some easy decorations that many of us have made before
Paperchains.
All members of the family, old and young, can join in to make the chains. Just cut strips of paper, wrap the first one onto itself and glue to make a circle, loop the next strip through and again glue the edge to make another circle and continue to form your chain. Use patterned paper, coloured paper, metallic or sparkly paper.
Origami fortune teller
is a simple and fun game to make. There are many tutorials on the internet to show you how to make it and also suggestions for the sayings inside.
Artificial flowers
can look so real that I have to touch and smell them to find out if they are silk or paper. Tutorials and books can teach you how to make beautiful flowers out of paper. Arrange a few stems in a vase or create a large arrangement as a centre piece. Decorate your garden for a wedding or birthday party with lots of hanging paper wisteria, giant rose heads, romantic narcissus and poppies. Making paper flowers can take time so if you are making them for an occasions I would suggest starting well in advance.
Quilling
is an art form. It uses strips of paper that are rolled, shaped and glued together to create beautiful pictures. It takes practise to master this craft but is well worth it as the finished products can be sensational. Check out videos and instruction books to find beginners quilling projects and work your way up as you master the art.
Papier-mâché
is always popular with the kids. Mix paper pieces with glue and water or flour and water. Find an object you want to cover like a blown up balloon or cardboard box, dip your pieces of paper in the glue and stick over you object. You need around 3 layers to give strength to the piece. Bunch up the paper to create shapes. Leave to dry before painting.
Decoupage
is the art of decorating an object with paper cut-outs and using paint to enhance the pictures. Decoupage started in France in the 17th century and was considered the poor man's alternative to painted furniture. It’s a very simple craft to do with great results. You can decorate more or less any hard object like a tray, a box, and a chair etc. You can use copied photographs to make a personal gift or cut objects out of old cards and magazines. If you tear rather than cut the edges of the pictures it gives a softer look and once all the layers are on and the glue is dry you can vanish over to protect. Once simple decoupage has been masters you can try 3d decoupage to create wonderful cards and labels.
There are numerous paper crafts, some simple to master and some that require a lot of time and practise to create a work of art.
Lets start with some easy decorations that many of us have made before
Paperchains.
All members of the family, old and young, can join in to make the chains. Just cut strips of paper, wrap the first one onto itself and glue to make a circle, loop the next strip through and again glue the edge to make another circle and continue to form your chain. Use patterned paper, coloured paper, metallic or sparkly paper.
Origami fortune teller
is a simple and fun game to make. There are many tutorials on the internet to show you how to make it and also suggestions for the sayings inside.
Artificial flowers
can look so real that I have to touch and smell them to find out if they are silk or paper. Tutorials and books can teach you how to make beautiful flowers out of paper. Arrange a few stems in a vase or create a large arrangement as a centre piece. Decorate your garden for a wedding or birthday party with lots of hanging paper wisteria, giant rose heads, romantic narcissus and poppies. Making paper flowers can take time so if you are making them for an occasions I would suggest starting well in advance.
Quilling
is an art form. It uses strips of paper that are rolled, shaped and glued together to create beautiful pictures. It takes practise to master this craft but is well worth it as the finished products can be sensational. Check out videos and instruction books to find beginners quilling projects and work your way up as you master the art.
Papier-mâché
is always popular with the kids. Mix paper pieces with glue and water or flour and water. Find an object you want to cover like a blown up balloon or cardboard box, dip your pieces of paper in the glue and stick over you object. You need around 3 layers to give strength to the piece. Bunch up the paper to create shapes. Leave to dry before painting.
Decoupage
is the art of decorating an object with paper cut-outs and using paint to enhance the pictures. Decoupage started in France in the 17th century and was considered the poor man's alternative to painted furniture. It’s a very simple craft to do with great results. You can decorate more or less any hard object like a tray, a box, and a chair etc. You can use copied photographs to make a personal gift or cut objects out of old cards and magazines. If you tear rather than cut the edges of the pictures it gives a softer look and once all the layers are on and the glue is dry you can vanish over to protect. Once simple decoupage has been masters you can try 3d decoupage to create wonderful cards and labels.
