Origami + Kirigami for the Home Review & GIVEAWAY

Just released! It's Origami and Kirigami for the Home: Paper Art Decorations, Gift Wrapping, and Handmade Cards by Wei You. This UK paper artist shows how to make paper decor for special occasions. Explore the versatility and beauty of paper with the Japanese arts of origami and kirigami. In origami, paper is folded and creased, while in kirigami the paper is folded and cut. Both traditional and contemporary designs are featured. Easy-to-follow instructions, photographs, and diagrams guide you step by step. Each project is neatly laid out and includes a materials list and difficulty rating of 1 through 5 stars. Not confident with typical origami directions? Go straight to the online video instructions by following the link provided or scan the QR code with your phone. Twenty-seven videos accompany this book. I folded the Hakobu and Hinode - Crane Place Card Holders. Their exotic looks and usefulness appeal to me. They are popular on Etsy. Each crane model has a 3-star difficulty rating. Both designs are first-time folds for me. For the Hinode crane, I followed the online video instructions. The videos are well done. I moved through the folds quickly, easily, and smoothly. For the Hakobu crane model, I followed the printed instructions. Folding symbols and basic folds are explained and shown at the start of this book. This system of symbols, arrows, and diagram notations communicate each step. It's known as the Yoshizawa-Randlett system and has become the standard worldwide. Again I found the directions straightforward. The variety of projects makes this book an excellent year-round reference. I counted 47 projects. Add a handmade touch to your festivities with paper! Project templates are at the back of the book. See excerpts below. Herbert Press released this 160-page paperback on November 22, 2022. Get your copy below!

C O N T E N T S

Introduction

Paper and Tools

How to Read Origami Instructions and Symbols

TABLE DECORATIONS

Centerpieces

 Pretty Pentagon Flower (cover)

 Fabulous Flower Vase (cover)

 Majestic Swan

Place Card Holders

 Hinode Crane

 Hakobu Crane

 Geometric Base

Napkin Rings

 Eight Petal Flower

 Flamboyant Flamingo

HANGING DECORATIONS

Colorful Doves

Beautiful Blossom

WALL ART

Rose Wall Panel

Brilliant Butterflies

Square Flowers

TILES

Windmill Tiles

Diamond Tiles

Square Flower Tiles

PAPER GIFTS

Cranes

Basic Crane

Feathered Crane

Sandhill Crane

Exotic Crane

Tant Crane

Romantic Rose

Proud Parrot

GIFT WRAPPING

Basic Wrapping

Pleat Fold Wrapping

Kimono-style Wrapping

Pocket Wrapping

Suit-style Wrapping

Wine Gift Bag

Ribbons and Decorations

 Fan

 Leaf

 Rose

 Miniature Crane

 Simple Ribbon Bow

 Ribbon Knot

 String Flower

 Collage Gift Wrap

GREETING CARDS

Kaleidoscope Flower

Paper Doll in Kimono

Let it Snow!

SEASONAL DECORATIONS

Paper Strip Decorations

 Hearts

 Baubles

 Balls

 Assembling the Links

Spooky Bat

Halloween Garland

Festive Ornament

Christmas Tree

Patterns

About the Author

Place Card Holders - Hinode Crane project.

Hanging decoration.

Paper Gifts - Introduction.

Wine Gift Bag project.

Wall Art - Introduction and Brilliant Butterflies project.

Proud Parrot project.

Kimono-style Wrapping project.

Paper doll in a kimono for a greeting card.

Paper strip decorations -  hearts, baubles and balls.

Gift Wrapping

Wrapping plays an important role in Japanese culture and key wrapping styles are practiced and explored in this book.

Table Decorations

From centerpieces, to place cards and napkin rings. Making table decorations is a fun introduction to decorative origami.

Seasonal Decorations

Create your own gorgeous origami Christmas Tree or a Halloween Garland to add a chilling touch to any trick-or-treat party!

Wall Art

Paper art panels are becoming increasingly popular for all kinds of event.

Paper Gifts

If you are looking for handmade gift ideas, papercraft is more beginner-friendly than other art forms and the creative opportunities that it offers are endless.

Hanging Decorations

They create a romantic, dreamlike atmosphere when made in batches and hung together in an impressive display.

Above and below is the Hakobu crane - place card holder I folded with a single sheet of 15 cm square (6") Chiyogami paper. The handmade Japanese paper has a leaves pattern. For the place card, I cut a piece of white paper. It fits perfectly.

 

Origami and Kirigami for the Home ISBN 9781789940824 is available worldwide at Bloomsbury Publishing. They have generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until December 10, 2022. Canadian and US addresses only. Good luck!

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Kirigami Fold & Cut-A-Day 2018 Calendar Review & GIVEAWAY

If you've ever been curious about paper cutting then this terrific calendar is for you! I'm really enjoying it. The Kirigami Fold & Cut-a-Day 2018 Calendar by Jeff Cole was released on June 2017 from Andrews McMeel Publishing. It's a boxed calendar featuring kirigami, the Japanese art of folding and cutting paper. Just add a good pair of paper scissors to start. There are kirigami instructions and paper for hundreds of models - one for every day of the week. Saturday and Sunday are combined onto a single page.  Each kirigami design uses 1 of 6 base folds. For easy reference the base folds and other essentials are on 4 tabbed index-like cards called "fold keys". When folded correctly the cut pattern appears. Cut along marked lines then open to reveal a striking motif. I love the symmetry. Designs include a level of difficulty A through D. The kirigami designs advance in difficulty throughout the year. Some projects recommend the use of one or more of the following: a craft knife, ruler, decorative edge scissors, hole punches, tape, glue and tweezers. The paper comes in a variety of  6" x 6" bright solid colors. It has a glossy magazine-like quality. It doesn't tear. To use, lay the box flat on your desk or convert to an easel-style desk calendar by following the instructions. Like it says on the box - "You'll be amazed by the spectacular designs you create!" Get your copy below!  All Andrews McMeel Publishing 2018 calendars are currently on sale!

Calendar: 640 pages

Andrews McMeel Publishing (June 27 2017)

ISBN: 9781449482503

Language: English

Product Dimensions: 15.7 x 3.8 x 16.8 cm

Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.5 x 6.6 inches

The Kirigami Fold & Cut-A-Day 2018 Calendar is available at Andrews McMeel Publishing. Check out their unique catalog at Andrew McMeel Publishing. Andrews McMeel Publishing has generously offered to giveaway a copy! One winner will be selected at random. Open until February 9, 2018. Canada & the USA only. Good luck!

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Five petal flower design from Starburst "fold key".  After folding and cutting I glued it to a page in my journal.

Snowflakes, Sunbursts, and Stars Giveaway

Add a touch of handmade to your Christmas with Snowflakes, Sunbursts, and Stars: 75 Exquisite Paper Designs to Fold, Cut, and Curl, by acclaimed paper crafters Ayako Brodek and Shannon Voigt. The 144 page hardcover published by Kodansha USA provides clear instructions and precise diagrams for making snowflakes, stars, and sunbursts using origami (paper folding), kirigami (paper cutting) and quilling (paper curling) techniques. Ordered by level of difficulty. Use as accessories, decorations and gifts. Get your copy below!

CONTENTS 

 Forewords 

 About this book 

 Chapter 1 SELECTOR 

 Chapter 2 THE BASICS 

 Tools 

 Paper choices 

 Core techniques 

 Chapter 3 DESIGNS 

 Quilling designs 

 Origami designs 

 Kirigami designs 

 Chapter 4 PROJECTS 

 Quilled place cards 

 Origami napkin ring 

 Kirigami place card 

 Quilled coasters 

 Kirigami notecards 

 Quilled window ornaments 

 Origami garland 

 Quilled mobile 

 Kirigami silhouettes 

 Origami earrings 

 Origami gift tags 

 Index 

 Suppliers 

 Authors' acknowledgments

Snowflakes, Sunbursts, and Stars is available in both my Canadian and USA Amazon Store's and worldwide at Kodansha USA. Check out their unique catalog at Kodansha USA. 

Kodansha USA has generously offered to giveaway a copy of Snowflakes, Sunbursts, and Stars! One winner will be selected at random. Good luck! Open until November 15, 2014, Canadian and USA addresses only.

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Snowflakes, Sunbursts and Stars

Snowflakes, Sunbursts, and Stars: 75 Exquisite Paper Designs to Fold, Cut, and Curl by Ayako Brodek and Shannon Voigt. 144 full color pages published by Kodansha USA. The neatly organized hardcover explores the celestial worlds of origami, kirigami and quilling. First choose your paper craft project from a dazzling array of photos. Gather some basic tools and materials. Learn some techniques. Follow clear step-by-step text and photographic instructions. Finally dress up your creations and use. Most origami projects start with a hexagon base cut from 6" squares. Kirigami 6" squares. Quilling 2" to 5" strips. Each design includes a level of difficulty. I made a striking origami star. Get your copy below!

CONTENTS

Forewords

About this book

Chapter 1

SELECTOR

Chapter 2

THE  BASICS

Tools

Paper choices

Core techniques

Chapter 3

DESIGNS

Quilling designs

Origami designs

Kirigami designs

Chapter 4

PROJECTS

Quilled place cards

Origami napkin ring

Kirigami place card

Quilled coasters

Kirigami notecards

Quilled window ornaments

Origami garland

Quilled mobile

Kirigami silhouettes

Origami earrings

Origami gift tags

Index

Suppliers

Authors' acknowledgments

Snowflakes, Sunbursts, and Stars is available in both my Canadian and USA Amazon Store's and worldwide at Kodansha USA. Check out their unique catalog at Kodansha USA. 

Everybody Kirigami! Review

I have long admired the ancient craft of paper cutting and couldn't wait to start the projects in Everybody Kirigami by Mitsuhiko Imamori published by Vertical, Inc. of New York. Just add scissors to transform paper into art by simply folding and cutting,  then open to reveal patterns that will delight. 53 projects explore Kirigami's rectangular, square and triangular bases. 20 pages of ready-to-fold and cut patterns on two kinds of colorful paper (heavy and light weight) will provide hours of enjoyment. Simple yet beautiful, this is what I did with February's Cranes pattern. A fun kit for the beginner. Get your copy below!

CONTENTS

Explanation of Instructions

Decorations that Reflect Life

Spring . Summer . Autumn .Winter

Preparation

Seasonal Kirigami

January

Lion Dance . Camellia . Lobster . Racket & Shuttle

February

Snowflakes . Snowman . Cranes

March

Doll Festival . Ferns . Horsetails . Bamboo shoots

April

Cherry Blossoms . Butterflies

May

Carp Banner . Carnation . Oak Leaf

June

Hydrangeas . Snails . Umbrellas . Frogs

July

Milky Way . Seashell . Yacht . Ice Cream . Rhino Beetles . Stag Beetles

August

Sunflowers . Goldfish . Fan . Watermelon . Sparkler

September

Harvest Moon . Dragonfly . Grapes . Persimmon . Chestnuts . Rabbits

October

Ginko . Maple . Bat . Baseball . Sneakers

November

Chocolate Vine . Migratory Birds . Daikon . Carrot . Lotus Root

December

Santa Claus . Tree . Reindeer . Shortcake . Candles . Bells

Various Patterns

Everybody Kirigami! is available in both my Canadian and USA Amazon Store's and worldwide at Random House. Vertical translates the best contemporary Japanese books. Check out their unique catalog at Vertical Publishing.