Lai See Red Envelope Tutorial

Join in on the Chinese New Year celebration with these easy to make Lai See Red Envelopes. February 8 marks the start of the New Year on the Chinese calendar. It is customary to give a red envelope called a Lai See containing money as a way of sharing your prosperity. I folded mine from sheets of 6 x 9 and 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper I custom cut from Tuttle's Chinese Silk Gift Wrapping Papers. Put money inside and fold closed. Add a gold sticker to seal. Check out the tutorial and get your paper below!

Chinese Silk Gift Wrapping Papers is available worldwide at Tuttle Publishing. Check out their unique catalog, rooted in Asian culture, language and history at Tuttle Publishing.

Tutorial: Lai See Red Envelope 

Fold paper in half as above.

Fold right side in.

Fold top down and tuck in, first layer only.

Fold top down, second layer.

Fold left side in and tuck in.

Origami Book Cover

This is the Origami Book Cover from Everyday Papercraft, Paper-Folding Projects for the Home and Beyond by Keiko Komatsubara published by Vertical, Inc., New York. It's just one of 40 paper craft projects in the book. I love the neat, clean look and the adjustable pocket is perfect for tucking in a bookmark or memento. Inside, fitted corners ensure a great fit. Use decoratively, to keep your books in the best condition or both. A solid design. Paper needs to be at most 2 x the length and 4 x the width of the book you want to cover. Use your favorite paper, I chose to recycle a map. An elastic band is optional. Check out my easy tutorial and get your copy below!

Contents

Materials

Mini Notebook

Notebook with Bookmark

Planner

Account Book with Folder

Pen Case with Lid

Slim Pen Case

Portfolio

Slim Folder

Bag Receipt Case

Pen Stand and Memo Holder

Sticky Notebook

Memo Stand

Clip Box

Cube Box

Odds-and-Ends Box

Receipt Case

Card Case

Book Cover with Tail

Origami Book Cover

House Gift Box

Gift Bag

Clothing Gift Bag

Photo Frame

Bathroom Tissue Box

Pocket Tissue Box

Technical guide

Let's Make Some Objects!

Hand-Made Papercrafts: Production Hints

Instructions

Everyday Papercraft 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.

Tutorial: Origami Book Cover w/ Pocket

Origami Square with Pocket Letter Envelope

Design from Origami Card Craft by Karen Elaine Thomas, published by Potter Craft, New York. This book illustrates beautifully how clever origami folds can be turned into cherished stationery keepsakes. In this project, rectangular paper is folded into pretty square envelopes that stay securely closed yet open easily. Tuck something into the outside pocket or inside of the fold. Made from wallpaper samples, 8 1/2 x 11" paper folds to almost 4" squares. I refer to Origami Card Craft over and over again because of the variety of useful designs ranging from quick and easy to a little more complicated. Each project includes the author's notes, materials, clear step-by-step instructions, finished size and tips. A few projects require non-traditional paper sizes. Author Karen Elaine Thomas is the Creative Director of Yasutomo. I like this book! Get your copy below!

Contents

INTRODUCTION

ORIGAMI BASICS

CARDS

Fold-Out Heart

Fortune Teller

Little Pocket

Cut and Fold

Love Knot

Secret Slipcase

Money Holder

Pinwheel

Woven Belt

Folded Frame

Signature

Star

Pop-Up Box with Fan-Out Card

Kiss

Crane

Accordion

Folded Box

Secret Message

Jacob's Ladder

Postcard Holder

Dos-a-Dos

From the Heart

Tato Puzzle

Pop-Out

Simple Fold

ENVELOPES

Simple

Classic

Square with Pocket

Square with Tabs

Elegant

RESOURCES

INDEX

Origami Card Craft is available in both my Canadian and USA Amazon Store's and worldwide at Random House. Check out their charming catalog at Potter Craft.



Origami Business Card Display

"Don't just leave your business card. Leave a memorable impression!" This design is from the Origami Stationery Kit: Elegant Folded Note Cards and Envelopes for a Personal Touch, by Michael G. LaFosse and Richard L. Alexander, the well known authors of Origami Money and co-founders of the Origamido Studio.

The kit includes a 64 page color booklet with fifteen origami designs, 10 original, 4 adapted and 1 traditional. There are 80 sheets of attractive folding paper in two sizes 6 and 6.75". All projects use square paper. The custom printed single and double-sided paper comes in a variety of solid colors and patterns. A 7" paper folder for crisp folds is also included. My favorites, the Hashi Wrapper Note, Calling Card Note, Twist Note, Sail Boat and Flapping Bird Envelopes.

PROJECTS

Ship Mates

Flag Note

Pillow Note

Parallel-O-Gram

Noshi Awabi

Season's Note

Hashi Wrapper Note

Trapezoid Note

Calling Card Note (Business Card Display)

Trapezoid Envelope

Diamante

Twist Note

Sailboat Envelope

Envelope Note

Flapping Bird Envelope

The Origami Stationery Kit is available in both my Canadian and USA Amazon Stores and worldwide at Tuttle Publishing. Check out their New and Notable Titles at tuttlepublishing.com.

Origami Pencil Holder

This pragmatic design is from The Biggest Ever Book of Origami with 12 giant templates, by Nick Robinson, published by the UK's Ivy Press. 

This SUPERSIZE book (29cm or 11.5" square) contains 12 models, two by origami SUPERSTAR Nick Robinson. Included are 12 SUPERSIZE  sheets of beautifully patterned paper. Models are presented in order of difficulty, along with illustrated step-by-step instructions. Following each project is a 'Creative Tip' for further design exploration. Six ornate Katsusika Hokusai woodblock prints from the 19th century complete this very attractive book. My favorites, the yacht, pencil holder, elephant and box.

CONTENTS

Yacht

Pencil Holder

Duck

Mirror Fish

Elephant

Rabbit

Raven Mask

Pteranodon

Frog

Box

Inflatable Chicken

Rosetta

The Biggest Ever Book of Origami is available in both my Canadian and USA Amazon Stores and worldwide at select Amazon websites including amazon.co.uk. Ivy Press UK is an innovative publisher and packager of creative, highly illustrated books and stationery. You'll find more origami products here. Check out their unique Craft and Hobbies selection at ivypress.co.uk.

Origami Envelope Tutorial

This very practical design is from Origami Note Cards by Florence Temko. It comes with step-by-step instructions for 15 handmade stationery projects along with 48 large sheets of double-sided origami paper. The colorful folding paper, suitable for a variety of occasions, is patterned on one side and has a coordinating solid color on the other. Here an 8" square folds into a 4 3/4 by 5 3/4" envelope, perfect for your handmade cards. No scissors or tape used, just a little glue. Tutorial below.

Origami Note Cards is available in both my Canadian and USA Amazon Stores and worldwide at tuttlepublishing.com. Tuttle has long been known for—everything from Asian literature and language learning to cooking, art, crafts and design. Check out their fabulous Fall 2011 catalog at Tuttle Publishing.

Tutorial: Origami Envelope

Origami Invitation Tutorial

One sheet of 8 1/2 x 11" craft paper, a few simple folds, and the result is this fabulous origami invitation. The rectangular paper folds into an envelope with a banner across the centre. One side of the paper has a bold pink floral design while the other is white. The invitation text is on the white side, I put it through the printer.

Folded it measures 5 1/2 x 3 3/4". The banner width of 1/2" can be increased or decreased to taste. I'm going to personalize the invites by putting the recipients name across the slanted banner. No scissors, glue or tape used! Design creator unknown. Tutorial below.

Tutorial: Origami Invitation

Origami Mu Letter

This design is from Andrew Stoker's, Fantastic Folds. He calls it a 'foldelope' because the letter folds into an envelope. One rectangular piece of paper is required to make it.

I used paper measuring 15 x 20cm that I made from recycled junk mail and potpourri. They smell nice, lavendar, bay leaves...


The back is self-sealing. No scissors, glue or tape used!

Origami Love Letter

A beautiful piece of paper, some carefully chosen words, and a couple of folds amount to an origami love letter. No envelope is needed because the paper you write your letter on folds into an envelope. Use the tutorial below to make your own.

  
I don't know the origin of this very simple design. I used an 8 1/2 x 11" rectangular piece of paper with a scalloped edge. A square also works. I opted to put the text on the patterned side of the paper with a personal note on the inside. No scissors, glue or tape used! Please check out my video; let me know what you think.

Tutorial: Origami Love Letter