Thoughts Paper Scissors

Origami Samurai warrior made from a single sheet of paper by Juho Könkkölä (mymodernmet.com)

Hello friend, whenever I tell someone I do Paper crafts I’m met with either a blank stare, confusion 😄 or sometimes they reply “Oh! like Origami?” So I’ve learnt how to rephrase my replies to be more explanatory and help communicate what I do.
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‎That’s why my mission today is to start this series that  breaks down what the term Paper crafts means, the different types and how they fit into daily life.
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WHAT ARE PAPER CRAFTS?

Paper crafts is actually an umbrella term to describe how paper or card is creatively transformed into artistic, decorative and sometimes functional 2D and 3D objects. Much like how art has many different forms, expressions and techniques, Paper crafts is very close cousin. Let’s dive in.

‎ORIGAMI

With the invention of paper in Asia, the ancient and probably oldest form of paper crafts is Origami. It is derived from two Japanese words, Ori (folded) and Kami (paper). This ancient Japanese art of folding paper has become increasingly complex over the years. The applications for origami principles have expanded into furniture design, home decor, architecture, installation art, robotics design, engineering, and medical solutions.  (Source https://paper.gatech.edu/kinetic-joy/history-origami)

‎QUILLING

Quilling is another ancient art of Paper crafts. It involves manipulating strips of paper by rolling, gluing, twisting, looping, curling etc to create intricate decorative effects. ‎Today quilling is used to decorate greeting cards, boxes, jewelry and art pieces. Notable quilling artists today are Yulia Brodskaya & Ayobola Kekere-Ekun.

Now you have learnt about Origami and Quilling, I hope you stick around for Part 2 where we explore more types of Paper crafts, how they apply in everyday life and are helping to shape future innovations. Just out of curiosity which of these two styles do you prefer? Till next time!