Beginner's Guide to Kirigami E-Book

Ghylenn Descamps

• Herausgeber: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 57

Beschreibung

An introduction to kirigami, a Japanese art that combines origami and papercutting, work through the 24 intricate designs that are accessible and easy to master for any crafter at any level. With beautiful photography, helpful diagrams, and step-by-step instructions for folding and cutting charming 3D kirigami pop-up cards, vases, boxes, lanterns, holiday decorations, and more, this is sure to become your newest favorite hobby! ·   

Leseprobe

CONTENTS VISUALS

Preface

FIRST STEPS

Basic Materials

About the Paper

Getting Familiar with the Tools

Workspace and Comfort

Preparing the Models

Cutting Straight Lines

Cutting Curves

Folding

Gluing

CREATIONS

Chapter 1: Making a Start

1) FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE

2) PAIR OF VASES

3) PRETTY DRAGONFLY

4) CAKE TOPPER

5) PETAL GIFT BOX

6) LOVE POP-UP CARD

7) STYLISH LANTERN

8) TWO-COLORED BOXES

Chapter 2: Developing Skills

9) FLORAL GIFT DECORATION

10) TERRARIUM

11) FISH KAKEMONO

12) POP-UP TREE

13) MY TIGER

14) BIRD GARLAND

15) BASKET

16) HERBARIUM

Chapter 3: Little Challenges

17) JAPANESE CRANE

18) PINEAPPLE

19) GREETING CARD

20) LANTERN

21) PAPER LACE DOILIES

22) ASIAN TEMPLE

23) 3D CARD

24) PARISIAN BRIDGE

PREFACE

When my publisher suggested I do a book on kirigami, I literally jumped for joy! It’s everything I love – beautiful papers, cutting and folding – sprinkled with a generous dose of Japanese inspiration. I couldn’t wait to get started on some new creations . . .

But what exactly is kirigami?

Kirigami, from kiru, to cut, and gami, paper, is inspired by one of China’s oldest traditions, “jian zhi,” the art of paper cutting. Once reserved for the religious elite for use in rituals, it gradually spread to all levels of society. Jian zhi is still practiced during the Chinese Springtime Festival and New Year celebrations.

Jian zhi eventually made its way to the shores of Japan, where it was enriched by the paper-folding art of origami and evolved into what we now call kirigami.

A new dimension unfolded quite unexpectedly while I was working on my models. As I quietly cut and folded, I became very centered. I felt as though I were taking a quiet stroll down a path that soothed my spirit. It was an interior journey very much like meditation, an opportunity to breathe in a turbulent world.

It is this same Japanese-inspired creative journey that I invite you to experience as you make your way through this book and discover the marvelous art of kirigami.

Breathe, and be inspired by the papers of the Far East . . .

Ghylenn

ghylenndescamps.com

For a printable PDF of the patterns used in this book, please contact Fox Chapel Publishing at [email protected], quoting the ISBN and title of this book, as well as the pattern or patterns required.

BASIC MATERIALS

Kirigami is a technique that requires only a few basic materials to start: paper, a cutter, and a cutting mat. There are more tools that will make it easier to perfect your skills. Investing in quality materials will help you acquire precision and speed, feel more relaxed, produce work of higher quality, and enjoy the experience so much more!

Here is a list of the materials used to make the projects in this book:

• Scalpel, aka craft knife (X-acto®-style tool with removable blades), and replacement blades

• Cutter, aka utility knife, and replacement blades

• Silhouette scissors (small scissors with thin blades and pointy tips)

• Scissors

• Metal ruler to guide cutter for straight cuts

• Cutting mat

• Paper-folding tool, aka bone folder, made from bone or plastic, for sharp creases

• Embossing stylus for scoring paper before folding

• Masking tape for securing the pattern to the paper to be cut without damaging it

• Glue gel that won’t wrinkle paper

• Repositionable spray adhesive

• Permanent spray adhesive

• HB pencil or mechanical pencil

• Clean pencil eraser

• Printer

• Photocopier

Although the following tools are not essential, they will make the work easier:

• White pencil for tracing on dark paper

• Compass

• Compass circle cutter

• Hole punch

• Eyelet punch for making small, uniform holes

• Tweezers for gently removing cutout pieces of paper

And for pleasure :

• Decorative-edge scissors for making original cutouts and edges

• Disc cutter with punches in assorted shapes

• Sewing or tapestry needles for making very small holes

ABOUT THE PAPER

Paper is the essential element in kirigami! There is a variety of beautiful decorative papers that are sure to inspire you. It’s important to choose the right paper, however, because not all of them are easy to cut. The wrong paper can make the work difficult and your project a disaster!

A few tips for choosing paper

The best paper to start out with is plain, smooth paper with a weight of 120 to 160 g. This type of paper is ideal for kirigami because it holds up well, is easy to cut, and comes in a wide variety of colors. It can also be used in a printer, which simplifies reproducing a pattern.

For models that need sufficient strength to stand, as in the case of boxes, it’s better to use paper that weighs at least 210 g. Any shapes to be cut out, however, will need to be simplified, because this thicker paper will be more difficult to cut.

Tracing paper

This paper is essential for tracing and reproducing a pattern if you don’t have access to a printer or photocopier. Tracing paper can also be used as a translucent layer underneath a cutout pattern, for example, in a lantern. This paper comes in different colors.

Patterned paper

It’s tempting to use patterned paper, because some of them, particularly the Japanese papers, are truly magnificent. Here again, the choice is important: prints that are too vivid with highly contrasting colors risk ruining the final result by detracting from the cutout areas. It’s all a question of balance. You can temper the overall effect by using plain-colored paper as a complement, or by using tone-on-tone patterned paper.

Combining two colors

Certain paper combinations give a boost to their creations. If you choose two papers for bicolor effect, you can choose two highly contrasting colors, like red and black, or a softer combination, like white and light blue.

Other papers . . .

You can choose from fiber-based or handmade papers, such as the Nepalese and Indian papers, which come in shimmering colors. These papers are often thick and difficult to cut, so avoid fine cuts that will needlessly tire out your hand and quickly use up your blades. These papers are, however, very easy to use if they are to be glued underneath a cutout, adding a decorative and aesthetically pleasing element to your project.

In short, feel free to try out a wide variety of papers until you understand the differences and determine your preferences.

US AND EUROPEAN PAPER SIZES