PAPER CRAFT

HISTORY

The word “paper” derives from papyrus, the name of the ancient material
manufactured from beaten reeds in Egypt as far back as the third millennium B.C.
Indeed, the earliest known example of “paper folding” is an ancient Egyptian map,
drawn on papyrus and folded into rectangular forms like a modern road map. However,
it does not appear that intricate paper folding as an art form became possible until the
introduction of wood-pulp based papers in China, where its invention is credited to Cai
Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty, in the 2nd century B.C. It is not known when the
earliest use of folded paper as a medium was made, although it likely began shortly
after the development of paper itself. The first Japanese origami is dated from the 6th
century A.D.

CONCEPT OF PAPER CRAFT

Paper craft is the collection of art forms employing paper or card as the primary
artistic medium for the creation of three-dimensional objects. It is the most widely used
material in arts and crafts. It lends itself to a wide range of techniques, as it can for
instance be folded, cut, glued, molded, stitched, or layered. Papermaking by hand is
also an important paper craft.Paper crafts are known in most societies that use paper,
with certain kinds of crafts
.
Origami is used synonymously with paper folding, though the term properly only
refers to the art of paper folding in Japan.
Zhezhi (Chinese paper folding).
Jong-i.e.-jeop-gi, from Korea, and Western paper folding, such as the traditional
paper boats and paper planes.

TOOLS USED IN PAPER CRAFT

• Craft knife is a short, sharp cutting blade mounted on a pen-like metal handle.
Many types and sizes of blades and handles are available.

• Self healing cutting mat such as this one is invaluable for cutting with a scalpel
knife. Though you can protect your table by cutting over old newspapers, this will
preserve the life of your blades and ensure your cuts are smooth.

• Scissors are the perfect way to cut, shape, and customize any paper project
safely and easily. Scissors are great art tools because they're safe enough for
kids to use, but sturdy enough to cut even rugged art materials time and time
again without sharpening.

• Decorative-edge Scissors - scissors with patterned blades for cutting paper or

fabric. Many designs are available, from somewhat random deckle-edges to
scallops and zig-zags.

• Paper Trimmers are essential items for crafters for accuracy, convenience and
ease of cutting.

• Punches are tools that allow you to punch out special shapes. They are useful
scrapbook tools that you can use to make shapes for borders or frames for your
projects, for making cards and a whole lot more.
 • Blades and knives They're great for resizing paper, mat boards, and paper
adhesives as well as carving Styrofoam, wood, and rubber.

• Bone Folders are great paper craft tools for sharply creasing and scoring your
paper projects.

• Ruler is a stationery item and drafting tool used when drawing lines, as a guide
for cutting, and for various other uses. It is available in different shapes and
materials.

• Glue Gun is an electric tool for heating and applying adhesive. Glue Guns are
one of those paper craft tools that are great for gluing sturdy projects and have
many more uses.

• PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) often called White Glue is a water based wet glue which
dries clear. These glues are very commonly used and come in a variety of
strengths. White glues are ideal for where extra strength.

• Kraft paper is a strong and relatively coarse, Kraft paper is usually a brown color
but can be bleached white. It is used for paper grocery bags, corrugated
cardboard, large envelopes and other packaging.

Types of Paper for Craft Ideas

Paper Description Uses Notes
Thin paper Tissue paper flowers Tissue paper for crafts is
Smooth surface or jewels, papier usually sold in rolls but can
Bright colors mache. be bought in sheets. Tissue
Not usually Can be shredded for paper is inexpensive but tries
Tissue colorfast packaging. to make sure you get good
Gift wrap quality tissue. The type sold
for kids or for shredding can
be very thin and tears far too
easily.

Thin paper Crepe paper flowers, Usually sold in rolls.

Crinkled surface papier mache, kids The color will bleed if you get
Can be stretched crafts the paper wet which can be
easily Gift wrap used to good effect in some
Crepe Often brightly craft projects. The dyes can
colored stain your fingers but it easily
Not usually washed off.
colorfast

Multipurpose Printing, decoupage, This can be purchased any

medium weight paper making where. This is the sort of
paper paper you use in a printer.
Copy paper Smooth surface
Usually white, other
colors are available

Scrapbook Various weight Scrapbooking, card A huge range can be found in

 papers making decoupage craft supply shops.
papers Patterned or plain

Various weights Decoupage, card There are huge ranges of

and finishes making, decoupage papers in craft
Decoupage paper Patterns, images or scrapbooking shops. Some of theses have
plain images like flowers or fairies
for you to cut out.

Thin paper that is Origami, scrap Can be expensive. It is great

easy to fold booking, card for retaining the folds
Origami paper Usually patterned making. necessary in origami.
on one side and Usually sold in squares.
plain on the other

Handmade paper Scrapbooking, The easiest way to tear

from the mulberry decoupage, card mulberry paper is to wet
plant making, gift tags, along the area you want to
Mulberry paper Medium thickness papier mache tear. You will get a nice fuzzy
Various colors edge that looks great in lots
of craft projects.

Handmade thick Flower making, This is expensive but it's

paper papier mache, lovely to use. Similar to
Long fibres decoupage mulberry paper but thicker
Washi paper Uneven surface and very soft.
If you tear it you get a very
uneven edge with long fibres
on one side or the other.

Light to medium Widely used in kids It's cheap, cheerful and has
weight crafts. 100's of uses.
Construction multipurpose paper Papier mache,
paper/Sugar Slightly rough decoupage, printing,
paper surface picture making,
Wide range of scrapbooking, paper
colors hats, masks

Strong paper Bags, gift wrap, Kraft paper can be bought in

Usually brown but envelopes, papier sheets or rolls. It can also be
Kraft paper can be found Mache, kids crafts recycled so keep your paper
bleached shopping bags for your next
craft project.

Newsprint/ Thin to medium Papier mache, This is the type of paper they
Newspaper paper decoupage, use for making newspapers.
Low cost but tough scrapbooking You can buy it unprinted in
Usually white but packs or on a roll.
can be colored
Newspapers will
already be printed
 on but can still be
used for loads of
craft projects

Very thin but tough Parchment crafts, Modern parchment or vellum

paper card making, is made from vegetable pulp
Vellum/ Translucent printing, stamping, that has been treated with
Parchment Can be plain or embossing sulfuric acid.
patterned

Thick paper or Painting, card For best results water color

board making, stamping, paper should be stretched
Rough surface before use. Get the whole
Usually white sheet of paper wet then use
Water color brown gummed tape to fix it
paper to a board and leave it to dry.
Leave it fixed to the board
when you are painting and it
shouldn't buckle or warp.

Made from the rice Painting, drawing,

plant calligraphy, printing, This type of true rice paper is
Rice paper Rough surface scrap booking not very common and can be
Translucent finish expensive.
Usually white

Made from starch Used for making Used for all types of food
Thin edible paper spring rolls, cake crafts particularly with cake
Edible rice paper toppers, edible toppers and sweets.
flowers, macaroons

Thick paper Book covers, It is heavy duty paper and is

Wide range of packaging, very easy to cut. It is often
Paper board colors postcards, board used to create sculptures.
Various finishes books

Two or more layers Great for making Many crafts use just the
of paper with a dolls houses and fluted layer of card to add
fluted layer large toys for kids texture and interest to a
between them like cars or ovens project
In crafts it can refer Packaging, paper
Corrugated to just the fluted Mache
Cardboard card  The fluted card is
Usually brown or often used in card
white but can be making,
found in many scrapbooking and
other colors collages.
 Products of paper craft
1. Paper Purses
A paper bag is a bag made out of paper. Paper bags are commonly used
as shopping bags.

2. Paper Flowers

  One perfect target market: couples looking for smart ways to save money on
wedding expenses may decide to skip the fresh floral bouquet in favor of these lasting
mementos.
3. Paper Wallets
A wallet is a small, flat case that can be used to carry such personal items
as cash, credit cards, and identification documents (driver's license, identification
card, club card, etc.), photographs, transit pass, gift cards, business cards and
other paper or laminated cards. Wallets are generally made of leather or fabrics, and
they are usually pocket-sized but not always foldable but we can also make wallets out
of paper.

3. Paper Jewelry

To learn that there is a lot of paper jewelry for sale. Pendants, necklaces and
bracelets. You can make just anything from paper.

5. Paper furniture
The furniture shape is cut out of cardboard or magazines many times and put
together for a solid piece and the pieces of furniture are built like packaging and then
can be fitted together at home in her form like move cardboard.

6. Paper Dresses
Paper clothing, in the form of women's dresses and otherclothes made from
disposable cellulose fabric, was a short-lived fashion novelty item in the United States in
the 1960s.Paper and papier-mâché clothes and accessories (especially masquerade
costumes).

7. Origami Art
Origami (折り紙 ?, from ori meaning "folding", and kami meaning "paper" (kami
changes to gami due to rendaku)) is the art of paper folding, which is often associated
with Japanese culture. The word "origami" is used as an inclusive term for all folding
practices, regardless of their culture of origin.