Mollie Makes - 2017 Creativity

127 INSPIRING PAPERCRAFT IDEAS
TO BRIGHTEN YOUR LIFE!
Creativity
PAPERCUTTING•ORIGAMI•JOURNALING•CALLIGRAPHY
36 FRESH
PROJECTS
free inside!
20 JOURNALING TAGS
& 56 PAPERCUTTING
TEMPLATES
W E LO V E C R A F T
INSIDE: ORIGAMI-EST • LIA GRIFFITH • ARNE & CARLOS • ROB RYAN

WELCOME...
Notebook at the ready, dear crafter? I’d like to suggest you start a fresh page, to
make a list of all the projects you’d like to try from this, our latest Mollie Makes
special. Mollie Makes Creativity is jam-packed with fun paper-inspired projects.
You’ll find sections for calligraphy, origami, journaling, papercutting and a
big mix of party projects at the end, all introduced with beautiful drawings by
celebrated illustrator Emma Block. We’re thrilled to also bring you some extra-
special projects this issue with a printable papercutting template section by Sarah
Louise Matthews, journaling papers and labels by JillyP Studio and origami
papers from a host of our favourite surface pattern designers.
As a previous editor of Mollie Makes magazine, it’s been a pleasure to be
invited back to put this special collection together for you. Enjoy!
Lara Watson, Editor
Subscribe at molliemakes.com MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY 3

Creativity
84
Marbled
bookbinding
16
Try
calligraphy
36 21
110
Pajaki
chandelier 107
lettering origami papercutting

8 PAPER TRENDS 34 ORIGAMI KNOW-HOW 56 PAPERCUTTING KNOW-HOW
We can’t get enough of these lovely ideas All the tools and tips to get you started All the tools and tips to get you started
10 DIY ROUND-UP 36 PAPER BIRDS 58 TEA & CHAT WITH ROB RYAN
Whip up the sweetest decorations Pinterest editor Zoë Pearson shows you how to The prolific papercut artist explains how he
spread a little joy with a paper pigeon developed his distinctive and much-loved style
14 LETTERING KNOW-HOW
All the tools and tips to get you started 38 TEA & CHAT WITH ESTHER THORPE 63 PAPERCUT PERFECTION
Meet the designer with a talent for 3D origami Paper product designer Sarah Louise Matthews
16 CALLIGRAPHY GUIDE
structures and a passion for teaching others shares her top tips for papercutting – and her
Have a go at beautiful calligraphy with Lauren
exclusive templates
Cooper of Oh Wonder 41 STATEMENT VASE
21 DIP-DYED GREETING CARDS & TAGS Fold and press your way to a stunning vase
Show off your handiwork with pretty cards with Esther Thorpe’s origami tutorial
22 TEA & CHAT WITH CHIARA PERANO 44 PRINTABLE ORIGAMI PAPERS

Catch up with the queen of modern calligraphy Gorgeous papers from top designers for you to
transform into show-stopping decorations
26 PAINTED ENAMELWARE
Lovely lettering isn’t just for paper… 53 GEOMETRIC WALL ART
Add a dash of personality to your home with Lara
31 BRUSH LETTERING BANNER Messer’s on-trend geometric masterpiece
Personalise your wall with a feelgood phrase
4 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

FREE INSIDE!
56
PRINTABLE
TEMPLATES
TO PAPERCUT
CONTENTS
76 114 31
26
Painted
mug
SARAH LOUISE MATTHEWS

Papercrafter Sarah shares components to make
at least five exclusive designs (our clever alphabet
means you can make many, many more!)
120
Honeycomb
tissue poms
Tap here
TO JUMP TO THE
PAPERCUTTING
TEMPLATE
journaling paper party SECTION
70 JOURNALING KNOW-HOW 100 PAPER PARTY KNOW-HOW
27
All the tools and tips to get you started All the tools and tips to get you started
72 WHY I JOURNAL 102 TEA & CHAT WITH LIA GRIFFITH JOURNALING
Kristi Prokopiak on what scrapbooking means It all began with a paper flower tutorial…
to her – and why you should try it
107 WOODLAND WREATH
LABELS AND
76 SCRAPBOOK PICTURE Welcome guests with Lia’s enchanted wreath SHEETS
Print out your Instagram photos to make a
110 PAJAKI CHANDELIER
scrapbook-style memory you can frame
Hang up this showpiece, it’s sure to impress
78 TEA & CHAT WITH ARNE & CARLOS 114 PLANT DECALS
Known for their quirky knitting patterns, Create a tropical jungle for your wall
the Norwegian and Swedish duo have always
journaled their creative process 116 FLOWER WALL HANGING DIY
Enjoy fresh blooms all year round
84 MODERN, MARBLED BOOKBINDING
Build your own library with our bookbinding 120 HONEYCOMB TISSUE POM POMS
masterclass and learn two techniques in one! Always admired these poms? Make your own!
88 PRINTABLE JOURNALING PAPERS 124 SUPERSIZED PARTY BALLOONS JILLY P STUDIO

Get started assembling your journal using Jilly Throw a tropical fiesta with Lana Red’s decs
Jillian Phillips has created an exclusive set of
P Studio’s sweet and colourful papers 127 TEMPLATES journaling labels, tags and lined paper to add to
All the templates you need for our projects your notebook musings.

Contributors
EDITORIAL
Editor Lara Watson
Managing Editor Charlotte Martyn
Art Editors Julian Dace
Production Editor Vicky Guerrero
Picture Editor Emma Georgiou
Lauren Cooper Kristi Prokopiak ADVERTISING

Lauren is a calligrapher and designer based in Kristi is a designer, artist and maker who splits Call: 0117 300 8206
Senior Advertising Manager Penny Stokes
South East London. You'll find her creating her time between California and NYC. She
Senior Sales Executive Beckie Pring
stationery for weddings and events or out and draws inspiration from the sun rays on the
Sales Executive Tiffany Jackson
about with her 20-month-old son and sausage ocean, makes spells, reads tarot, takes photos
dog. She also teaches calligraphy workshops. and has been scrapbooking for a decade.
MARKETING AND CIRCULATION
Check out her lettering how-to on page 16. Find out why journaling is important on page 72.
Direct Marketing Manager Kevin Slaughter
www.ohwondercalligraphy.com www.kristiprokopiak.com Head of Newstrade Marketing Martin Hoskins
Newstrade Marketing Manager Janine Smith
Subscriptions Director Jacky Perales-Morris
Subscriptions Project Lead Julie Sewell
PRODUCTION
Production Director Sarah Powell
Production Managers Louise Molter, Rose Griffiths
LICENSING
Director of International Licensing and Syndication
Tim Hudson tim.hudson@immediate.co.uk
International Partners Manager Anna Brown
Jilly Phillips Sarah Louise Matthews
Mollie Makes regular, Jilly, is a graphic Sarah’s childhood dream was to be a ballerina, PUBLISHING
designer living in Dorset and she designed our but ‘paper engineer’ would have been second Publishing Directors Kerry Lawrence, Catherine Potter
Group Senior Editor Julie Taylor
journaling papers this issue. Cut out her labels, if she’d known of its existence, with early
carefully tear out her cute sheets and include memories involving making origami penguins, DISTRIBUTION
them in your own notebooks and scrapbooks. paper snowflakes and paper doll chains. Frontline
Find Jilly’s beautiful papers on page 89. Enjoy Sarah’s papercutting projects, from page 63. Printed in England by William Gibbons
www.jillyp.co.uk www.sarahlouisematthews.com
FIND A COPY
Call +44 (0)844 844 0388,
visit www.buysubscriptions.com/craftspecial
or email immediatemedia@servicehelpline.co.uk
Chairman Stephen Alexander

Deputy Chairman Peter Phippen
%JKGH'ZGEWVKXG1HƂEGT Tom Bureau
Managing Director, Bristol Andy Marshall
Zoë Pearson Teri Muncey

Zoë is editor/marketing manager at Pinterest Teri is a DIY/interiors blogger and freelance
and lives in London. You can usually find designer living in West London. She works
her with her head in a book or trying vegan from her cosy flat dreaming up craft tutorials,
recipes. She collects globes, has two cats, and drinking copious amounts of loose leaf tea and
scatters joy via paper pigeons. cooking up a storm (usually a spicy one).
Make paper pigeons with Zoë on page 36. Enjoy Teri's projects on page 26 and 31.
www.conversationpieces.co.uk www.thelovelydrawer.com Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited (company number 05715415) is registered in England
and Wales. The registered office of Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited is at Vineyard House,
44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT. All information contained in this magazine is for information only
and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Immediate Media Company
Bristol Limited cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. Readers
are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/
services referred to in this magazine. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant
Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part
in all editions of the magazine, including licensed editions worldwide and in any physical or digital
Other contributors format throughout the world. Any material you submit is sent at your risk. Although every care is taken,
neither Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited nor its employees agents or subcontractors shall
be liable for loss or damage.
Jessica Bateman, Emma Block, Jaclyn Campanaro, Frances Carlisle, Mollie Costley, Lucy Crick, Judy Darley,
Lia Griffith, Emma Kate, Wendy Kendall, Maxeen Kim, Amy van Luijk, Sarah Louise Matthews, Lara Messer,
Zeena Moolla, Clare Owen, Jillian Phillips, Amy Phipps, Ingrid Rasmussen, Kate Rowland, Lana Red, Debee
Ruiz, Rachael Smith, Helena Schaeder Söderberg, Francesca Stone, Studio Dreyer + Hensley

Kick start
your creativity!
Before we get into our making, let’s get
inspired. We’ve searched the high street
and the blogosphere for our favourite
examples of paper crafting.
MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY 7

RIGHT NOW WE’RE
OBSESSING ABOUT...
PAPER LUXURY
Gorgeous items inspired
by, or made with paper
We’re big on blooms.

These oversized
beauties make excellent
party decs. www.mio
paperart.etsy.com

01 02 03
01 Wear your crafty

love on your sleeve with
a papercut inspired
laser-cut dress. www.
liatbrandel.etsy.com
02 Owls get a geometric
makeover in the form of
this paper lamp. www.
owlpaperlamps.etsy.com
03 The prettiest
packaging, available at
www.papermash.co.uk
04 ‘I made it with my
hands.’ We’re loving
www.robryanstudio.com
05 Store it with style.
PHOTOGRAPHS: 2. OWL PAPERLAMPS. 3. POLLY ELTES.
www.kingkong
design.com 04
06 Rolls of rainbow
washi? Yes please.
www.paperchase.co.uk
07 The littles in your life
will love these folded
paper characters. www.
lollipopdesigns.co.uk
08 Treat yourself to a
new notebook at www.
thelovelydrawer.com
09 Paper jewellery
08 befitting wonder-woman
Frida Kahlo. www.
magdacrafts.etsy.com
09
05
07
06

DIY ROUND-UP...
PAPER IDEAS
01 We interview paper
designer Lia Griffith on
page 102 – try her floral
paper crown at www.
liagriffith.com/paper-
flower-crown
PHOTOGRAPHS: 2. PROJECT AND PHOTO BY EMMA LISTON ART. 3. PROJECT AND PHOTO BY OLIVIA KANALEY FOR MINTED’S BLOG JULEP. 4. ANNA KILLIAN
01 02 Get super-simple 02
origami crossed off
your list at www.
gatheringbeauty.com
03 Watermelon piñatas?
There’s nothing sweeter.
Try your hand at www.
minted.com/julep
04 Daisy, daisy. Make
the prettiest backdrop
with Brittany Watson
Jepson’s video at
www.thehousethat
larsbuilt.com
03 04

A BRAND NEW MAGAZINE!
PA P E R C R A F T PRINT & FONT MAKING HYGGE BOOKS YOGA
Welcome to a brand new

magazine filled with
quality writing, beautiful
photography and new
ideas to try. At home or
away, indoors or out,
discover mindfulness
through making.
£9.99*
W I N T E R 2 0 1 6
EXTRAS IN THIS ISSUE INCLUDE...
Beautiful Hand-drawn Pretty & unique Papercutting Thank yous & gift
handmade bookmarks word prints gift box template template & print tag stickers
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY

O R D E R O N L I N E W W W. B U YS U B S C R I P T I O N S . C O M /C R A F TS P E C I A L
OR CALL 0844 844 0388 AND QUOTE ‘PROJECT CALM 2’
Lines open weekdays 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. Overseas please call +44 (0) 1795 414 676.
* EUR price £11.99, ROW price £12.99. All prices include P&P. Please allow up to 28 days for delivery.
Lettering
& calligraphy
A neat finish starts with a beautiful script.
Let our experts guide you with their advice
on transforming your handwriting.
Illustration EMMA BLOCK

MATERIALS
QWatercolour ink set and
water brush, black and
white inks and calligraphy
pen and nibs, all from
We Make Collective,
www.wemakecollective.
com. Also try www.
lamplighterlondon.com
and www.ohwonder
calligraphy.com
QPastel papers, Paperchase,
QPaintbrushes, Cass Art,
www.cassart.co.uk
QGold Ink, Winsor & Newton,
www.winsornewton.com
THE CALLIGRAPHY KIT

Here’s what you need to get started with fancy lettering
Decorative handwriting has seen a

resurgence lately with more and more
modern crafters picking up nib and ink
to try their hand at traditional script.
Modern calligraphers are using the
artform to bring a professional-looking
flourish to stationery, journals,
affirmation prints and all manner of
crafts with a typographic element.
Here’s some tips from the experts
before you get started:
01 Press slightly more on down
strokes, and release pressure for

up strokes.
02 Hold your nib holder at a 45 degree
angle for optimal line drawing.

03 Use fountain pen friendly paper to
avoid your ink feathering – that’s when

it spreads out across the fibres.
04 Keep your nibs clean and wash
them after every writing session so

that you can maintain a smooth flow
of ink.
05 Practise makes perfect! Turn to
page 16 to get started.

PHOTOGRAPH: FRANCESCA STONE, WWW.FALLFORDIY.COM

LETTERING GUIDE
Master the art of beautiful, modern calligraphy with Lauren Cooper
of Oh Wonder’s easy how-to
Words: LAUREN COOPER Photography: FRANCES CARLISLE
T
here’s very little equipment you need to get started
with calligraphy, so once you’ve got your nib, holder,
ink and paper you’re almost ready to go. It’s worth
DO YOUR DRILLS
Drills are the very basic foundations of modern
remembering that you’ll need to buy the parts of your calligraphy, and you’ll find some examples over the page.
‘pen’ separately – the nib and holder. And before you get No matter how experienced you get, it’s always important
started you need to prep your nib, as they come with a to warm up with these basic repetition exercises to
factory seal that stops the ink flowing correctly. You can improve your technique, control and muscle memory.
do this by cleaning the nib with toothpaste. Then place Think of them like a warm-up before a run – not the
your nib in the holder (push it in as far as it will go), dip most exciting activity but essential for getting the most
in the ink and you’re ready to go! out of your work. We’ve included a practice sheet on
When you’re dipping your nib into the ink, you want page 19 for you to print onto suitable calligraphy paper
the vent to fill up with ink as this is where the ink is held. (see below). The slanted lines will help you adjust to the
Wipe off the back of the nib gently on the side of the pot elegant angles of this style of lettering.
so that you don’t get any big blobs of ink when you start
writing. When the vent has emptied and you’ve run out
of ink you’ll need to re-dip into the ink. This may happen
quite often to start with but you’ll soon learn how to spot
LEARN YOUR ALPHABET
Turn to page 20 for an outline of the alphabet in Lauren’s
that you need to re-dip before actually running out of style of modern calligraphy. When you’re practising, do at
ink. When re-dipping, try to do it on a downstroke rather least one line of each letter. Repetition is key for building
than an upstroke as it’s much easier to rejoin a thick line up muscle memory and practice really does make perfect
rather than a thin one. when it comes to this art. You’ll find some letters easier
The letters in modern calligraphy are made of thick than others, but don’t avoid the ones you find harder!
and thin strokes. To create thick lines for downstrokes If you’re struggling with a letter then trace it a couple
you want to apply more pressure so the tines of the nib of times to get the shapes and flow, or take a pencil
spread to release more ink. Don’t be scared of putting and practise the shape to build up that memory before
the pressure on – these nibs are strong! For the thinner tackling it with the nib. As you’re practising, go slowly – it
upstrokes, release the pressure so the tines return to the will help with creating the shapes and getting the flow
original position. from thick to thin strokes. If in doubt, slow it down.
You want to hold your pen with a nice relaxed grip –
too tight and you’ll get cramp and struggle to get your Lauren Cooper
letters to flow. Try to move from your arm not your Lauren is chief calligrapher at
fingers, keeping your wrist and arm moving together so Oh Wonder, where she creates
that you can make smooth movements. Turn the paper, stationery and branding. She also
not your arm, to get the correct position – you want the sells handy calligraphy kits and hosts
nib to be flat to the page so the split can open correctly. workshops if you’d like to learn more.
If you’re putting the pressure unevenly on one side then www.ohwondercalligraphy.com
you won’t get the nice thick downstrokes.
LAUREN’S ESSENTIAL TOOLKIT

QNib: Nikko G. This is a QInk: Higgins Eternal QA little pot of water
Japanese nib, great Black Ink. Very black and some kitchen roll
for beginners. and fast drying. are good to have on
QPenholder: Speedball QPaper: Rhodia Pad or hand for cleaning your
Straight Penholder. Layout Paper. This is nib every now and
There are many fancy super smooth paper, again to stop the ink
straight penholders ideal for calligraphy. building up.
out there. This is the You will find that the QA couple of pencils for
most basic but great ink will bleed on practising shapes that
for everyday use. printer paper. you’re finding tough.

DRILL SHAPES

ALPHABET

LUCKY DIP
Lauren Cooper of Oh Wonder shares her nifty dip-dyeing tutorial
to make sweet and stylish two-tone cards and tags
HOW TO MAKE… DIP-DYED CARDS AND TAGS
MATERIALS Here’s a really simple boiling). Test the colour of the couple of hours. When it’s dry
QDye or watercolour technique to show off your dye on scrap pieces of paper as the paper may have curved
paint – we used Rit new calligraphy skills – dip- in the bowl it will look a lot slightly. If so put it under a heavy
Dye which you can dyed greetings. You can use darker than it will on the paper. book overnight to flatten out.
get on eBay, but clothes dye or watercolour paint, 02 Dip the paper into the dye. 05 Using your calligraphy pen,
you can also use which is available in an array of Play around with the angles that write a message on the cards.
other types of dye colours, and you can even mix you dip it to get different
or watercolour them to get the perfect shade. effects. You can also play with Lauren is a calligrapher and
paint. Using dye Make a big batch and add your the movement of the water to designer based in south east
will give a much own custom calligraphy so get a wiggly line where the London. She spends time in her
more solid effect you’ve got thoughtful handmade paper hits the water. Dip the garden studio creating stationery
than watercolours stationery ready for birthdays paper multiple times for a for weddings and events or out
so experiment and and events. stronger colour. and about with her 20-month-
see what you 03 Pull out the paper and blot old son and miniature sausage
prefer 01 Mix up your dye or on a piece of kitchen roll to get dog. She also teaches beginners’
QA bowl or tub watercolour with water in a bowl rid of the excess liquid. calligraphy workshops in South
for dye according to instructions (for Rit 04 Place upside down on a London. See more of her work at
QPaintbrush for Dye the water needs to be drying rack and leave for a www.ohwondercalligraphy.com
mixing
QCard or paper 01 02
– ours are
Colorplan cards
and tags from
PDA Craft
QDrying rack – we
used Gocco card
drying racks, but a
toast rack also
works
QKitchen roll 03 04 05
QCalligraphy kit

What drew you to train as
an illustrator and designer?
Drawing has made me happy for as long
as I can remember. As a child I illustrated
stories written on a beloved typewriter,
made birthday cards, did patterns on my
nails – that kind of thing! One summer
holiday, around 1996, I made an entire
magazine by hand (pre computer), with
drawings instead of photographs, featuring
lots of bubble writing. I’ve been learning
ever since.
building your What attracted you to calligraphy?

I love type, lettering and illustration, and
brand with… calligraphy is an art form in itself, so I was
excited to start learning a few years ago.
It’s harder than it looks so I’m constantly
improving my styles, developing my
technique and exploring new angles. The
CHIARA PERANO word calligraphy derives from the Greek

kalligrafos, meaning ‘to write beautifully’,
which obviously appeals to me.
A love of lettering led Chiara to launch her own illustrated
calligraphy business.We sat down to find out her creative secrets How did this lead you to launch
Words: JUDY DARLEY Photographs: INGRID RASMUSSEN AND MAXEEN KIM Lamplighter London?
I started the business with the aim
After falling in love with typography Gusto, Jimmy Choo, Superdrug, of offering an extra-special stationery
as a child, Chiara Perano studied Katharine Pooley, Selfridges, Cath destination for people wanting creative
illustration and design at University of Kidston, and Dove, not to mention illustrated paper goods to celebrate events.
the Arts London, before developing her members of the Greek Royal Family. Calligraphy is a major part of this, and
hand lettering further by training herself Her first book, Nib & Ink was released I personalise everything for my clients. I
in the art of calligraphy. earlier this year. offer a fully bespoke design service, adding
After spending seven years working Today Chiara’s team is based at Seven in extras such as luxury print finishes,
in the design industry, she launched Sisters in London, where she admits handmade envelopes, wax seals, ribbons,
Lamplighter London in 2012. She to surrounding herself with enough stamps, illustrations, all the way through to
creates ornate calligraphy-based materials to open a small art shop. signage and ‘on the day’ stationery.
artwork, often used as a finishing touch We stopped by for a chat about her
at events ranging from weddings to inspiration, the challenges of balancing Can you tell us about the inspiration
fashion shows. Notable clients to date her time, and how she built her passion behind the company name?
have included Nike, Nescafé, Dolce into a shining indie brand. Lamplighter was my favourite poem from

INTRODUCING tea & a chat
‘Drawing has made

me feel happy for
as long as I can
remember.’
02
01 03
a book by Robert Louis Stevenson that I’m working with some phenomenal clients 01 Chiara’s East 02 Writing with an
my mum and I used to read together when on bespoke artwork and calligraphy jobs London studio oblique pen holder
I was growing up. It’s called A Child’s and I have a range of stationery products. featuring her in handmade neon
Garden of Verses and our copy belonged to marble prints, pink ink.
my nana, and has her name written in the How did you go about attracting such botanics, vintage 03 A gorgeous array
front from when she was a child in 1938. a variety of notable clients? treasures – and of bespoke wedding
It’s very special to us. I didn’t have a black book of contacts, boxes upon boxes stationery and lined
I just tried to brand Lamplighter well, of stationery. envelopes.
What were the major challenges in and worked really hard at making every job
the early days? extra special. It paid off, and the business
Oh gosh, many! Getting my business hat has grown through word of mouth.
on; reaching out to new clients; keeping
on top of admin, records and invoicing What do you enjoy most about work?
were my main challenges. My chinks lie I’m a creative at heart so I absolutely
more in the business side of things – I’m love working on an exciting brief, and
a creative brain with big ambitions, so I’ve there’s nothing better than a client coming
really had to get to grips with the admin, back to me after the first round of design
whilst managing a full time creative role. directions to say they love it. I’m also quite
entrepreneurial, so I really enjoy working
How has the business developed since? on innovative, fun projects and events, and
Enormously. I run my own modern developing the newer sides of my business,
calligraphy workshops in London now; such as products and workshops.

02
Tell us about your workspace.

It’s mostly monochrome with pops of
colour and botanical greenery. There’s
usually music playing. I’m surrounded
by envelopes, ribbon, tapes, strings, pens,
paints, and all coloured paper, samples,
marbling… You name it I can probably dig
some out.
How would you describe your style?

In work, I don’t necessarily conform to
a category – I’d say quite clean and fresh,
balanced with natural influences, old
charm quirks and luxe finishes. In my
01
personal style I like to juxtapose – a blouse
and DMs; long plaits and biker jacket;
always in jeans, mostly in monochrome,
maybe with a flower in my hair!
01 Chiara’s stippled
bird artwork made Which books and magazines are
from thousands of currently on your bedside table?
ink dots. I’ve acquired an enormous unread stack
02 Shimmering gold, of Kinfolk, various Wallpaper* city guides,
copper and silver plus a couple of spiritual and green living
metallic inks – popular titles and some craft business books I’ve
with this year’s brides. brought home from the studio. I look at
03 Painting a selfie them every single day willing myself time
mural at the Most to read them.
Curious Wedding Fair
in East London earlier How does your creative process work?
this year. I have a notebook on me at all times, and
I print out or hand write my briefs to let
them sink in. When I make digital type files
PHOTOGRAPH: CHIARA PERANO
for clients, I write them out first – in pencil

then in ink – before I scan in and edit, so
I still have a huge stack of handwritten
words and names that ended up as
vectorised finished pieces. I can’t throw
03
them away! I do use online resources,
mainly to research a subject matter and

‘I tried to brand the

business well and
to make every job
extra special.’
02
PHOTOGRAPH: LAURA MCCLUSKEY

01 03
gather ideas before working on the brief 01 The gorgeous 02 Copper, neon
more organically with pen and paper. light in Chiara’s and patterned
sunny studio is ideal tapes, used to wrap
What projects are you currently for photographing client’s packages.
working on? product and 03 Teaching at a
Well I’m working on my Lamplighter Instagram pics. modern calligraphy
products (think coloured inks, practise workshop this year.
pads and stationery) and planning hand-
written craft workshops across London.
I’ve just started collaborating with Isle of
You as well for a bespoke design service
called Saturnalia. We produce magically
festive scenes for parties or functions, Chiara Perano
bringing together floristry, art direction, Lamplighter London, Chiara’s
lettering and illustration. It’s a very business, specialises in ornate
exciting time. calligraphy-based artwork. She also
runs workshops and provides event
Finally, what’s the best piece of styling through Saturnalia, her
creative advice you’ve been given? collaboration with creative partners
Someone once said to me “We have the Isle of You.
most perfect colour palette in nature” www.lamplighterlondon.com
and it really stuck with me.

Let’s go camping
Lovely lettering isn’t just for paper! Enjoy a hot chocolate by
the camp fire with Teri Muncey’s painted enamelware

01 02
05 06
HOW TO MAKE… PAINTED MUGS
MATERIALS When it’s cold we can’t help but 01 Preheat your oven to 160˚C/ or wiped off before baking so
QEnamel mugs think of summer, and we know 320˚F/ gas mark 3. Start by these dots won’t be permanent.
QPebeo porcelaine what that means – outdoor drawing your ideas onto a few Start with your first coat of paint,
paint adventures, camping near fields or sheets of paper. If you’re doing which is mainly for creating the
QFine paintbrushes beaches, with a roaring fire to toast any lettering, work out how the letter forms. You’ll notice it needs
QPlate marshmallows on while enjoying words need to be spaced and how a little help gliding on, so work in
QPencil or pen a mug of something warm. These one line could sit evenly on top of smaller sections at a time. The
QPaper painted enamel mugs make a great another. A mix of capital letters paint will look a little faded and
QBaking tray campfire accessory, or gift for any and lowercase throughout the patchy in places at this point, but
QHeat mat or outdoor adventurers in your life. slogan works well. We began by you’re just laying the foundations.
chopping board Get creative with your designs drawing more intricate florals, but 03 Leave this first layer to dry and
– just don’t skip the practising simplified them in the process to then paint another over the top,
stage, as it will really help later on. keep the painting straightforward. tracing the existing paint. You can
Patterns with spaces in between 02 To paint the lettering, you can neaten up any areas you don’t like,
each shape are best for keeping mark tiny little measuring points but this step is mainly for creating
each colour separate, and a fine with your paintbrush in order to solid colour, ensuring the slogan
paintbrush will give you more make the scale and spacing more is bold and has a more professional
control and a neater finish. accurate. The paint can be picked look. Set aside and leave to dry.

03 04
07
04 Mix your colours for the florals, then paint a second layer of each and allow you to wash the mugs
if needed. You can use a paper colour over the top, tracing the up after use.
plate, palette or even a ceramic existing design to work towards 07 Remove the tray from the
plate – the paint will wash off a solid colour. oven and leave the mugs on
before baking. We created a dark 06 Once you’re happy with your a heat proof mat or wooden
orange using yellow and red; a designs and they’re all fully dry you board to cool down. Be careful
baby pink using a dash of red and can place the mugs on a baking – as they’re made from tin, they’ll
a lot of white, and then a mustard tray and bake in the oven for 30 be piping hot. Once cool, they're
colour using yellow with a dash of minutes. This will set the design ready to use.
black and red. Work through the
colours, painting your first layer as Teri Muncey
you did with the lettering. Teri is a DIY/interiors blogger and freelance
05 Add some detail with black
designer living in West London. She works from
paint, making sure you use just her cosy flat and spends her free time dreaming up
the tip of your brush to create the new craft tutorials, drinking copious amounts of
delicate lines of the leaf shapes. loose leaf tea and cooking up a storm (usually
Go lightly with your brush at this a spicy one). www.thelovelydrawer.com
point. Wait for this first layer to dry,

New Year ,
New Colour ,
New skills......
This years colour is Green and at The Creative

Sanctuary, Hertford, we too are inspired by nature,
hope and fresh beginnings.
What better way to start 2017 then to try a new craft,

113 Fore Street, Hertford start a new project or join a new class.
Hertfordshire SG14 1AS
t: 01992 558106 Visit us in store to see our extensive range of fabrics,
yarns and haberdashery. Alternatively, give us a call
www.thecreativesanctuary.co.uk or look online for further assistance and information.
SAY IT OUT LOUD
Use brush lettering to create a positive affirmation
banner to hang on your wall. Teri Muncey shows you
how to give the words maximum creative impact
HOW TO MAKE… BRUSH LETTERING BANNERS
MATERIALS You’ll need a mix of ink and of the bristles are on the page. and then 7cm (2¾”) up from the
QBlack indian ink water on your brush to make the This should draw them to a bottom on either side. Join
QMedium paint ink flow freely. Start by point. Then once round a curve these markers to create a point
brush with at practising your strokes and will mean changing back to a and then cut along these lines.
least a 2cm (¾”) mixing up the contrast thick stroke. Now you can bravely brush
round tip between thick and thin. For 02 Lift the pressure off again as letter your phrase in the
QA4 card or lower case letters, keep the thick you round off the curve, taking middle and finish with any
cartridge paper strokes coming down and the the brush up. Keep swapping details you fancy. We used a
QJar of water thin stokes going up as a general from thick to thin with each diluted stroke to create a simple
QWood barbecue rule. This will give them a stroke or turn, keeping the rule border around the outside.
skewer balanced look. A great way to in your head all the way. Leave to dry.
QScissors get into the groove of things is 03 Keep going with this same 05 Fold the top of the card over
QRuler to write the alphabet. This way pattern of working. It may feel a roughly 1cm (3/8”) and cut a strip
QTwine you can get a handle on all the bit alien at first, but once you of double-sided tape to fit along
QDouble-sided tape letters and practise how you’d get the hang of it you’ll be able the flap. Now place the skewer
join them. to think less and just get in the fold and pull over the
01 Most letters will start with a creative. Work your way taped edge to secure it inside.
thick line which can be achieved through the whole alphabet, 06 Tie twine on either side of
by pressing more of the brush trying to get an idea of when the skewer so it’s ready to hang.
onto the page. You don’t need and how to join letters. Once
to push down hard – just make you’ve mastered this, you can Teri is a DIY/interiors blogger
sure you put lots of bristles the plot out your chosen phrase and and freelance designer. She
whole way down on the page. spacing on the pennant. Have a works from her West London flat
Starting a new stroke or taking a good few practice runs to where she dreams up heaps of
stroke round a curve will mean get yourself ready. new craft tutorials. She also hosts
changing from thick to thin. 04 Cut out your pennant shape brush lettering workshops at
Lift the pressure off and draw by measuring the halfway point Quill London.
the brush up so that just the tip on the width of your A4 sheet www.thelovelydrawer.com
01 02 03
04 05 06

Origami or
paper folding
An ancient Japanese art form reimagined
for today to create surprisingly strong, often
intricate, 3D paper sculptures and shapes.


MATERIALS
QRuler, Marks & Spencer,
www.marksandspencer.com
QZig Glue Pen,
www.kuretakeshop.co.uk
QGlue dots, Hobby Craft,
www.hobbycraft.co.uk
QPaper Creaser, Cricut,
available from
www.sirstampalot.co.uk
QPastel papers, Paperchase,
QWrapping paper rolls, Tiger,
http://uk.flyingtiger.com/
en-gb
QWrapping paper sheets,
Ferm Living,
www.fermliving.com
ALL YOU NEED FOR ORIGAMI

Pick up these bits and pieces to get folding paper pronto
Origami is an ancient art seeing a

new surge in popularity. Modern
crafters are combining tried and
tested 3D paper shapes with
contemporary colour combinations
to create inventive homewares and
decorations. Here’s some tips from
the experts before you get started:
01 Fold each crease very well so
the paper lies flat. Try using the

back of your nail or a creasing tool,
a spoon works very well!
02 Use thin paper - gift wrapping
paper works very well.

03 Try making a practise shape with
rough paper first.

04 Look for the symmetry as you
fold. Strive for perfect geometric

shapes.
05 Take your time to read through
instructions. Origami is a
meditative and relaxed activity.

Positive Pigeons
Zoë Pearson started making these little rays of sunshine so she
could leave them dotted around London to brighten people’s
days. She shows us how

01 02 03 04
05 06 07 08
09 10 11
HOW TO MAKE… ORIGAMI BIRDS
MATERIALS With a bit practice, you can get create the start of the bird’s leg. section. Halfway down the head
QA square piece of into the swing of origami with This is a little tricky at first, so don’t section, make a fold while pinching
origami paper or these little birds. Some will end worry if it feels strange. to give it a beak/face. Again, this
wrapping paper up with short beaks, long legs or a 05 Repeat on the other side so you might feel tricky but if you end up
stubby tail but that’s part of their have two ‘legs’. with a long or short beak that’s
personality! However they turn out, 06 Fold the bird in half lengthways fine too.
they’ll spread a little cheer so the open fold is the long edge. 09 Open up your bird from the
wherever they land. (Your bird should have a very long inside (with the closed crease
tail now!) towards you). Fold the tip of its
01 Fold your paper in half to make 07 Make the feet of your bird by tail up to the base of its chin.
a triangle. Unfold your paper back folding the tips of the ‘legs’ back 10 Fold the tail a third of the way
to a square. Keep your centre on themselves, creating a 90 back to finish the tail.
crease vertical. Create an ‘ice degree line to the bird’s back. Do 11 Ta-da. You’ve made a positive
cream cone’ shape by folding the both sides. pigeon! If you’re leaving yours for
left and right corners into your 08 Now to make the bird’s beak. someone to find, write a little
centre crease. You do this by opening up its head positive note inside.
02 Now fold the ‘ice cream’ triangle
back on the reverse of your ‘cone’. Zoë Pearson

03 Fold down the top corners to
Zoë is editor/marketing manager at Pinterest and
create a ‘kite’ shape. resides in London. You can find her reading books,
04 Now unfold to look like the ice
collecting globes and vintage china, coveting shiny
cream cone again. Turn it back over brogues and sideboards, drinking green tea, trying
so the open fold is facing you. to smile more often than frown, and scattering joy
Open the right half of the fold via paper pigeons. www.conversationpieces.co.uk
and pinch the fold in the middle to

Describe your style in a few words
I’d definitely say I’m a huge fan of
geometrics and using bold colours in an
exciting way, with a love of interior décor.
Describe a typical working day.

Well there’s lots of juggling because I’m
also a mum! After dropping off my little
girl at nursery I crack on with emails,
then get onto my folding. I tend to make
Making your passion a lot of diamonds every day – they’re
really popular. I’ll also be getting ready for
a business with… workshops that I run at the weekends. That
means cutting all my papers to size. I have
to put a lot of preparation work in because
although you can buy origami packs,
ESTHER THORPE they’re not normally in the style I like. I

usually use A4 paper and cut it down to
size or I use wrapping paper. Then I break
When she discovered a talent for making 3D origami structures, to pick up my daughter and work again in
Esther Thorpe started teaching others too the evenings.
Words: LARA WATSON Photographs: MOLLY JANE LEWIS, SHANEEN ROSEWARNE COX, KRISTY NOBLE
How does your creative process work?
A lot of it is just through living and being
If you’re just getting familiar with the experience in teaching too, it’s no out and about. If I see there’s a need
origami scene in the UK, Origami- surprise that her year-round origami for something or I want to create a new
Est will be one of the first names you workshops are so popular, where you shape it’ll be to solve a problem. I often
hear. Its founder, Esther Thorpe, can see Esther’s enthusiasm for beautiful experiment and play around until I’ve got
is a driving force in reimagining 3D construction first-hand, and learn a good shape. With colour, I’m inspired by
the ancient Japanese artform for a how to get the look yourself. combinations of items I see together.
modern audience, designing beautiful Having recently completed a
homewares and decorations in collaboration project with “professional Do you keep sketchbooks or use
contemporary colour combinations doodler”, Cheryl Rawlings, Esther is online resources?
and patterns. now focusing on her spring collection, I do most of my inspiration collecting
Always having been a fan of both stepping away from monochrome and online, but because I’m working with
maths and art, Esther originally trained using lots of fresh bright colours. samples of papers, it’s often more hands
as a graphic designer, quickly noticing We spoke to Esther about how you on – I’ll cut things up, lay them out. My
that all of her projects “resulted in make a business from a technique you process is more about moving papers
complex origami structures”. With enjoy so much that it’s therapy. around rather than writing things down!

‘It’s important to do
what I like rather
than what I think
others will like’
02
01 03
What’s been your biggest struggle in What tools or materials could you not 01 Crafters enjoying 02 You’re never to
getting your business off the ground, live without? a quiet moment old, or young to start
and how did you overcome this? I definitely couldn’t live without my hands! of concentration learning origami.
I guess it’s finding the right platform for My guillotine is my number one gadget at one of Esther’s All you need is some
letting people know about what I do. I for chopping papers up to the right size. workshops, creating time and patience.
usually find that once people see me or a On top of that, I break origami rules by their own piece of 03 Esther working
workshop, they’re really keen. A lot of the cutting paper as I’m folding, so I need origami art to take with a piece of
time people hear origami and have their my scissors too. home and display patterned paper
own preconceptions of what it is and what with pride. ready to be
I do. Getting the contemporary element What’s the most important business transformed into
across has been hardest. Instagram has lesson you’ve learnt? origami artforms.
been key for me, as a visual medium. One of the biggest things is to do what
And second to that, Pinterest. It’s been I like, rather than what I think others
very much trial and error, I learn from will like. Every time I’ve tried a more
seeing what other businesses do. I’ve had commercial collection of ready-made
to invest a lot of energy into using those origami, it hasn’t been as well received
platforms but it’s been really beneficial, as the things I’d personally choose. It’s
and it’s free! Being able to collaborate with always risky to be vulnerable like that, but
people has been beneficial too. it seems to always pay off.

‘To keep my
creativity up, it’s
been key to have a
very balanced life’
Can you tell us a bit more about your

work with charity?
From the beginning, I decided to give a
percentage of my profits away. I was using
origami as therapy, so when people wanted
to buy it, it made sense to me to give back.
Stop the Traffik is a charity that’s really
close to my heart. I would love to see the
day when slavery is abolished completely.
What has been key to achieving your

creative and professional goals?
I think for me to keep my creativity up,
it’s been key to have a very balanced life,
to take time out and rest. I get all my best
ideas with breathing space. I’m much more
able to be productive if I’m rested, too.
What would be your dream project,

if there were no time or budget
restraints?
I’d really love to work alongside some sort
of coffee shop to make an interior adorned
with origami – lots of lampshades! I have
a lot of my own work in my home, but
people don’t really notice it! I quite like
that – lots of origami that you don’t notice
till you look closer. 01
What projects are you working on?

I’m currently putting together my spring/
summer collection and that’s all bright
colours, which is lovely in the middle of
winter! I’m putting together origami kits
too, selling paper packs and my book.
Finally, what’s the best piece of

creative advice you have been given?
A few years ago I met with a fellow creative 02 03
business owner for coffee and it quickly
became evident that we run our enterprises
very differently. She had a background in
business and I have a background solely 01 Esther hangs a
in art and design. There were so many Esther Thorpe garland of pretty
nuggets that she shared with me, from Esther is founder of origami lanterns to
knowing how to price things to whether Origami-Est, a homewares turn a space into
creating a product was worth my time and business dedicated to the something magical.
resources. Something that resonated was Japanese art of paper- 02 It’s easy when you
when she said: “If you value your skills and folding. You can book a know how!
your time, others will value it too and invest workshop with her at www. 03 With some clever
in you.” It may seem simple but I think it’s origamiest.co.uk, and learn cutting and folding,
so important to remember. As a creative via her new book, Paper you can whip up
it’s so easy to be fearful of the business Home. Flick to page 43 for fantastic geometric
side and so easy to fall into the trap of a special offer for Mollie shapes to decorate
devaluing your skills. I am constantly Makes readers. your home.
reminding myself and others of this.

M a de in p a p er
Now try Esther’s statement vase with
this sweet origami tutorial
PHOTOGRAPHS: KRISTY NOBLE
HOW TO MAKE… AN ORIGAMI VASE
MATERIALS
Q 90gsm paper, 10 Make a valley fold (see box,
5 x 5cm (2 x 2") below right) through the centre.

approx. 30–40 11 Make a mountain fold (see box,
squares depending below right) by bringing the bottom

on your vase size right-hand point up to the top
Q Measuring tape left-hand corner.
Q Glass jar or cup 12 Turn the model over and repeat
Q Washi tape or Step 11 to complete your first

masking tape sonobe module.
13 Repeat Steps 2-12 on the
Embrace the Japanese art of remaining paper squares to give

origami and create a beautiful you the number of sonobe
geometric vase entirely out of modules you require. They will
paper with this gorgeous tutorial be connected in pyramid-like
by origami artist extraordinaire shapes, and will all interconnect.
Esther Thorpe, aka Origami-Est. 14 Begin with three modules. Take
The distinctive-looking structure of two and insert the ‘spike’ on one

interlinked pyramid shapes is made into an opening at the centre of
from sonobe modules – a classic the other, taking care to ensure
origami unit. Pop the panel around that the triangles are lined up.
a jar and fill with your favourite 15 Take a third module and insert it
seasonal blooms. A mix of plain into one of the attached modules,

and patterned papers looks best. then insert a third spike to
complete the pyramid shape.
01 Begin by measuring the 16 Continue adding to this pyramid
dimensions of your jar or cup. shape to create a panel of multiple

Make a note of its height and its pyramids. Create your next
circumference at the widest part. pyramid from one of the spikes
02 Take one of your paper squares, coming out of the existing pyramid.
place white side face up, and fold Continue adding more modules.
in half horizontally. 17 Measure as you work to ensure
03 Unfold. Fold the right-hand the height of the panel is slightly

edge to align with the centre fold. taller than your jar or cup and the
04 Fold the left-hand edge to align width slightly longer than the
with the centre fold. circumference. Make sure the
05 Open the fold on the right-hand modules finish evenly to form
side and fold the top corner a rectangular panel.
diagonally to align with the opened 18 When the panel is the required
fold, as shown opposite. Then refold dimensions, turn it over and tape
back to the centre. along the top and bottom row Mountain and valley folds
06 Rotate the model 180 degrees of excess spikes to neaten. The project refers to ‘mountain’ and ‘valley’ folds. To
and repeat Step 5. 19 Now lift the panel up and, with understand these, think of the paper folds as either a
07 Make a diagonal fold from the the pyramids facing outwards, start mountain pointing up, or a valley dipping down. When
bottom right-hand corner, running to wrap it around to create the creating a mountain fold, the model’s uppermost side
in line with the diagonal fold you cylindar vase shape. is exposed when folded. When creating a valley fold, the
made in Step 6. 20 Join the ends to one another model’s uppermost side is enclosed in the fold. In this image,
08 Tuck this fold underneath the by creating new pyramids where the outer folds are mountains and the inner is a valley.
left-hand fold. the edges of the panel meet.
09 Rotate 180 degrees and repeat 21 Finally, place your jar or cup
Steps 7 and 8. in the centre of your creation.
Paper Home
This project appears in Paper Home by Esther
Thorpe, published by Pavilion. Mollie Makes
readers can buy a copy for only £12 (RRP
£16.99) including free UK p&p. Call 0844 576
8122 and quote offer code CH1989.
www.lovecrafts.co.uk

02 03 04 05 06
07 08 09 10 10
11 13 14 15 15
15 15 16 16
16 17 17
18 19 20 21

Origami
papers
With one patterned and
one plain side, these
sheets will give your folds
a pretty contrast
Meet our paper designers

Presenting the pattern-lovers behind our carefully selected
collection of Mollie Makes origami papers
Wendy Kendall Emma Kate Codrington

Surface pattern designer Wendy created bedding Illustrator, adventurer and free spirit Emma Kate
textiles for many years before making the jump lives, breathes and travels. She’s all about the
to freelance. She now works out of her rural delights of watercolour and ink, brush on page,
Staffordshire home, designing everything from and always colours outside the lines on purpose.
stationery to curtains. Cut and fold Wendy’s pretty Get inspired by Emma Kate’s pretty chevron-
papers on page 47. inspired papers on page 51.
Clare Owen Amy van Luijk

Illustrator Clare is originally from Cornwall but New Zealand-born Amy is now based in the UK.
now lives in the wonderful city of Bristol. A cat She creates bold and vibrant illustrations, and
lover, francophile and interiors enthusiast, her her working methods involve lots of cutting and
work is fuelled by copious amounts of tea and sticking, leaving a trail of coloured paper scraps
listening to NPR. Enjoy Clare’s confetti everywhere she goes. Get creative with Amy’s
paper on page 45. origami sheet on page 49.
To create double-sided origami papers, print the design of your choice then put the printed paper
back in your printer the other way up and choose either one of our plain backgrounds or the same
design again to print on the back. Then you’re ready to start folding!

PYRAMID PARTY
Add a dash of personality to a plain
wall with La Messer’s on-trend
origami masterpiece
HOW TO MAKE… ORIGAMI WALL ART
MATERIALS Origami and geometrics are

QGrid paper enjoying a well-deserved
QPink paper revival right now and this
QTurquoise paper piece of wall art is definitely on
QPVA glue our wishlist for winter making.
QGlue spreader We’re crushing over the pastel
QFoam dots shades, but if you feel like
QScissors something different swap for
QRuler pops of neons or brights, or go
for pretty patterned papers.
These triangular pyramids are
easy-peasy to whip up – children
love making them too so if you
fancy a crafty hand you’ll soon
have a pile at your side in no template and outline the tabs position each pyramid
time. A fantastic way to give your and triangles. diagonally along the surface.
living space a snazzy makeover, 02 Cut out your pyramid in The slanted angle is a neat trick
and a nifty stash-busting project each of your coloured papers. to get that edgy effect.
to boot, this paper mountain 03 Fold each pyramid along the
range is sure to impress. For a lines you’ve drawn. Lara Messer is a Glasweigan girl
different look, why not arrange a 04 Glue one side of your in London. She works as a
few clusters of pyramids across pyramid, leaving the two tabs freelance stylist and food
the wall as a cute alternative? facing out. photographer, and is creative
05 Glue the remaining panel editor at Khoollect. She loves
01 Cut out the pyramid from the into place. Repeat this process spring days, cats and coffee, and
template on page 127 and draw for all of your pyramids. can be found wearing stripes and
around it on your paper. An 06 To attach to your wall, use collecting kitchen paraphernalia.
A4 piece fits four. Replicate the adhesive foam dots and www.laramesser.com
01 02 03
04 05 06

Papercutting
& layering
Creating texture with paper is the name of
the game. With a craft knife and a pretty
design the results can be work-of-art worthy.


MATERIALS
QPastel paper and craft
knives, Paperchase,
QSmall scissors, Sew Crafty
Shop, www.sewcrafty
online.co.uk
QCutting mat, Fiskars,
www.fiskars.co.uk
QRuler, Tiger, http://
uk.flyingtiger.com/en-gb
ONE-STOP PAPERCUTTING
Presenting your tools of the trade for papercutting prowess
Folk art shines through in modern

papercutting, with intricate florals
and lettering forming the motifs
we’re all most familiar with. But
there’s a contemporary edge too
with more and more geometric
layering, on-trend shapes such as
tropical fruit and constellations
getting the papercutting
treatment. Here’s some tips from
the experts before you get started:
01 Use sharp blades. Blunt ones will
tear and bend your paper. Sharp

blades also make cutting curves
much easier.
02 Pressure is key. Be light enough
to cut through the paper, and not

so heavy-handed that your blade
gets stuck in the mat!
03 Go for as large a self-healing
cutting mat as your surface space

will allow. Trying to cut a large
design on a small mat quickly
becomes a bit of pain.
04 If you’re just starting out, a
metal ruler will help you get a

sharp, safe line.

Describe your style in a few words.
Sort of stupid and complicated and
innocent but knowing at the same time.
What led you to study printmaking?

When I was at art college in the early
Taking a creative 80s, you could do whatever discipline

you wanted, as long as you could justify
journey with... it as art. I always loved drawing, and it
led me to the print room as traditional
printmaking is actually quite similar to
drawing – you’re essentially just doing an
etching. I enjoy the immediacy of working
ROB RYAN with paper as I like to get something right

straight away, unlike with a canvas, where
you have to prepare it first then work on
The ubiquitous papercut artist tells us how he took his work out
it for ages. I also liked that you can make
of galleries and introduced it into living rooms round the country multiples of your work, which makes the
Words: JESSICA BATEMAN Photographs: RACHAEL SMITH final pieces more affordable and spreads
your work to a wider audience.
Rob Ryan’s influence has spread so his own products. However, it wasn’t
far, you don’t have to be into craft – or until a friend introduced Rob to the How did you grow your business?
even into art – to have come across his commercial world that the high profile I managed to get a studio as soon as I left
work. His distinctive style has graced projects that made his name followed. college, but back then I was just doing
everything from coffee mugs to carrier Known for his rigorous work ethic, gallery work. I wasn’t making enough
bags, and he’s collaborated with names Rob has also published three books money from it, so I was also working
such as Liberty, Paul Smith and Stylist. and, up until recently, had a shop evenings and weekends as a cycle courier –
Rob originally studied fine art at Trent on London’s Columbia Road. Now it wasn’t until 2000 that I gave up working
Polytechnic before going on to do an scaling down this side of his business for other people. A friend of mine ran an
MA in printmaking at the Royal College to concentrate on his art again, we agency that took artists and introduced
of Art. Always seeing himself as an visited his Bethnal Green studio, where them to the commercial world, and
artist primarily, he ran a screenprinting he works with his team of four, to through that I did projects such as record
service from his studio after graduating, discuss how he became one of the most sleeves and a Liberty collaboration. Shortly
which led to him creating and selling successful commercial artists around. after, I started working in my papercut

‘I always loved
drawing, and enjoy
the immediacy of
working with paper.’
02
01 03
style, which was fairly pioneering at the of self-censorship, really. I did this for 01 Rob’s studio in 02 Inks and paint
time, and it all took off from there. about 18 months before the words started Bethnal Green. He palettes on Rob’s
sneaking back in, but they ended up fitting describes buying the desk. Rob has got
Tell us how you got into papercutting. really well with the designs. I’ve always studio as “one of my back into painting
I was doing a lot of writing in my work, enjoyed using writing in my art, so it works. best investments. and is planning an
creating pictures that were all words and A lot of other exhibition next year.
very little imagery, but I wanted to force When did you first start making and creative people have 03 Creating one of
myself to get my message across using just selling your own products? been priced out of Rob’s trademark
pictures and no words. I had a book of It all came about fairly haphazardly. I used the area now.” papercut designs.
Swiss papercuts which were all perfectly to do screenprinting for other people, so
symmetrical, and I knew if I created work I learnt how to print on lots of different
in this style, I couldn’t add words because items, such as T-shirts and tea towels.
they’d be back to front. So it was a form Someone was throwing away an old kiln

02
so we learnt how to use that, then we

printed onto tiles and other ceramic pieces.
I started doing my own, supplying a few
small shops in London, but it was all very
low level at first. Then someone came to
me and said a shop was coming up on
Columbia Road. I decided to give it a try
for a year, then ended up having it for eight
01
years. The first five years were really good,
but I just didn’t have the time to devote to
it any more, so I decided to let it go.
01 Rob’s print As an artist, how do you feel about

studio backs onto working on commercial projects?
a communal yard, It’s a tough one. If people see your work
which he shares with and want to use it they can get in touch
other artists and with you and you can collaborate, or they
designer-makers. can just take it. If you’re approached, I’d
02 Test designs for a say try and work with it and get as much
new run of ceramic out of it as possible. Like most artists,
Staffordshire Dogs I don’t like the idea of having my work
Rob is working on. changed, but I also see it as a challenge to
03 Rob’s studio wall, get it across to a section of the population
where he pins all his that would never normally see it.
works-in-progress,
ideas and anything What are you working on right now?
that might inspire I don’t have a lot of commercial projects
his future designs. on because I’m trying to instigate more
creative work of my own. I used to have
about 20 projects on my list, but I’ve got it
down to just two or three now. I’m working
on another book of monographs, and also
03
a new series of single colour screenprints.
I’ve started painting and drawing a lot

‘I’d never thought

about a shop before,
but decided to give
it a try for a year.’
02
01 03
more again, and I’m currently planning a you’re not doing yourself any favours in 01 Rob’s print 02 Glassware, hand
painting exhibition for next year. regards to the quality of your work. assistant, Josh, decaled and ready
working on a to fire in the kiln.
What projects are you most proud of? What would be your dream project? new screenprint. 03 Libby, Rob’s
I have lots of pictures I think work well, I’d like to make a movie, doing what I do Four people work studio assistant.
but I like to think I still haven’t done my with pictures and words in a film. I don’t alongside Rob, but She handcuts
best work. It might sound like a bit of a know what it would look like or how it the team scales up designs following
cliché, but I don’t think it’s that common would work, but I’d like to transport my and down as needed. Rob’s drawn lines.
for artists to look back at their work and art to a different medium.
be really happy with it. You have to keep
moving forward and find what you’re You have a reputation for a crazy work
searching for, even if you’re not sure what ethic. Do you still work long days?
that is. If you’re not hard on yourself, My work ethic came from the fact that

02
all I wanted to do was draw. I hated most

classes at school, so when I found out you
could go to art college I thought, ‘why
wouldn’t you want to be there all the time?’
I’m lucky I knew what I wanted to do and
I’m still doing it. I never saw it as a chore,
but I don’t stay at the studio past 6pm
now, and I don’t work weekends any more.
Where do you get your inspiration?

It’s me thinking about things and trying to
01 make sense of the world. I carry notebooks
with me and jot things down – a picture
you see could be made up of six different
things I’ve brought together in the studio.
01 A new edition of a It’s like a big garbled version of what’s
screenprint design, Rob Ryan going around in my head.
Love Hasn’t Even Got Rob Ryan works across fine
Started Yet. Printing art, illustration, ceramics, And finally, tell us the best creative
inks are stacked on textiles and books, as well advice you’ve been given.
the shelves behind. as specialising in product When I was at school, there were a few
02 Putting the design and commercial boys in the year above me who were really
finishing touches – projects. Buy items good at photo realism. Me and my friends
a signature and date produced directly from used to look up to them, until one day my
– to the fresh print. the studio such as prints, art teacher told us our work was better
laser cuts, cushions and than theirs. That was my first realisation
tea towels at Rob’s website, that it’s better to develop your style than to
www.robryanstudio.com try and emulate someone else. Other than
that, I’d say ‘keep all your receipts’!

paPercuT
PerfeCtion
Sharpen your skills with Sarah
Louise Matthews’ top tips for
papercutting – and her
fab templates
Woven papercut
01 Cut along each cut-line on the
pink sheet.
02 Fold back each strip.
03 Glue each folded strip down.
04 Cut an identically-sized piece
of orange card and attach it

behind the pink layer using glue
or double-sided tape. Use a metal
ruler and craft knife to trim around
the edge to neaten up if required.
YOU WILL NEED

QOrange (or any colour) card
Tap here
TO JUMP TO THE
PAPERCUTTING
TEMPLATE
SECTION
Start here HOW TO MAKE… PAPERCUT ART
You’ll find all the templates for Don’t worry, there aren’t many session. Always begin with a new
these artworks in the printable of them! Set up your workspace blade. It’s important to change
section at the end. Before you with a self-healing cutting mat, your craft knife blade regularly
begin a papercutting project it’s ensuring you have space around while you work to ensure clean and
worth taking a little time to set you to move your arms while you precise cuts.
up properly, and then keep a few work. Now put some music on and It’s most comfortable to hold the
‘rules’ in mind as you go along. set some time aside for a crafting craft knife like a pen, keeping the
Lemon card
01 Cut out all of the shapes from
the bright yellow, pastel yellow and

white pieces of the lemon card.
02 Fold along the dashed lines – it
helps to use a ruler and scoring or

embossing tool to score the line
first to make sure the fold is clean
and precise.
03 Layer the pieces from inside
to outside: bright yellow, pastel

yellow, white, and secure each layer
to the next using either a line of
glue or double-sided tape along
the top of the back of the card, just
below the fold.

Wreaths
01 Cut out the green and pink
layers of the wreaths. Take one

green and one pink layer and align
the green on top of the pink to
practise positioning the layers.
02 Use glue or double-sided tape
to attach the two layers together.

03 Tie a length of ribbon through
the centre of the wreath to

hang it up.
04 Repeat with the remaining
two wreaths.
YOU WILL NEED

QRibbon
blade at a 45 degree angle. And direction. Remember to hold the design, working your way through
always cut towards you – this way paper as still as you can as you cut. to the biggest shapes.
you have the most control over the When cutting straight lines, Finally, papercutting should be
knife so it’s the safest way to work. use a metal ruler for the cleanest fun, so be playful and don’t worry
It’s best to hold the paper with cuts. Cut away from corners rather if it comes out a bit differently to
your other hand, and rotate it, so than into them, and begin with the your original design – you can just
you can keep cutting in the same most delicate, detailed part of the adapt it, or recycle it!
Floral mandala
01 Cut out all of the shapes from
the white, green and yellow sheets,

including cutting along the half-
leaf lines on the white layer. (The
pink layer is a solid layer, so nothing
to cut there!)
02 Fold back the half-cut leaves.
03 Layer the sheets from front to
back – white, green, yellow, pink

– and attach each layer to the next
using either glue or double-sided
tape. Use a metal ruler and craft
knife to trim around the edge to
neaten up if required.
Subscribe at molliemakes.com MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVTY 65

Message banners
01 Choose your message! The
beauty of this template is that you

can make any message you like.
02 Cut out the pennants for the
letters required.
03 Cut a length of twine long
enough for your message and

thread on your pennants, threading
the twine into one hole and out of
the other.
YOU WILL NEED

QTwine
Constellation papercut
01 Cut out the moon shape and
navy circle, then cut out all of the

constellation shapes from the
navy piece.
02 Position the moon onto the
navy circle, then attach with glue or

double-sided tape.
03 Attach to a sheet of gold
mirror card using glue or double-

sided tape.
YOU WILL NEED

QGold mirror card
Sarah Louise Matthews

Sarah Louise Matthews is a paper product
designer who’s just moved to Nottingham. Sarah
designs and makes fun, innovative stationery,
artwork and decorations as well as bespoke
commissions for anything from weddings
to visual merchandising. Find her at www.
sarahlouisematthews.com and @_sarah_matthews

I COULD DO THAT…
Papercut fruit
posters
Getting that Matisse-inspired vibe (with a

tropical edge) couldn’t be simpler with Teri
Muncey’s tissue paper fruit art DIY. Stick to
three colours and black for a striking look that
pulls it all together. “It’s one of those DIYs that
makes you feel like you’re back in pre-school,”
says Teri, “returning home and peeling off
dried PVA from your fingers.” Love those
school memories – embrace your inner child!
www.thelovelydrawer.com/fill-your-walls
PHOTOGRAPH: TERI MUNCEY

Journaling &
scrapbooking
It doesn’t take much to turn messy notebooks
into beautiful memory keepers. whether it’s
just for words or you’re adding decoration.

MATERIALS
QNotebooks, Hay, available
at www.libertylondon.com,
and Nikki Strange,
www.nikkistrange.co.uk
QLetter stamps, pens,
rubber, letter stickers, mini
bunting, all from Tiger
http://uk.flyingtiger.com/
en-gb
QLeaf stamp, Papermash,
www.papermash.co.uk
QMini ink pads, Papermania,
available at www.docrafts.
com/Products/papermania
QWashi tape, Paperchase,
JUST THE THING

FOR JOURNALING
Some supplies to help you on your journaling way
A place to gather thoughts, drawings,

cuttings, inspiration… what could be
more creatively freeing than keeping a
journal? Here’s some tips from the
experts before you get started:
01 The difference between a diary and
a journal is that a diary records your

reactions to the daily happenings in
your life. A journal also includes the
things that interest and inspire you,
while also giving you space to grow
creatively.
02 Find a style of journal that works for
you – it might be a jotter, a handmade

notebook or a ring-bound album. If
journaling is something you want to do
on the move, or you’d rather spend
time on it at home, your choice should
reflect that.
03 Learn to love your handwriting - for
ease and immediacy with your

thoughts, you can’t beat handwritten
journals. Take a look at pages 16 to 21
if you’d like to brush up!


WHY I JOURNAL
Kristi Prokopiak on what scrapbooking means to her
– and why you should try it
Words and photographs: KRISTI PROKOPIAK
S
crapbooking, or journaling, is something I’ve been trip, or a ‘This is what I did every day this week’ type
doing for over a decade. The forms and shapes it of format. Some document new homes, others specific
has taken on throughout the years have changed, relationships. They can be made in tiny binders or just
but the one constant has been that I do it. lots of pages punched through with a hole punch and
When I first began, I had a ton of photos that I loved some circular jump rings to hold them together. This to
and wanted to do something with, so I got a bunch of me is an art form, as it can take on whatever medium
supplies from the store and started with the traditional you care to introduce it to!
format in scrapbooking – a 12”x12” post-bound Sometimes my books are filled with drawings and
album. At some point in the process I realised I wanted paintings, others are text heavy and resemble more of a
to add some thoughts, and I discovered the world of diary than a scrapbook. A few years ago I began using
fonts and computer-generated journaling. pocket-style page protectors so that I could incorporate
I’ve always been super expressive and comfortable whatever type of art I am into at the moment. I save
with writing, so it became natural to move beyond things to stack inside the protectors, like tickets and
the typical ‘It’s so and so’s birthday, YAY’ into stubs from trips or pieces of fabric from favourite bags
documenting the thoughts, feelings and nuanced or clothes. So many possibilities!
details around the photos I was working with. I began
creating pages that featured me, and just talked about
whatever was happening at the time. My obsession
with crossword puzzles. My favourite bands. How I felt
CREATIVITY AS THERAPY
Currently, my scrapbooks are all about holding
lost or lonely or scared. space for myself. Creating a container for my hopes
and dreams, as well as my pain. They are a place to
get clear on my visions for the future and a way to
A WORK OF ART
It’s also fun to use journaling to document what the
document what I wish to manifest in my life. There is a
tremendous amount of therapeutic value for me in this
people in your life are saying. I would quote text work. It allows me to gain perspective and reinterpret
message conversations, or print out blog posts from events in ways that are helpful and hopeful. It’s almost
people I admired. A scrapbook can be so much more a zen-like quality that takes over, an unbiased observer
than some photos and stickers. You can keep a precise interpreting the images and facts from my life, and
work of art that captures every detail of a time in your then it’s a conscious choice to focus in on the good,
life. Or you can just fingerprint and write ‘JOY’ on top. strong and powerful moments that make up this life.
It truly can be whatever you dream!
The thing I find so beautiful about this practice Kristi Prokopiak
is that it grows and changes with me as I grow and Kristi is a designer, artist and
change as a person. Sometimes the process can be maker who splits her time between
complicated, with lots of products and layers and California and NYC. You can
techniques, but it can also be as simple as a photo follow her creative journey at
and some handwriting on blank paper. I have dozens www.kristiprokopiak.com and on
of small creations known as ‘Mini Books’ that have Instagram at @ritualscrapbooks
various themes, such as a specific cross country road

Kristi has included lots
of fun elements on this
spread: handwritten
journaling about her
week on a postcard from
a restaurant, a photo
of the coffee menu at a
new spot and a business
card from a date she
went on.
Kristi is all for

improvising. On this
example, she ran out
of room for her typing
and decided to let the
words trail off. She
adds hashtags to her
photographs before she
prints them out.
KRISTI’S TIPS TO GET STARTED

L
etter stickers are a simple, quick way to add words fly back to New York City. We haven’t seen each other
to your photos. They come in all shapes, sizes and in months (which is basically how it was when we were
colours, so it’s easy to match the mood or scheme both living in the same city anyways) and I miss her
you’re working with. I like to spell out important titles something fierce. I’m sure there will be lots of coffee
with alphabet stickers. If I’m documenting weekly in and complaining to be had, but also lots of love.” I’ll
my pocket page scrapbook, I’ll use letter stickers to stick that little card next to a photo of my friend, and
spell out new months. Letter stickers are also great there you have it!
to emphasise the good stuff, and it’s nice to spell out Use a typewriter! They are so great and add such a
a giant word like ‘FUN’ on a page when I’m really distinctive touch to your pages. You can push almost
excited about something. any type of card stock, patterned paper or stationery
Handwritten journaling is one of my tried and true through a typewriter, so just go for it and see how it
methods of adding thoughts to my books. I love using a turns out! Don’t worry if you make some mistakes –
mechanical pencil for this, and generally start with how that’s where the charm comes from.
I’m feeling or describing specific details from an event, Stencilling is another great way to add journaling,
such as “Looking forward to seeing my Sunshine next especially if you don’t love your handwriting. Letter
week, I’ve been counting down the days until I get to stencils can be found at any office supply shop, and

Kristi shows how to
utilise ticket stubs, song
lyrics and text on photos.
Kristi created a
little card with letter
stickers spelling out
ABUNDANCE for this
spread, alongside a
business card from a
mentor and handwritten
notes with a fine line
sharpie on the photo on
the right.
you can use coloured pencils or markers with them kind of food we were obsessed with, how I liked to
to customise the look. I love using stencils if I’m wear my hair, the funny nicknames we were using for
highlighting quotes in my pages. the dog, and the sneakers I was wearing all the time.
If you have a simple computer program like Word This page is probably close to ten years old now, so it’s
or Pages you can bring your digital images into it and absolutely hysterical to look back and see the things I
then write on top of your photos with text boxes. This used to think were cool. I still use this technique now,
is a really simple way to journal, and you get the added and I’m sure my future self will laugh at the things I
benefit of being able to change your text to white if it’s love today.
a dark area on the photo. I love doing this technique I also love to take photos of words. Snapping a quick
and it’s a huge time saver for the busy crafter. shot of a menu, the store’s sign or the calendar at the
Collecting ephemera is another great way to add yoga place. These details add a lot to your story, and
layers to your scrapbooks. A business card from a bring you back to specific times and places without
favourite shop, matches from a cool bar, postcards, much thought or effort on your part.
receipts, parking stubs, concert tickets and mail
envelopes are all ways to add details to your stories. I Scrapbooking supplies
like to cut them up to fit in my pockets, or use them as Kristi uses the album and page protector technique
backgrounds to stick photos to. for her journaling and you can get supplies from
I love to highlight what’s going on at that moment. I brands like American Crafts at online shops such as
made a page called ‘Currently’ a long time ago, and it heylittlemagpie.co.uk
was in a list format. It had my favourite song, whatever

A picture of life
Don’t leave all those Instagram photos hidden on your
phone – print them out to make a scrapbook-style memory
you can frame
PHOTOGRAPH: HOLLY JOLIFFE

02 03
01 04
HOW TO MAKE… SCRAPBOOK WALL ART
QOne sheet of 30 x Scrapbooking is not just about To add a little interest to a block phone or digital camera so that you
30cm (12 x 12”) life’s big events – it’s about colour background, try misting the can refer back to it as you build the
scrapbooking paper capturing the everyday details paper with ink. Choose ready-to- page up in layers.
QSelection of too. Print your Instagram photos spray inks from your selected 04 Now start fixing your pieces in
patterned papers and put them on display in your colour palette. Place your sheet of place from the bottom layer up.
QSelection of home by making a scrapbook paper in a cardboard box to Glue can warp paper, so use
Instagram photos layout. Box frames are brilliant as protect your surroundings from double-sided tape to hold paper
QEmbellishments: they allow you to include lots of 3D splatters and spritz your ink. Your together. To help your photos
decorative brads, textured elements, layering up distance from nozzle to paper will stand out, adhere them with 3D
wood veneer pretty papers, shaped brads and obviously affect the look, so have a foam mounting pads. Affix sequins
shapes, die-cut other embellishments too. practise on a scrap piece of paper and small embellishments with a
cardboard shape first. Try to stay at least 15cm (6”) tiny amount of PVA glue. To add
stickers, sequins, Before you begin, decide on your away so that the ink dries quickly. your brads, make a hole through
number stickers, subject: it could be a family 03 Now for the really fun bit. Start the layers of paper with a needle or
silver doily wedding or a walk with friends. arranging your selected photos a pin first, placing a piece of foam
QEmbroidery thread Print a selection of your Instagram and embellishments without underneath to support your paper
and needle photos to give you plenty of sticking them down, thinking about and to stop it from bending and
QBox frame, 30 x choice. If the photos you want to composition as you go. It helps to creasing. This technique also works
30cm (12 x 12”) work with aren’t gelling together, ‘anchor’ the design on a strip of well when hand-stitching onto
QSpray ink mists try printing them in black and white patterned paper. Look for paper, as shown in the yellow
QPaper trimmer – this is a good trick to keep the opportunities to add interest: square stitched here: create your
QAdhesives: PVA look cohesive. If you’re stuck with having certain elements peeking holes first before threading the
glue and foam where to start on your composition, out, such as the silver doily (top embroidery thread through, and fix
mounting pads try Googling ‘scrapbook page left) and the patterned paper the thread ends at the back of your
templates’. There are lots of guides placed at an angle (bottom right) paper sheet with a little tape.
SIZE online to start you off. works well. Collect a few 05 Once you’re happy with your
Q30 x 30cm (12 x 12”) embellishments together in finished piece of work, pop it in
01 Gather your materials together. clusters for impact, and think about your box frame so that your
Select a good range of papers to the placement of your text or embellishments don’t get
layer up as well as embellishments. numbers as you go. squished. Now all that’s left to do is
Pick out a colour palette from your Once you’re happy with the to hang it on the wall or to prop it
photos and work to this. Trim your placement, take a picture on your on a shelf as a lasting keepsake.
Instagram prints to size.
02 Decide which 30 x 30cm (12 x
Mollie Makes Papercraft
12”) paper sheet you want to use as This project was designed by Lara Watson and
your background. It often helps to is extracted from Mollie Makes Papercraft,
pick a block colour to build upon published by Pavilion. Lara edits Oh Comely
so that your accent papers and magazine, loves watching Time Team reruns and
embellishments do the talking, and is currently crocheting her third baby blanket
to ensure your final page doesn’t of the year. @laramcspara
look too cluttered.

Describe your style in a few words.
The one word I’d use is eclectic. We like a
little bit of everything. Another important
word is ‘colour’.
Have you always been into making

journals of some sort?
Yeah, that’s actually the way we work. We
Documenting your do a lot of research and preparation for

every project we do. Arne loves keeping
progress with… diaries too, so when we started partnering
as designers we’d do a lot of moodboards
because we collect a lot of images. After
a while we started writing books and we
liked the idea of being able to go back in
ARNE & CARLOS time to see the development of our ideas.

So it went from mixing up our private
visual diaries to our professional ones. Our
Best known for their quirky knitting patterns, Arne & Carlos
journals would be about anything from
have also always journaled their creative process what happened that day or the day before,
Words: LARA WATSON Photographs: STUDIO DREYER + HENSLEY, RAGNAR HARTVIG to jotting down the things we wanted to do,
and it all got mixed up! The development
Knitwear designers Arne Nerjordet (on themselves to their love of a very of the journals we do now has happened
the right, above) and Carlos Zachrison particular kind of papercraft: journaling. over a period of years.
(Norwegian and Swedish respectively) In their latest offering, Make Your
first became big names in the UK with Own Ideabook, we’re invited to try their Your new book talks people through
their popular book, 55 Christmas Balls to techniques in collecting, documenting making their own ideabook from
Knit, an instant hit. Previously, the pair and researching our own creative scratch – why is this important to you?
focused on their clothing brand, creating inspirations, with books made from We work closely with our journals and
designs inspired by their heritage and scratch and easy-to-follow instructions. always keep them. It’s very liberating
working with big names such as Comme It’s wonderful to see such hands-on, starting from scratch every time. It’s a nice
des Garçons and Liberty of London. accessible art at work and it becomes way to clear your mind before beginning
These days, subsequent book deals immediately clear that this is more than a new project. And as soon as you finish
have given Arne and Carlos license cutting and sticking. We spoke to Carlos a book, you want to do a new one. Even
to share much more of their creative about the process the couple capture in making the book is such a great process,
process, from the knitting patterns recycled paper. you start from zero again and again – and

‘Anything is possible
with all these lovely
pages to fill… it’s
very freeing.’
02
01 03
anything is possible with all these lovely sort of need for being creative and I think a 01 Interior design 03 Arne and Carlos
pages to fill. There’s no cohesion from one lot of people would love to be creative, but images wait to be collect every stamp
to the other so it’s very freeing. It’s also they don’t know how. My advice is to just placed in one of from their fan mail,
wonderful to go back to them. Arne and I write down a story of your day and throw Arne and Carlos’s from all over the
have photographic memories, so when we a picture in and take it from there. With journals. world.
revisit one, it’ll take us back to the mood regular work, a lot of that creativity will 02 Vintage fabric
we were in when we were working on that come out – it’s a very positive process. You always makes a
page. It’s a wonderful way to document start with something very simple and small, beautiful cover.
your creativity. and it’s easy – just five minutes every now
and then and then suddenly you have a
Why would you encourage other people great book of ideas. It’s very personal, too.
to start creating journals? Every book should be unique and speak
Because I think that everybody has some about the person who’s done it. We want to

02
give people the tools to start on their own

journals. It’s especially lovely to hear that
younger kids have been inspired to make
their own simpler journals after looking at
our book too. It’s a great activity to involve
younger ones, because there are no rules
so it’s a very confident kind of project, and
very inclusive. We want to show people that
this is something everyone can do.
01 You say you have between three and

five Ideabooks on the go at once. What
themes are the ones you’re curating at
the moment?
01 Collected Something we’re looking at a lot at the
ephemera makes moment is shapes. Particularly things that
its way into Arne are square or have sharp edges. We’re also
and Carlos’s Valdres sketching a new book idea in a journal that
Mountains home too. we might want to go for in a few years time.
02 Don’t restrict But sometimes it’s not as structured, it’s
yourself to paper. just part of our daily routine to hold onto
Arne and Carlos’s and collect imagery we like.
journals use mixed
media to great effect. Do you have your own personal
03 Ideabooks with a ones too?
fashion theme are I don’t tend to, no – I get involved with
easy to put together our Ideabooks to document creative ideas.
with your favourite Arne likes to do his own though. He likes
magazines and to document the time we’re living in. I
catalogues. focus more on the visuals and then it all
gets mashed together. He’s more prolific
at it!
Do you find physical Ideabooks better

03 for collecting ideas than using online
platforms? Or do you use both?

‘We want to show

people this is
something that
everyone can do.’
02
01 03
We like the old school way. On the internet or a glossy magazine. We are living in 2016, 01 Even the dog one is kept so that
everything goes faster and you get more so of course we do work on computers too! wants to join in! they can look back
info than you need. Yet at the same time, It’s a nice thing to keep separate though. To 02 Arne and on them.
you don’t get as much from it. You’re only make things you can touch and participate Carlos have been 03 Seed packets,
swiping with your finger and the pictures in to slow down. researching and plant markers and
are passing through you very quickly. I documenting their floral cuttings make
like the internet for getting information, Is it important to you to keep projects this way their way into the
such as reading the news, but when we’re traditional crafts alive? for years and have pair’s gardening
working on our visuals we want to slow Yeah, I think so. I think that it’s important quite a collection Ideabook.
down our brains a little bit. We don’t enjoy to teach and show people and it’s how of Ideabooks. Each
looking at images as much on a screen – we’re living now too – you share. I think
the backlight doesn’t feel as good as the that’s a great thing about the internet.
tactile process of flicking through a book We’ve learnt a lot of things on YouTube

01
01 Taking over the too! You get something and you give
whole kitchen table something back.
– the best sort of
crafternoon. Do you keep your journals private or
02 A knitting pattern share them online?
Ideabook, handily No we don’t really share our Ideabooks
labelled for future online. Sometimes we might share a little
reference. glance at one on social media. In all our
books, you’ll see the journals open. We like
showing people how we’ve reached the idea
behind the project. We don’t agree that
it’s a trade secret at all! We think it’s nice
to share. But we don’t want to share every
02 page because you lose a bit of feeling of
what it should be. Your Ideabook should be
for the sake of the book itself, rather than
to have something to put online, we think.
Arne & Carlos What’s next for you in 2017?

Arne and Carlos’ latest We just released a little book here in
release, Make your Own Norway about making knitted birds. We
Ideabook takes you through decided to take a little break and relax this
creating your own journal year, and have an eye out for some new
from scratch. With guidance projects to do. We want to take it slower
on the materials and tools for a year. We’ll do some yarn development
you need, the pair also share as well.
thoughts on the types of
Ideabook you might want to What’s the best piece of creative advice
create, from sewing to travel you’ve ever been given?
books. www.searchpress.com Always be true to yourself and do your
own thing.

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From the makers of

modern, marbled
bookbinding
Build your own library with our bookbinding
masterclass and learn two techniques in one
03 04
05 04 05
HOW TO MAKE… A MARBLED SKETCHBOOK (PART ONE)
MATERIALS There’s something so magical to make a batch for friends and each other until you have a pattern
QA4 sheets of plain about the marbling process – family’s birthdays. It makes a great you’re happy with.
white paper putting your paper down on the engagement gift for future brides 04 Now carefully lay a piece of
QLarge shallow water and watching it come up planning weddings too. paper flat on the surface of the
dish for holding covered in intricate paint patterns water, but do not submerge it –
water (we used is incredibly satisfying. 01 Pour about 2.5cm (1") of room you want the top side to remain
an aluminium Marbling gives you the freedom temperature water into your dish. dry. For a more intense pattern you
roasting tray) to be as glittery, colour pop or 02 In separate containers, can swizzle the paper about from
QTurpentine pastel pretty as you like. We’ve mix each of your paints with side to side, but don’t allow it to
QSelection of oil gone for bright neon shades of the turpentine. The ratio is stay in the water for more than
paints (we used pink here, which you can add blue approximately half a teaspoon a few seconds or it will just get
pink, gold and silver and yellow to as shown opposite. of paint to one teaspoon of too soggy.
in this example) It’s a twist on the fancy leather- turpentine – you want the paint 05 Lift the paper out and set it
QMixing pots bound notebooks of old, which to be smooth so it pours into the aside to dry. It’s best to leave it
QCocktail sticks or traditionally had purple, blue or water easily, but not watery. overnight if possible, but make
wooden skewers green marbled paper lining the 03 Pour each of your paints into the sure you allow at least a few hours
QRubber gloves inside covers. With something so water dish. before you make your book.
sunshiny and pretty, why on earth 04 Now to create the marbled Now turn the page to make the
wouldn’t you want to stick it to the effect – using a wooden skewer or cover and the inside pages of your
front though? We thought it was a cocktail stick, pull the paints into new notebook.
about time to change that.
On this page we’ll talk you Lucy Crick
through the marbling process to A former astronomy student, Lucy is the founder
make your paper, then turn over of British jewellery brand Eclectic Eccentricity.
the page for the instructions on Cute and indie by nature, her team are design-
how to construct your own coptic loving, thoughtful types who can be found
stitch-bound book. making jewellery magic at their Norwich studio.
Once you’ve gotten the www.eclecticeccentricity.co.uk
technique down, take an afternoon

02 03 04
05 06 07
HOW TO MAKE… A MARBLED SKETCHBOOK (PART TWO)
MATERIALS We love seeing a traditional craft covers. Make it a day or two before all air bubbles. Cut corners of the
QTwo pieces of revived, so we’ve been super- starting so there’s time for it to dry. marbled paper at a 45 degree
marbled paper excited to spot creative new 02 Measure one of the marbled angle and fold the paper over the
QPack of card twists on the art of bookbinding cover sheets and subtract 2.5cm edge of the board on all sides,
sheets springing up everywhere. To create (1") from each side. This is the size smoothing as you go. Do this with
QTwo solid pieces this marbled book, first make you’ll cut the mat board to. Using both the back and front covers.
of paper for some marbled paper (see page 84) your Exacto knife and a cutting 04 Cover the back of the solid
inside covers and leave to dry overnight before board, cut the cover boards out pieces of paper in glue and smooth
QString starting this part of the process. of the mat board. Be sure to mark onto the unfinished inside covers
QGlue This book uses coptic stitch to with a pencil and ruler where you’re to hide the ends of paper you just
QMat board hold the pages together. We’ll talk going to cut first. folded and attached inside.
QCutting board you through the technique in detail 03 Cover the back of the marbled 05 Decide how many pages you
QExacto knife – see the box, opposite. paper with craft glue. Place the want in your book. You’ll be folding
QAwl mat board down in the centre of your card in half and creasing
QNeedle 01 First create some marbled the paper and smooth it down down to create pages. Place the
paper for the front and back from the centre out, removing folded paper in sets of three or

COPTIC STITCH (STEP 7)
01 Thread your needle hole of signature and
with a double thread. tie a knot with the
02 Begin at one end end string.
hole of the bottom 10 Enter bottom
signature. Sew into it sewing hole of the

from outside the book. next (third) signature
03 Sew through the of paper.
last hole on the other 11 Exit the next sewing
side of that signature, hole of that same

coming out of signature.
the book. 12 Loop the thread by
04 Enter the top sewing under existing

sewing hole of the next thread between
signature up. second and third
05 Exit second sewing signatures and
hole of the same re-enter sewing hole
signature. of signature.
06 Enter second 13 Repeat the last
sewing hole of previous two steps.

signature (bottom). 14 Exit top sewing hole
Loop over existing of third signature.

thread and exit 15 Loop thread by
the same sewing hole. sewing under existing

07 Loop thread (of thread between
spine) by sewing under signatures and, before
the existing thread pulling the stitch
between first and tight, pass the thread
second signatures underneath itself.
and re-entering 16 Enter top sewing
second sewing hole station of the next

of second signature. (fourth) signature.
08 Proceed to next 17 Repeat previous
sewing station and steps. Continue to add

repeat previous signatures and, when
two steps. you are finished, tie off
09 Exit bottom sewing with a knot.
four – in the bookbinding business, strengthened and neatened these book and tie a knot in the end.
these are called ‘signatures.’ holes by setting eyelets, which Now it’s time to sew your spine
06 On both covers, measure is optional. using a coptic stitch, which we’ve
and mark between four and six 07 Thread your needle with enough given step-by-step details for in the
spaces, 1-2.5cm (½-1") apart and string to run five lengths of the box above.
2.5cm (1") away from the top and
bottom. Do the same on the stack Mollie Costley
of folded signatures in the exact Mollie is a stay at home mum of two
same places. Using an awl, poke little girls, Gretta and London. She
a hole in all of the signatures photographs weddings and families
in each marked place right on and loves to make pretty things. Always
the fold. Then poke holes about looking for an excuse to celebrate and
2.5cm (1") in from the spine decorate, Mollie considers any occasion
edge of the top and bottom the perfect excuse to get her crafting fix.
covers where you have marked www.molliecostley.com
your measurements. We’ve also

Cut &stick
journaling
Use these sweet labels,
tags and paper sheets in
your notebooks to add a
creative flourish
Meet our paper designer

These Jilly P Studio journaling papers were designed just for us
– florals, little houses, stationery and a whole lot of cute
Jillian Phillips
Illustrator Jillian lives in the south of England,
where she designs artwork and prints for kids’
clothing, stationery, books and fabric. She finds
inspiration on her yearly trips to Tokyo and
Scandinavia. www.jillyp.co.uk
Simply print the following pages on your home printer to create fab extras for your
journaling projects. Pages 89 and 95 will work well printed onto A4 sticker sheets for
you to trim into shape and stick in your journal.

Laidback tropical style gets an organised
makeover in this mini folder DIY. Just the thing
for storing holiday snaps and ephemera from
your latest travels before transferring them to your I COULD DO THAT…
journal. Create a template and cut a few folders
from patterned card – you could even stitch them
together to make your own book. Maritza Lisa’s Pretty palm
DIY is made even easier with the help of a cutting
machine such as a Silhouette.
folders
www.maritzalisa.com/diy-mini-tropical-folders
PHOTOGRAPH: MARITZA NUNES

Have a
paper party!
Now use your new-found skills to create
colourful decorations with ease (whether
you’re having a gathering or not).

MATERIALS
QScissors, Hay, available at
www.libertylondon.com
QFringing scissors, crepe
paper sheets, quilling paper
strips, all from Amazon,
www.amazon.co.uk
QHoneycomb balls, straws,
raffia, confetti, Tiger, http://
uk.flyingtiger.com/en-gb
QGlue gun, Hobby Craft,
www.hobbycraft.co.uk
GET-THE-PARTY
STARTED PRODUCTS
Ideas for party prep with paper
An all-out paper explosion – what

could be more fun? Tissue paper,
ribbons and raffia make excellent
crafting cohorts when you want to
pretty the place up. Here’s some
tips from the experts before you
get started:
01 Double-sided tape and small pins
are your friend! For a professional

finish, hide your fastenings and
hanging aids away under layers or
tissue paper or similar.
02 Likewise, glue guns work wonders.
Not for attaching your work to the

walls! But for quickly assembling paper
flowers, wreaths and other
decorations, there’s nothing speedier
and sturdier.
03 Making party decorations is a much
less rigid skill than origami for

instance. So have fun, improvise and
get the kids involved.


Describe your style in a few words?
I’m inspired by my Scandinavian roots
and also the natural beauty of Portland,
Oregon, where I now live – there’s not a
day goes by that I’m not inspired by the
light, colour, flora and fauna here.
Dreaming What’s a typical working day for you?

big with… I start my day at the local gym early in the
morning, before my team arrives at 8am.
We plan the week’s posts and projects,
then all hell breaks loose as we immerse
ourselves in designing, stitching, printing,
LIA GRIFFITH cutting, painting, folding and generally

getting our hands dirty with craft materials.
We share three DIY projects every weekday
A simple blog and paper flower tutorial changed Lia Griffith’s
and four over the weekends, so we have to
life. Now she owns a whole crafty empire. work hard to make that happen.
Words: ZEENA MOOLLA Photographs: JACLYN CAMPANARO
When did you realise that paper
Lia Griffith’s career is the stuff dreams any pretention. She covers everything flowers were so popular?
are made of. A single mother most from kids’ crafts, jewellery and fashion, I made my first paper rose when I was a
of her adult life, she built her hugely to weddings, food and homeware. And designer at a wedding stationery company.
successful business from her own of course the impetus and signature to The tutorial was incredibly popular and
paper flower tutorials and a humble, her business – the paper flower – is still I realised there was a desire for paper
yet brilliant blog. One million page there in many different creative forms. flower patterns that were striking to look
views per month later, and Lia, mum Living in Portland, Oregon, amid at yet still easy to make. Creating simple
to 21-year-old Emily, is now a globally breath-taking scenery, it’s fair to say yet stunning paper flower designs became
famous designer working with big-name Lia’s never really short of inspiration. my calling, and I’ve never looked back.
brands including Country Living, MSN Life is pretty good, and when we caught
and Martha Stewart, and heading up a up with her, you get the sense that this What inspired you to blog?
team of six from her office. is all just the tip of the iceberg for Lia I began my blog with the sole intention
Her slick site is a warm world – this is one woman with seriously big of encouraging creativity in others. As
marrying craft and lifestyle without craft-shaped ambitions. a growing business, we wanted to be

‘The goal remains

the same – to
inspire, teach and
reignite creativity.’
02
01 03
sustainable without relying on a clutter of – and how quickly – we’ve grown. It’s 01 Such a pleasant 02 This felt
ads on our site. It’s working really well and been fun finding talented creatives to help office! Lia surrounds succulent garden
our audience has been happy to pay a small me grow my vision. It hasn’t been easy, herself with is a hugely popular
amount for premium DIY project patterns though – we are where we are because of beautiful colour tutorial on Lia’s site.
and downloadable stationery. But our an immense amount of work. and inspiring 03 Visitors receive a
reason for being here remains the same messages. warm welcome with
– to inspire, teach and reignite creativity. How does your creative process work? this paper succulent
Do you keep sketchbooks or use any heart wreath.
Did you ever think you’d go from online resources?
blogging alone to having a team? We love to create mood boards on
It was always my dream to make this Pinterest as a team. In terms of my own
something bigger than just me, although process, I’m always sketching, but I don’t
I’m constantly surprised at just how well use sketchbooks. I sketch on the back of

02
anything that I can grab when inspiration

hits – the back of an envelope, the corner
of my to-do list or a scrap of craft paper.
What’s been your biggest struggle in

getting your business off the ground,
and how did you overcome this?
Having no income was hard in the
beginning. But by sticking to my goal
01
of writing one post per day and keeping
the quality of posts and projects high,
I was able to bring in some money from
advertising by the end of the first year.
01 A gold-dipped I was also lucky enough to have a small
paper feather garland amount of investment at the beginning
decorates Lia’s of 2015, which allowed me to bring in
home office. another designer and a writer, which in
02 This pretty paper turn meant we could start posting more
anemone is a simple DIY projects every day.
project designed to
suit all skill levels. What tools or materials could you not
03 Beautiful and live without?
everlasting blooms I couldn’t live without a glue gun – those
decorate every corner things are amazing! My Cricut Explore
of Lia’s home. cutting machine is also a favourite. It has
opened up endless opportunities in terms
of what I can now make. For example, my
paper hydrangeas would otherwise take
hours to cut by hand, but with a cutting
machine I can have all 90 petals cut in less
than 30 minutes.
How did you learn your craft?

03
I grew up in a household of creativity.
Dad built our home and Mum made

‘Not all my decisions

have been right, but
I’ve never allowed
that to stop me.’
02
01 03
our clothes. From top to bottom we What has been key to achieving your 01 Lia’s photography 02 Not great with
handcrafted everything, so it’s a way creative and professional goals? studio is filled with plants? Make one
of life for me. But I’ve only improved Probably an unwavering desire to reach props – she believes you don’t have
with practice. I’m my own worst critic those goals. I left my last job with such strong photography to water.
so honing my skills is an important part a determination to make this work that is key to doing a 03 Name any flower
of making. I just kept striving for success. Not all my project justice. – Lia has a pattern
decisions have been right, and sometimes for it!
What do you do to blow the cobwebs I’ve had to turn around and try a different
off a creative block? path, but I’ve never allowed that to slow
I take a walk with my dog. Portland is a me down or make me stop.
very green city so the air has a wonderful,
clean quality. Getting out in it is the ideal What would be your dream project?
way to loosen any creative stiffness. I’ve made 36 ‘papier couture’ dresses out

02
03
of printer paper and recycled magazines

that I’ve exhibited on the runway and
at other events. It’s been a while since
I made my last dress and I have a dream
of another big show featuring nine dresses.
What projects are you currently

working on?
We work with the seasons, so as soon as
Christmas is over we’ll be thinking about
spring projects and the wedding season.
01 We also have licensing contracts with a
number of paper and stamp companies,
so we’re constantly designing for them
as well.
01 Paper succulents
sit on the desk of Lia’s
Lia Griffith Where do you want to take your
home office.
Lia’s exclusive, beautiful business next?
02 Paper flower
designs and templates can I see our business becoming a full
patterns are
be downloaded from her media company where we offer daily video
still Lia’s bread
site for a monthly fee tutorials, an online crafting show and a full
and butter.
of around £5.50 ($7). line of crafting products.
03 An inspirational
You can sign up at www.
quote on the office
liagriffith.com. Membership Finally, what’s the best piece of
wall keeps Lia
also gives you access to her creative advice you’ve ever been given?
motivated.
brand new Craft School, a Never try to figure out what the readers
series of video tutorials to want but create and design what speaks to
spark your imagination. me. This sets a tone of authenticity that the
readers will respond to.

Anytime party wreath
Lia has created this special, enchanted woodland
wreath just for us. Welcome party guests in fluttery,
fern-festooned style

01 02
05 06
09 10
HOW TO MAKE… A PAPER WREATH
MATERIALS Indulge your wild side with this 01 After printing the pattern, 05 Once all your pieces are cut
QAssorted papers whimsical paper wreath featuring cut your paper pieces using a and curled, create a circular wreath
QPaper-wrapped wire ferns, feathers and pretty little personal cutting machine (see the base by wrapping paper-wrapped
QLow-temperature forest critters. Pick out a range of SVG file on the Mollie Makes blog wire around itself eight times. Our
hot glue gun papers in greens and teals then – www.molliemakes.com/category/ wreath is 8in/20cm in diameter.
QGlue sticks throw in a splash of plum, red and downloads) or trace the templates 06 Use a low-temperature hot glue
QScissors pink to turn this realistic looking on page 127 and use a craft knife. gun to secure the largest leaves
QCraft knife if cutting wreath into something altogether 02 Score and curl the leaves, to the wreath at the base. Don’t
by hand more magical. Use a personal feathers and bugs using the back of be too rigid in your placement.
QPattern cutting machine for a professional your scissors. Keep it relaxed looking.
papercut look, or print the PDF 03 04 Curl the delicate paper ferns 07 Glue the largest ferns closer to
pattern and cut by hand. It’ll take by gently rolling the tips around a the front of the wreath. Only put
some time, but it’ll be well worth it! pencil or around a stick of glue. glue at the tips of your ferns to

03 04
07 08
11 12
allow the ends to curl away from more for added texture. Remember 11 Place the little bugs around the
the wreath for added dimension. to arrange them around the wreath wreath and glue into place.
08 Glue on the green ferns and at different angles though always 12 Pull away any glue strings. Sit
leaves. You can begin to layer work in a clockwise direction! back and admire your handiwork!
here and stick some of the ferns
directly onto the largest leaves. Lia Griffith
09 Add the feathers closer in
Lia is an internationally renowned DIY designer,
and around the wreath in various crafter, photographer and stylist. After realising
directions. You can poke some of the demand for her unique paper flower designs,
the ends through the wreath itself. Lia launched her handcrafted lifestyle website in
10 Glue the plum-coloured leaves
the spring of 2013, offering stunning DIY projects,
into place. You can have these printables and inspiration. www.liagriffith.com
leaves stick out at an angle a little

In the
spotlight
Hang this colourful paper pajaki
chandelier by Amy Phipps of
Super+Super for guaranteed
interiors admiration

02 03 04
07 08 09
11 12 13
HOW TO MAKE… A PAJAKI CHANDELIER
MATERIALS Whether it’s a dull corner you the pieces up. Secure using some bunch of paper confetti. We’d
QCrepe paper in want to liven up, or a party you double sided tape. suggest using five or six paper
assorted colours fancy creating some statement 03 Next cut lots of confetti circles circles per bunch.
QMedium-sized décor for, this easier-than-it-looks from your crepe and set aside in 06 Continue to alternate between
embroidery hoop paper chandelier will bring an a bowl. It’s important to prepare straw and confetti until you have
QString or yarn injection of carnival-inspired vibes. all your paper pieces at the start to six straws on the string in total.
QPaper straws Known as ‘pajaki’ (aka ‘spider’) stop yourself getting in a muddle. 07 Now repeat this method on
QScissors chandeliers, they originate from 04 Place six paper circles on a pile each of your other lengths of string.
QPom poms Poland. If you can’t get away with and fold them in half. Now cut 08 Keeping your spacing even, use
QWashi tape such prettiness in a shared space, a little triangle at the centre point washi tape to stick your strings
QDouble sided tape make it for your craft corner, or for your string to pass through. onto the inside of the smaller of
hang in the garden for a late- 05 Measure four or five 1m (1yrd) the two wooden hoops.
summer cocktail party. lengths of string. Tie at the top and 09 Sandwich the outside ring back
stick to your table with washi tape, on and tighten the screw to
01 Cut each straw into four pieces. ready to begin threading on secure. Don’t twist too tightly as
02 Make several paper tassels by paper straws. Thread one piece of you may need to alter the tension
cutting a strip of crepe then rolling straw onto your string, then a little of your pajaki string later on.

05
10
We’re throwing a
party just so we have
an excuse to make
14 loads of these beauts.
10 Next, tie another, shorter 50cm together through one bunch of to start adding more decoration
(19¾") length of string onto each confetti and one straw. – we began by sticking washi tape
of the ends of the string that are 14 Repeat this process on all your all around the outside of our hoop,
coming out from the centre of pairs until you’re left with four or then we added paper tassels, more
the hoop. five single lengths made from the garlands (made by threading mini
11 Thread one straw, one bunch original two strands. Tie all these pom poms between single bits
of confetti and then another straw together underneath to close the of confetti) and paper circles with
onto each of the pair. Do this on pajaki chandelier. Now you’re ready pom pom centres.
each of the shorter pieces of string
to create small pairs. Amy Phipps
12 Now take one strand from each
Crafter, blogger and author Amy lives in a
pair and knot together, splitting mid-century-inspired flat with her boyfriend
the pair. Knot the right hand and two cats. She’s one half of Brighton duo
strand from one pair with the left Super+Super, specialising in craft parties and
hand strand from its neighbour. workshops in everything from embroidery
13 Knot securely, then thread
to printmaking. www.supersuperhq.com
both strands that are now tied

TROPICAL LEAVES
Create your own urban jungle – absolutely no
watering required

01 02 03
04 05 06
HOW TO MAKE… A PLANT DECAL
MATERIALS You don’t need to be a green 02 Carefully cut the leaf shapes some chalk markers. You could
Q Coloured card (we fingered goddess to keep these out using a scalpel and cutting also use coloured or patterned
used Papermania plants thriving, just a dab hand mat, working slowly. paper tape.
solid cardstock in with paper and scissors. Raid your 03 Apply some detail using paint. 05 Time for the fun part. Use paper
various sizes and crafty stash for this easy peasy wall We used a sponge for texture but tape to create stems and branches.
colours, from dec and experiment with colours, you can try different sized brushes Assemble your plant on the wall
Hobbycraft) textures and arrangements – you or a roller. Decorate with messy using white tac or another low tack
Q Coloured paper could even add paper butterflies, blobs, uniform polka dots, or removable adhesive. Make sure
tape (ours are from ladybirds and exotic birds. These perfectly straight lines – there are you overlap some leaves over the
Tiger and lush plants and cheerful pots no rules. rims of the plant pots, and over the
Paperchase) are ideal for brightening up dark 04 Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for the adjacent plants, to increase the
Q White tac rooms, jazzing up a plain party plant pots. Create a pattern using fantastic 3D effect.
Q Pencil venue, or any space which would
Q Scalpel and cutting benefit from a nurturing tropical Kate Rowland
mat vibe. Display with a few real plants Kate lives in Northamptonshire, where she runs
Q Acrylic paint, brush for maximum green impact. a small business designing and making jewellery.
and sponge She loves painting, drawing and hand lettering.
Q Chalk markers (we 01 Transfer the leaf template
Her laser-cut designs are playful, unusual and
used Posca PC-8K on page 127 onto the reverse of often inspired by a love of plants. She can’t knit
in white) your card. Flip a couple of the but occasionally tries cross stitch, and wants to
leaves over to create a bit of learn how to throw a pot. www.katerowland.co.uk
variation in appearance.
MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY 115

ILLUSTRATION: WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/LOLIPUTA
PAPER POSY
To enjoy fresh blooms during the winter, we
asked Debee Ruiz to design us a beautiful
statement wall hanging DIY

01 02 03
04 05 06
HOW TO MAKE… A FLORAL WALL HANGING
MATERIALS Combine the charms of a flowers for everything from gift petals by pulling them down and
Q Coloured paper traditional wreath with the style wrapping to table settings. We've away from the stamen.
in pink, cream, of an on-trend weaving project got the urge to fill an entire wall 02 To make a rose, cut white or
coral, fuchsia, green with this stunning floral banner. with these pretties! cream paper to 10 x 10cm (4 x 4").
and mint Mix and match colours and cutting From this square, cut out a circle.
Q Straight scissors, techniques to make your flowers 01 First, we’ll make a daisy. Cut Then, starting from the outer edge,
pinking shears and really come to life, then combine white or cream paper to 21.5 x cut in a continuous circle until
fringe scissors with details such as the wooden 7.5cm (8½ x 3") and the yellow you reach the middle. Leave
Q Adhesive glue dots branch, gold foil and crochet doily velvet ribbon to 2.5 x 1cm (3 x ½"). a small tab in the centre. Beginning
or hot glue gun (ours was thrifted) for a beautifully Fold both the paper and ribbon in at the tail (smallest end) of the
Q Tree branch unique finish. half length wise, then make fringe paper, firmly wrap the edge
Q Gold foil and Use your scissors or hands to cuts along the folded edges. around itself and secure with
adhesive bend the petals and leaves to give Attach a glue dot to the bottom a glue dot at the tab. Wrap tightly
Q Crochet table a more realistic form. To make edge of yellow velvet ribbon and for a smaller, firmer rose.
runner, or doily, larger flowers simply start with firmly wrap the fringe around itself, 03 Make a second rose, this time
cut to same width a larger paper – smaller papers will then secure with a glue dot or with fuchsia paper cut to 10 x 10cm
as branch give you cute little florals, while adhesive. This will be the yellow (4 x 4"). From the square cut an
Q Gold twine larger ones will fill up more space stamen for the daisy. Add adhesive imperfect scalloped circle.
Q Floral stamens and add more ‘wow’ factor to your to the bottom edge of the white Beginning from the outer edge,
Q Yellow velvet ribbon wall decoration. Don’t be afraid to paper fringe and firmly wrap cut in a continuous scallop circle
Q Pink crepe paper experiment – once you've got the around the yellow stamen, then until you reach the middle, leaving
hang of it, you can make these secure with adhesive. Shape the a small tab in the centre. Wrap the

edge around itself as before, insert Wrap the fuchsia fringe paper 06 Follow the directions on the
the stamen and secure with a glue around in the same way. Add glue gold leaf package to add detail
dot at the centre tab. dots to each bottom edge of flower to your wooden stick. Cut your
04 Now we’ll make a peony. Cut petals and attach to the bottom crochet or doily to the width of the
a 2.5cm (1") strip from both the stamen piece in a circular pattern. stick and adhere it to the back
yellow paper and pink crepe paper, Pull the petals in towards the using glue dots. Wrap gold twine
then fold in half and cut a fringe. stamen to give them shape. to both edges for hanging.
Cut a 10cm (4") strip from the 05 Using the templates on page 07 Now it’s time to hang your
fuchsia paper, fold in half and cut 127, cut out leaf shapes from the banner on the wall. Add glue dots
a fringe again. Using the template mint and green papers and fold to the bottoms of all the flowers
on page 127, cut about 30 petals down the centre. Add glue dots to and adhere them on the banner
from the fuchsia paper and the bottom of the leaves and and wall to create dimension and
pinking shear all the top edges. adhere them to your flowers. interest. Stand back and admire!
Attach a glue dot to the bottom
edge of the yellow paper and firmly Debee Ruiz
wrap the fringe around itself, then Debee is a floral-loving creative mama who enjoys
secure with a glue dot or adhesive. pottering around in her succulent garden while
This creates the yellow stamen. thinking about making pretty things for her shop,
Add adhesive to the bottom edge Inspire Lovely. Follow her adventures on her blog
of the pink crepe fringe and firmly www.debeecampos.blogspot.com and her Etsy shop
wrap around the yellow stamen, www.inspirelovely.etsy.com
then secure with adhesive.

Jazz up a party with Helena Schaeder
Söderberg’s honeycomb tissue paper
pom poms – you won’t believe how
easy they are to make!
01 02 03
07 08 09
HOW TO MAKE… HONEYCOMB POM POMS
MATERIALS We’ve always admired these If you can’t wait for a party, hang Tape two of them together as
QNine sheets of honeycomb-style tissue poms – these poms in the window to bring shown in the picture. The template
tissue paper, 50 x such gorgeous floaty explosions a cheerful pop of colour to the day. fits sheets that are 25 x 35cm (9 x
70cm (19¾ x 275/8") of colour. And hurray! Turns out You should be able to make three 13¾”), so if you want to make larger
QDouble-sided tape, they’re really easy to recreate at pom poms out of the materials or smaller pom pom then you’ll
approx. 40m (15¾") home. Designer Helena Schaeder listed on the left. need to create a custom template
QFive sheets of Söderberg has chosen a zingy with your own measurements.
printer paper feelgood palette bursting with lime 01 Take the nine sheets of 50 x 04 Put the first sheet of tissue
QSticky tape greens, pinks and oranges, but 70cm (19¾ x 275/8”) tissue paper, paper in place between the four
QSewing thread use whatever works best for the place in a pile and fold in half, corners. Stick double-sided tape
and needle occasion and colour scheme. Make then half again. This will give you between each A. There will be
QScissors them in multiple shades or block 36 layers of 25 x 35cm (9 x 13¾”) a total of three lines of tape.
colours for different effects. tissue paper pieces. If you want to Carefully remove the backing
There are so many different make multi-coloured pom poms, paper from the tape.
styling options with these poms, you can use three colours and 05 Place the next sheet of tissue
as you can see from our ideas on three sheets of each. paper on top of the first. This time
the previous page. Be sure to use 02 Cut through all the papers in tape between each B. There will
double-sided tape rather than glue each of the folds to get 36 sheets. be a total of two lines. Remove the
when creating the honeycomb 03 Now it’s time to tape all the backing from the tape. Continue
effect, as it’ll help them weather sheets to make the honeycomb with all 36 sheets. Every other
inquisitive hands and breezes if you paper. Use the template on page sheet should be taped between
hang them outside on a dry day. 128 to make your work easier. the ‘A’s, and the other between

04 05 06
10 11
HOW TO MAKE… HONEYCOMB POM POMS
the ‘B’s. For multi-coloured pom honeycomb paper half circles in circle. Tie a knot about 1-2cm
poms change colour every four the middle of the fold. Tape the (3/8 -¾”) on the thread otherwise
sheets. Don’t worry if the tissue inside of the printer paper to the the pom pom won’t open. Cut the
paper ends up a bit crooked or if honeycomb paper with adhesive thread. Do the same with the top
you get wrinkles. tape or glue stick, first on one side corner, but don’t cut the thread
06 Once you’ve finished all 36 and then on the other side. – save it for hanging instead.
sheets it’s time to make the poms. 09 Once you’re finished taping, 11 Put double-sided tape or glue
Cut one copy of the half circle your pom pom should look like on one side of your half circle.
template (18cm (71/8”) wide) and the one in the image. Now, this is the best bit. Open up
three copies of the round one 10 Thread the needle. Push it your pom pom so that the white
(17cm (6¾”) in diameter). Plain through all the layers of paper sides of the paper face each other
printer paper will work just fine. in the bottom corner of the half and the tape sticks. Et voilà!
07 Place the half circle template
on top of your tissue paper and Helena Schaeder Söderberg

measure three half circles. Trace Helena is the brains behind Craft And Creativity,
around the template with a pen. Sweden’s most-read craft blog filled with loads
Note that the templates must be of fun DIY tutorials. She’s been a crafter since
placed in the same direction, as childhood and also worked as a graphic designer
per the picture. Cut out all three for many years. In 2011 she launched her first
half circles of tissue paper. online craft supplies shop, Make & Create.
08 Fold the first of the round
www.makeandcreate.se www.craftandcreativity.com
papers in half. Add one of your

01 Place a few poms in
the middle of a table
for a fun centrepiece.
02 Single poms can
look just as effective as
clusters when popped
01 in an unexpected place. 02
03 Experiment with
hanging your poms –
they work just as well
singularly, in a line or
gathered together.
04 Have fun with your
colour scheme. Match
your decor – and even
your food – to the poms.
03 04

geT the
Party startEd!
Throw a truly tropical fiesta
with help from Lana Red’s
show-stopping balloons

01 02 03
07 08 09
HOW TO MAKE… PARTY BALLOONS
MATERIALS We’ve always admired those 02 Round the edges of the two 06 Use a funnel to fill the balloons
QTransparent latex XXL-sized party balloons that are larger folded strips using your with paper confetti, pushing
balloons de rigueur at parties these days – scissors. For the smaller strip, it inside the balloon using your
QHelium cannister and now we know how to make our cut into the sides to create a fingers or the end of a pencil.
QFunnel own versions, thanks to Lana Red. frayed look. Fill your balloons with helium
QCrepe or tissue Pick the lightest paper possible in 03 Unfold the strips and place them according to the manufacturer’s
paper order to get your balloons to really on top of each other, smallest on instructions. Attach the flowers
QPaper confetti float. Top tip: rub the balloons over top. Now repeat the accordion to the balloon. Your blooms may
QScissors a wool blanket – the static will help fold with all three together. be heavy depending on the paper
QTwine the confetti stick to the sides. 04 Grab your twine and wrap it you used, so you might need a
QStapler around the middle of the folded big balloon or a couple of smaller
Flower garland balloon strips once, securing with a knot. balloons to lift the weight.
01 Cut two shades of crepe paper 05 Here comes the fun part: reveal
into long strips the same width your flower. Pull at the stacked Tassel garland balloon
and length. Cut a third piece of paper, making sure the twine stays 07 Place a piece of crepe paper
crepe paper to the same length in the middle. Carefully pull each on a flat surface. Use your scissors
but half the width. Fold all three individual piece of paper, opening to cut straight lines from the sides
separately using accordion folds. the creases gradually. to almost the middle.

04 05 06
10 11 12
HOW TO MAKE… PARTY BALLOONS
08 Tightly roll the crepe paper up 11 Use your scissors to cut through create a full fringe effect, fold
with the cut strips on both sides. all the layers from the bottom of the individual strips in different
Twist the middle uncut part very the stroke to 2cm (¾”) from the directions. It helps to hold the
tightly, forcing it to bend. crease. Repeat along the entire entire garland up with one hand
09 Wrap a piece of twine around length of your paper. and use the other to fold the pieces
the twisted end of the tassel a 12 Fold the papers open, keeping – this way it’s easy to see how it
few times. Secure it with a knot. them stacked. Staple the middle will fall. Group all three balloons
Attach the tassels to the balloons line through all of the layers. To together for a statement display.
by tying a long piece of twine
to the top parts of the tassels, Lana Red
leaving half the length of the Lana runs Lana Red Studio, a DIY and lifestyle
tassels in between each one. blog dedicated to bringing unique, innovative
projects and inspiring articles to everyone’s home.
Fringe garland balloon With a background in art and design, she loves
10 Place at least three crepe paper
to combine multiple disciplines in each project,
pieces on top of each other. Fold from photography to fashion, plus some personal
them together by creating a crease stories. www.lanaredstudio.com
in the middle.

TEMPLATES
Here are all the shapes for our makes.
Unless otherwise stated, templates
are shown at 100%.You can find
the full-size templates ready
to download from
www.molliemakes.com
HONEYCOMB POM POMS

BY HELENA SCHAEDER SÖDERBERG PAGE 120
Photocopy at 200%
PAPER PLANTS
BY KATE ROWLAND PAGE 114
Photocopy at 200%
Thank you for making this project from Mollie Makes. The copyright for these templates belongs to the originators of the project. They work hard to create projects for you to make and
love, so please don’t re-sell or distribute their work without permission from Mollie Makes. We don’t mind if you make a copy for a friend but please do not make any part of the templates or
instructions available to others through your website or a third party website, or copy it multiple times without our permission. Please pass on this information if you make a copy for a friend.
Copyright law protects creative work and unauthorised copying is illegal. We appreciate your help.

FLORAL WALL HANGING
BY DEBEE RUIZ PAGE 116
Leaf 2
Photocopy at 133%
Leaf 1
Peony
petal
ORIGAMI WALL ART

BY LA MESSER PAGE 53
Photocopy at 500%
Leaf 3

PAPER PARTY WREATH
BY LIA GRIFFITH PAGE 107

PAPER PARTY WREATH
BY LIA GRIFFITH PAGE 107

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/MollieMakes /MollieMakes /MollieMakes
Creativity
The team behind Mollie Makes brings you this bumper magazine
packed with crafty projects and ideas for you and your home or to
gift to friends and family. Try your hand at papercutting, origami,
journaling, calligraphy and make fabulous paper decorations for
your next party. There’s lots of quick-make inspiration plus beautiful,
exclusive origami papers, papercutting templates and journaling
papers to get you started! Happy crafting, Mollie Makes style!
www.molliemakes.com
W E LO V E C R A F T

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127 INSPIRING PAPERCRAFT IDEAS

TO BRIGHTEN YOUR LIFE!

INSIDE: ORIGAMI-EST • LIA GRIFFITH • ARNE & CARLOS • ROB RYAN

Lara Watson, Editor

Subscribe at molliemakes.com MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY 3

lettering origami papercutting

22 TEA & CHAT WITH CHIARA PERANO 44 PRINTABLE ORIGAMI PAPERS

4 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

SARAH LOUISE MATTHEWS

70 JOURNALING KNOW-HOW 100 PAPER PARTY KNOW-HOW

88 PRINTABLE JOURNALING PAPERS 124 SUPERSIZED PARTY BALLOONS JILLY P STUDIO

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Lauren Cooper Kristi Prokopiak ADVERTISING

Chairman Stephen Alexander

Zoë Pearson Teri Muncey

6 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY 7

We’re big on blooms.

8 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

01 Wear your crafty

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10 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

Welcome to a brand new

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY

Illustration EMMA BLOCK

12 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

THE CALLIGRAPHY KIT

Decorative handwriting has seen a

01 Press slightly more on down

strokes, and release pressure for

angle for optimal line drawing.

avoid your ink feathering – that’s when

them after every writing session so

page 16 to get started.

14 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

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LAUREN’S ESSENTIAL TOOLKIT

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18 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

20 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

HOW TO MAKE… DIP-DYED CARDS AND TAGS

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building your What attracted you to calligraphy?

CHIARA PERANO word calligraphy derives from the Greek

22 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

‘Drawing has made

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Tell us about your workspace.

How would you describe your style?

for clients, I write them out ﬁrst – in pencil

24 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

‘I tried to brand the

PHOTOGRAPH: LAURA MCCLUSKEY

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HOW TO MAKE… PAINTED MUGS

28 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY

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This years colour is Green and at The Creative

What better way to start 2017 then to try a new craft,

HOW TO MAKE… BRUSH LETTERING BANNERS

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Illustration EMMA BLOCK

32 MOLLIE MAKES CREATIVITY