Forest of Kirigami Trees - Part Deux Kirigami Cuts

This is so easy once you make the folds from the water bomb base.

All you have to do is make three horizontal cuts on each side of the model keeping in mind that they should be mirror cuts and do not cut too far to the centre. I have found that the last cut near the bottom should be a smaller than the middle cut. I usually cut off the tails but there is another method where you make the tree trunk. I just find it a bit messy and cut off a piece of a wine cork and add a toothpick to the centre that the tree sits on.

From the cut make an angled fold coming to a point at the end of the branch. Make sure you are folding one layer at a time.Continue folding each  layer in the same direction. Sorry about the last pick it is so foggy today man sometimes the simple things are hard!

Easy peasy Kirigami trees!

Let's Make Kirigami Trees

Kirigami Trees

You don't need to use origami paper to make these puppies. I used parchment paper and a sheet of 24 lb red paper and copied a black design on the red paper. However, parchment is really slippery so I wouldn't recommend you use parchment if you are a newbie to origami folding.

Kirigami is a genesis of origami. The moment you pull out your scissors the method is referred to as kirigami.

I have found a video that will help you with the squash fold steps. The video (it has a trunk and a star)  is a bit different than my tutorial you can find it here.

Materials:
Small Sharp Scissors
Paper Cutter
Sheet of Coloured Paper 8 1/2 by 11"
Bone Folder or a small butter knife
Paper clips (optional)
Bamboo Skewer (optional)

Directions:
1. Using your paper cutter cut out 2 squares 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches. Make sure that the paper is square as this will make it much easier to fold precisely. Save the scrap as you can always use it for borders on other projects like the chalet container.

2. Orient your paper so that the pattern is face down. In most cases this is the starting point for most origami models.

3. Turn your paper on the diagonal. We are going to make a water bomb base fold.

4. Fold the tips together to make an triangle. You might find this a bit awkward at first so go ahead use a few paper clips to hold the tips together. Starting at the centre set your crease with your bone folder. Open the fold.

5. Repeat the fold for the other two tips and open the paper.

6. Flip your paper over to the pattern side orienting the paper so you can fold the paper to make a rectangle. Repeat the fold on the opposite side

It should look like this:

7. Holding the front triangle in both hands collapse the model by squeezing the front triangle to the opposite triangle at the back of the model. 

Reinforce the folds by using your bone folder to ensure the model is flat.

You have just created the water bomb base fold. You can make the New Years Fascinator from this base.

8. Holding your left hand on the two left flaps you will notice that the right hand flap pops up a bit. This is the first flap we will be creating a squash fold. Using your right index finger place it inside the flap as far as you can reach. Using you left index finger starting at the tip start squashing the fold ensuring you slowly remove your right finger from the inside of the flap. 

Before setting your fold flip over the model to make sure the tip is centred. It should look like an upside down kite.

9. Next fold the kite in half with the right flap folding unto the left flap.

10. Repeat the squash fold with the next right hand flap and fold the kite in half  left flap folding onto the right flap. 

11. Flip the model over keeping the big flaps on the right hand side of the model. 

Repeat the squash folds and finish the fold first kite right to left. Second kite left to right. Your model should look like this:

You should have 4 flaps on each side of the model.

We are finished folding and now ready to cut the model. I'll post the kirgami bit next Monday.

Have a great Friday!

Designing Women - 12 Days of Christmas

I am so excited my kirigami chalet design has been picked up by our local scrapbook store "Family Matters".Deb Jackson has been so easy to work with and this has been a true collaboration.

The design and concept has evolved over the past month and we really got excited when we saw the Graphic 45 paper set "12 Days of Christmas". The little chalets work perfectly with this exceptional scrapbook paper.

Scrapbook Paper - Graphic 45

What we love about the little chalets is they can be used for different Christmas crafts. Build a tea light village or stocking stuffer containers or a mini advent calendar with 12 days.

You can check out Deb's store Family Matters Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts here.

We'll also have a surprise pack giveaway draw for early bird class participants.That's how excited we are about this class project.

Witchy Cookie House

Playing with my basic kirigami design for fairy chalets I designed a cookie box for bake sales. Halloween is coming up so here's my first crack at making a wicked cookie box.

Eastwick Spell Shop "Brooms, Caldrons & Dentistry"

It's Beginning to Look a lot like..

I know it's August but it's never too early to come up with ideas for Christmas crafts.

So here's a sneak peek of my washi inspired fairy chalet. It's perfect for an advent calendar or a whimsical village for elves and fairies with a kirigami tree.

Bungle in the Jungle - Baby Elephant Walk

Okay this origami model is the keeper...

Baby Elephant Walk

Have a great weekend!

Bungle in the Jungle - Paris Try

The thing is when the video is so bad for an origami project that you must do - you may have to reinvent the steps. My elephant may never look like the original but I believe this is just as cute.

Paris Origami Elephant

More to come.

Bungle in the Jungle

 So I have been away from creative blogging for a few months. Blame it on the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France...

About a year ago I became obsessed with origami elephants but the models are very advanced. Finally the light bulb went on yesterday after so many attempts. Use a bigger sheet of paper without a pattern so you can see the folds clearly. The elephants aren't perfect but with a little practice Melissa will finally get an elephant to add to her collection.

Origami Elephants Draft

The green elephant has an excellent video by Leyla Torres at Origami Spirit designed by Mr. Fumiaki Kawahata. I warn you this model has so many folds I lost count. 

About my white elephant - this was the model that proved to be the bane of my existence. The video on Youtube is so confusing I hesitate to provide the link. So I will create a picture step by step set of instructions for you to follow.

Bows in a Row

How fun is this? Bows from computer paper, magazines and wrapping paper.

Kirigami which is origami until you pull out your scissors. If you go to all the trouble of buying a gift why not wrap it with bow accents that make you look like you worked all day on the wrapping?

Here's the original DIY post from Helen Made. It's a bit cryptic and she's really touchy about copyright but you can make it your own. The one thing I suggest is when making cuts to the paper after the sink fold is to make sure you cut the centre of the fold on all four sides and do not cut all the way to the peak. Leave a little wiggle room so that you can adjust the cut for the next steps. Otherwise, the centre of the bow falls apart.

Happy Earth Day - Upscale a Bracelet

It's so delicate the earth. From afar a jewel in a sea of black. Up close we know our stewardship has not supported the next generation.

And so here's my tiny contribution to reusing, recycling and just having fun that you can change up given your outfit.

No need for a DIY tutorial just take a silicone bracelet and some jute twine and wrap around the bracelet and tie a knot at each end.

There are some really pretty baker's twine colours over at Omiyage that you could use too!

Happy Earth Day and welcome to spring the rest of Canada!

Bunny Hop - Origami Puffy Rabbit

Hi,  this is the cutest origami ever - an inflatable bunny.

Apparently you can add a small Easter egg and quiz your friends on just how you got the chocolate egg in the bunny cube.

Sorry about the pic it is a dark and dank day with a deluge of rain. They are way cuter in person and easy to make.

There are several how to's but the best instruction I found was the how to diagram on the puffy bunny cube from Origami Fun.

Seriously, most times I get so confused I end up using up several practice sheets multiple times but this was so well done I got it the first time. Have fun making bunnies.

Envelop Your Valentine

Seriously, if your going to give a Valentine why not create the coolest envelope to make it special? You can find so many different versions of envelopes on the internet but really I love all the origami versions.

However, most of them are tiny and may not be the be all for your Valentine. So I started with a business card case pattern for my original envelope. Really, unless you have a giant Valentine just make the envelope based on the dimensions of the insert.

True to the task a magazine cover makes the best card holder as it is a surprise every time.

This origami folder is really easy but unfortunately there is no Youtube video or picture diagram.

So here is what you need:

Magazine cover trimmed  8" square
Bone folder
Ruler

Tip: try to select the area without fonts as the centre of the magazine square.

Tip: How to divide a square into thirds? First you can snake your paper into thirds until all three sides align. This is a bit tricky with magazine paper as it is slippery - use your metric side of the ruler and put a small pinch at both points at the top and bottom of the paper. You can use 18 cms. which is a little under 7" square for a business card folder.

This is the link for this card: http://en.origami-club.com//use/card/anime-card/index.html

To be honest you might have to try a few models but once you finish one you will wonder how you did not get it the first time around!

Sweet Quickie Kirigami Box

Need a box for your Valentine sweets?

This is so easy to make from standard computer paper and with a few folds and snips you're done.

Instructions are available over at Simply Paper using scrapbook paper although I found standard paper works just fine for my small box.

I started with two pieces of coloured paper trimmed: the top being 8 inches square and the bottom being 7 3/4 inches square. This will make a box 2 3/4 inches ( 7cms.) square.

The possibilities are endless for the square kirigami box as you can use wrapping or kraft paper for a bigger box. Just keep in mind you will need card stock (or a cereal box) trimmed to reinforce the sides in order to keep it's shape.

The One About The Prom Dress (Valentine)

Did I ever tell you how much I love my better half? While he occasionally gets a birthday card I always buy him a Valentine's card. The problem is 99.9% of them suck.

Last year for the first time I made a card from red construction paper and a coffee filter with a pencil  drawing of our Lab on it. I found it the other day in our mail organizer. You see he liked it - he saved it.

I should be able to improve on that card with all the paper supplies I have now. I don't have a picture but it has to do with fish tanks, lobsters and his two girls: me and Angel. And "Friends":

Phoebe: Hang in there, it's gonna happen.
Ross: What? Okay, now how do you know that?
Phoebe: Because she's your lobster.
Chandler: Oh, she's goin' somewhere.
Phoebe: Come on, you guys. It's a known fact that lobsters fall in love and mate for life. You know what? You can actually see old lobster couples walkin' around their tank, you know, holding claws like...

A Package of Girly Valentine

A package within a package within a package - my idea for a girlfriend Valentine.  I started with a template for a CD cover origami envelope and adapted it for the size of the next envelope. I just kept going and with a few #diyfail 's figured out that my last envelope would be a  note inside wishing my GF's a Happy Valentine's Day.

Wrap it with pretty ribbon and put a tiny heart on the first envelope and it's an origami beauty!

And a tad bit of washi tape to fulfill my obsession.

I don't have a link for the two inside envelopes or the outside CD envelope so I'll try and post a DIY next week.

There are no hearts involved just a heart felt note!

Girlfriend Valentine - Sneak Peek

So I started out making a heart bookmark but I was a bit uninspired. Then I decided to try an origami rose. Honestly, the Kawasaki origami rose is impossible to figure out.

So I started over and found this origami rose bowl. I mean seriously every girl deserves a rose on Valentine's Day!

And a pretty envelope or box!

Check back Friday and I'll give you my take on girly valentines..

Simple Modern Valentine

So I was wondering do tweens actually make their own Valentine cards?

Probably not as it is time consuming to cut out 54 hearts but with some digital shortcuts maybe they might like the idea.

"Don't Go Breakin" My Heart" with instructions to (go ahead tear open this heart for a surprise) is simple to construct and will hold a small token as a gift. I was thinking erasers for boys and pipe cleaner rings for girls.

I already had the coloured computer paper on hand and created a PDF to print out for anyone who wants to use the template.

BTW for the life of me I can't figure out how to embed a PDF file in my blog post. If you know make my day send me an email.

Sneak Peek - Valentine Ideas

So I have been searching for some easy ideas for tween and girlfriend valentines.

My favourites are: the heart bookmark made from half a sheet of 15 cm. origami paper and the heart package "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" made from letter size neon paper.

And I figured out how to make a lucky heart bookmark. Warning there will be glitter involved..

I'll be posting the DIY`s over the next few weeks.

Happy New Year - I Heart Origami

Happy New Year and welcome 2013. To be honest I am not a big fan of January - we just get so little daylight to envelop our little cabin. Now don't get me wrong as the view of the Lions is so inspiring today but in another hour the sun will fade and I'll feel more like a mole person.

So let's talk about February and Valentine's Day. Love, affection and a promise of more daylight. Look what I found at Go Origami :

A really cute heart envelop that you could stuff with some of those cinnamon candies or for my darling a love letter or Hersey kisses.

Don't you just heart origami?