Project - Paper Rose

Paper flowers, especially roses, add a romantic touch to projects. Make this paper rose from one circle – it takes only a few minutes, and you can make several in one sitting! You can use any paper you want, although I prefer using handmade paper because of its soft texture.

You will need:

* Paper, preferably handmade, big enough to fit a 3-inch circle 
* Compass, circle template or any object (jar lid, canister, etc.) for tracing a 3-inch circle
* Pencil
* Scissors
* White glue
* Quilling tool or cocktail toothpick (optional)

On a piece of handmade paper, trace and cut a circle measuring 3 inches in diameter. Draw a spiral on the circle starting from the edge going towards the center, with the lines around half an inch apart. Try to keep the spiral as evenly spaced as possible. You may want to make a pattern first on a piece of scratch paper, which you can later trace onto the actual paper you’re going to use.

Cut along the lines of the spiral. Then, starting from the outer end of the spiral, coil the paper into a snug roll, keeping the bottom/inner edge of the spiral even. The top/outer edge will flare out a bit, but that’s OK. Note: You may find it easier to begin forming the coil with the help of a quilling tool or cocktail toothpick.

Once you’re done coiling the paper, release it so that it opens up into a rose. You’ll notice that the center of the spiral now forms the base of the rose. Glue the base to the coil to keep the rose from unraveling.

When dry, use your fingers to gently curl the top edge of the rose outward to give the petals a softer, more natural look. When you’re satisfied with the way the rose looks, you can then attach it to a card, box or project of your choice. If you wish, you can cut out a sepal (the "collar" at the base of a flower where it meets the stem) and some leaves from green paper and stick it to the bottom of the rose to complete the look.

You can make this rose using different kinds of paper. Experiment with Japanese washi paper, thin card stock or even junk mail. Also try tracing the spiral with a gold or other metallic pen before coiling it to give the rose a gilded edge, or applying glitter glue to the edges for a fairy-like effect.

Paper Cutting Tools

Paper crafts require a lot of cutting, whether it's to trim an illustration board down to a specific size, or to coax out delicate details from a sheet of tissue paper. Using the right cutting tools can make paper crafting more enjoyable for you, and help make your projects turn out the way you want them to.

Here are some cutting tools used in paper crafts. As with all sharp objects, exercise caution when using them, and keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Scissors. A pair of craft scissors cuts both straight and curved edges. You may want to have a pair for large cutting jobs and a smaller one with a sharp point for detailed work. Non-stick scissors have coated blades which prevent adhesive from building up – a boon if you often snip double-sided tape, stickers or fusible web.

Get a sharp pair of scissors that feels comfortable to use. If you’re left-handed, you may want to get a pair of left-hand or ambidextrous scissors; if you have a medical condition like arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, you may want to get a specially designed pair, perhaps a spring-type model that opens by itself and is easy to grip. 

Decorative Scissors. Decorative scissors make it easy to cut edges with scallops, zigzags, and other patterns. Some decorative scissors can be used by both right- and left-handed people; unfortunately, it seems that decorative scissors for those with arthritis have yet to be developed.

Craft Knife. With its short, pointed blade, a craft knife works well for cutting small details in areas where a scissors won’t work. Some craft knives have swivel blades, which make cutting curves easier. The blade can turn 360 degrees so that it always follows the direction of your hand as you cut, eliminating the need to turn the paper every so often. 

Buy a craft knife that is easy to grip, easy to use, and has safety features like a retractable blade. Consider also how easy or difficult it is to change the blade.

Box Cutter. Nothing beats a box cutter (together with a straightedge and cutting mat!) for cutting straight edges on heavy cardboard. Box cutters come in different designs ranging from heavy-duty models with wide blades and metal handles to pocket-sized models with narrow blades and colorful plastic handles. 

As with the craft knife, look for a box cutter that is easy to grip, and has safety features like a retractable blade that can lock into place and is easy to change replace.

Paper Trimmer. A paper trimmer uses a sliding rotary blade that cuts in both directions. The trimmer comes with built in rulers that let you accurately measure and cut your paper, and does a neat job of trimming photos and single sheets. Some models come with blades for making wavy edges and perforations. Keep spare blades handy so you can readily replace the blade when it gets dull.

Hole Punch. A hole punch is more utilitarian than decorative, but is excellent for punching clean holes on card and paper through which you can thread ribbons, or insert eyelets and paper fasteners. An “anywhere punch”, which you hammer like a nail or turn like a screwdriver, lets you make holes anywhere on the paper, and not just along the edges.

Decorative Punch. A decorative craft punch is what you need to make lots of uniform shapes from paper or cardstock. There are mini-punches to make confetti and tiny detail work; corner punches to add a decorative touch to corners; and border punches to create lace-like edges. 

Buy a punch whose design you can’t live without – one which you’ll be using often, or which is hard to cut by hand. Also choose a punch that is easy to use. Some models require a lot of brute force, while others are user-friendly and need only a squeeze.

Make Your Own Origami Paper

Guest Author - Michele G. Desmoulins

Origami paper can be expensive and it may be difficult to find a design that appeals to you. So why not just make your own origami paper? Here's how..

You will need 3 items:

• Cheap tin foil
• Tissue paper
• Spray glue

The tin foil must be the thinnest you can find which is usually the cheapest. The origami paper gets thicker as you fold it so this is why the foil should be as thin as possible. 

The tissue paper can be the kind you find in the bargain store for a dollar or as elaborate and expensive as you want. There are many supply stores and card and gift shops that sell beautifully designed and high priced tissue paper if you wanted something very special.

Origami paper is exactly square. The dimensions may vary but, they are always a
measurement of an exact square. For example, if you are starting out, an 8x8 piece of paper is fine.

For advanced origami enthusiasts, 4x4 dimensions are better. Cut a precise square of tin foil. The best way to do this is with a paper cutting tool. Most art supply stores will carry these if you don't already have one.

Next, lay the tin foil, shiny side down, on a flat area that is protected from the spray glue. For example, on the floor or table top, covered with a sheet of plastic. Make sure this is in an area where you can leave the foil flat until the glue has dried.

Then spray a very thin layer of glue on the back of it, as evenly as possible. Now, take a sheet of tissue paper, that has been cut larger than the foil, and place it carefully on the glue covered back of the foil. 

The best way to do this is by hanging the tissue over the top edge of the foil. Then drag the tissue down, horizontally, over the glue sprayed foil. Once the tissue is attached, smooth out any wrinkles. 

If you want to make a lot of origami paper of one design, then unroll a long sheet of tin foil and follow the above instructions. Make sure to adhere the tissue paper carefully and smoothly. Once the glue is dry, cut the paper in to exact squared dimensions. Then you'll have yourself a stack of origami paper.

If you want to create your own origami paper design, then you could add several layers of tissue. Slightly over lap different colored and different patterned tissue paper on to the back of the glue sprayed foil and smooth out. This will give you some texture to the origami paper as well, without too much extra thickness.

You could even make your own gift paper for Christmas, birthdays and other holidays. Choose difference designs of tissue paper that reflect the holiday or personality of the person you are creating the paper for.

Money-Saving Tips for Paper Crafters

Paper crafting doesn't have to be expensive. Here are some tips to save money yet still be creative!

Save those scraps. 
Don't throw away paper or card stock that's left over from a project. You can cut them into backgrounds for Artist Trading Cards (3.5 inches by 2.5 inches), twinchies (2 x 2 inches) or inchies (1 x 1 inch). 

Using craft punches, punch shapes from smaller, irregularly shaped scraps. Strips of paper can be turned into borders when cut with decorative scissors, or woven together to make a new background for a card. 

You can also tear up scraps of patterned paper and use them to make a collage background. For paper with distinct elements for a design (say, floral gift wrap or birthday wrapper with party hats), cut out the individual elements (in this case, flowers or party hats) and use them in other projects like cards, envelopes, or tags. 

Recycle! 
Cereal boxes are a good source of sturdy chipboard, while magazine pages, old calendars and junk mail make for colorful paper. Newspapers are excellent raw material for papier-mâché and paper pulp, and old commercial greeting cards can be cut up and reused in new cards or scrapbooks.

Make your own tools or find substitutes. 
Make your own rubber stamps from erasers or craft foam or use ordinary objects like bottle caps or even fruit. Instead of buying an embossing tool for dry embossing, try using a ballpoint pen that has run out of ink. A thick sheet of corrugated cardboard can take the place of a cutting mat. Clear nail polish instead of acrylic lacquer or dimensional adhesive can be used to protect small projects like paper beads. 

Organize or join a scrap swap.
Meet up with your crafting buddies once a month to swap extra supplies from your stash - paper, ribbon, embellishments, ephemera, and yes, even those scraps you saved from the first tip above!

And why buy when you can borrow? During your scrap swap, you can borrow one another's tools and supplies while working on your own projects. That way you won't need to buy, say, a rubber stamp you won't be using often. Simply borrow one from a fellow crafter.

Shop smart. 
Shop with friends and buy supplies in bulk for a lower price, then divide the goods among yourselves. Avail of discounts and special promos offered by stores and online suppliers. Consider buying second-hand or pre-used stuff from thrift shops, garage sales or sites like eBay. 

Save Paper Scraps For Future Paper Crafts

Whatever paper scraps you have at home or in the office, find time to save them for future use. They could be excess from gift wrapping, scrap booking, card making and just about any paper craft activities you did in the past. Of course, be neat and orderly when you store these materials so that you preserve their quality and do not create an ugly pile of them in your attic or drawer.

There are different kinds of paper for different kinds of crafts. There is mulberry paper, washi, vellum, ricepaper, parchment and may others. For most paper crafters out there, the most common thing they do is head out to the store and then buy paper products for their crafts. Well, that is commendable, of course. Craft stores are filled with a multitude of supplies and products that are used for a multitude of arts and crafts. But know that many of these items do not come cheap. But do not despair because you have an alternative to buying paper supplies.

Without buying, your home will be filled with lots of paper supplies and products. You are most likely to receive newspapers everyday, bills every month, and magazines every quarter. Perhaps you've been too quick to throw them away, but really, these paper products are useful for a variety of paper crafts. You can create a paper wig from those shredded paper, you can create a stamp collage from the used bill envelopes and old greeting cards, you can cutout lovely landscapes and images from old postcards, etc. Even loose leaves from your kid's notebooks will find their s use into your future paper craft projects if you really think about it.

Outside your home, you will find lots of paper products, as well. Have you seen those posters of products and events being peeled down? Try approaching those guys and see if you can ask a couple of those posters. Ever noticed those uniformed guys giving away handouts and pamphlets at the railway or at the doorsteps of a department store? How about those brochures that real estate agents and sales people give you? Accept those papers and see if they contain valuable information for you, better yet, think about what paper craft you can do with them once you get home. More often than not, you will encounter great quality paper from these freebies and giveaways.

Whether you have the budget for paper products or not, you can secure the supplies you need for your paper crafts. Just look around in your home or in your environment. What paper products can you find? Think about saving and storing paper products today.

Looking for paper and wedding cards materials? For more info and excellent customer service, visit Paper Mill Direct.

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Landscape your home, paper craft style by Papercraft

Most people use paper only for a single purpose The purpose of paper is unique for many, to write something on it, but some creative minds proved once again that paper is indeed valuable, if you know how to use it. After dresses, accessories and paper jewelry, it is time for some houses to get decorated, papercraft style.

Less is more

It seems that some furniture designers enjoyed the famous expression "less is more" and so it began this trend of creating house furniture out of paper. Not everybody is fascinated by the luxury offered by expensive leather or Mahoney, so newspapers and magazines offer a great base material for furnishing your house. So, think twice before you decide to throw away paper -if you have enough imagination, you can redecorate your house using only a pair of scissors, glue and paper.
The major question that pops out in public's mind is what raises questions in this matter is how long does this furniture last? Shigeru Ban, Japanese international architect, answers this. He created in 1995 the famous house with paper walls. He believed and proved through his work that paper is indeed a very resistant material, also affordable, durable and more important, recyclable. All his life he tried to find a fast and resistant solution for earthquakes or other natural disasters victims. His pursue meant in time the reinvention of paper.
These days the idea of using a recyclable material to build house or to manufacture furniture gathers more and more popularity. Everyday show up amazing paper creations, such as the one of David Penner, the architect that built the so-called Corogami Hut from Winnipeg (he won the Excellency Award to the Prairie Design Awards) made out of paper. Another example is the paper armchair of Tokujin Yoshioka, who had his début at the Milano Furniture Fair in 2002.

Papercraft home

We are aware that there is a difference between a house and a home. A house is a place for a family to sleep, to eat, to park its car, but a home is more than that. Home is the place where we live, we are comfortable, safe, and we call our friends and hold family events. And I can say from my own experience that the accessories are the difference between a house and a home.
Sometimes, the fancy things that we see in magazines or in furniture shops costs too much for our budget. we enjoy the suggestions from the magazines, but sometimes the prices are too high so we should look around the house and see what we can use to make some chic decorations. For example, with a little courage you can make your own paper bowl and use it to keep all sorts of pin heads or you can use it as a decoration for a table.
First of all, you need to glue long pieces of paper (preferably use white glue). You can use printed or colored paper for more variety. You can decorate the exterior with tissue stripes or you can directly paint it. See how a small piece of paper can change the atmosphere is your home?

Did you know that…?

If you never heard of it before, you should know that in the center of Cluj Napoca, Romania, is a unique coffee shop called L'Atelier Café. Why is it so original about it? Well, the whole furniture, every table and chair, even the wainscot are out of paper and recycled cardboard. This creative idea was put into practice by three architecture students.

We do not have to be architects you can be a small architect on your own to create paper mega structures, but we can amaze our family and friends with a small and cozy home, decorated with paper accessories.

About the Author

Papercraft.ro is the first romanian online store dedicated to paper models and toys (papercrafts). www.papercraft.ro

What is Papercraft

Papercrafting is a craft you can do without any specialist equipment so anyone can start papercrafting as a hobby. You do not want to be buying lots of equipment if you are not sure you will enjoy papercrafting so only buy the basics needed for your papercrafting toolkit . Then if you want to continue the hobby you can buy equipment when needed and build up your toolkit gradually. There are many tools you can use in papercrafting but a starters basic toolkit would consist of:-

Scissors
A pair of basic scissors are fine for when you start out papercrafting, and then as you progress and want to do more you can upgrade. Most crafters have two main pairs, a smaller set for intricate work and a large set for trimming. It is important that you clean your blades regularly, a residue can stay on the blades when you cut tape so you have to remove it.


Craft knife with a metal ruler
a craft knife is the best tool to use for long straight lines. There are many different types of craft knifes to choose from but you should always use a craft knife with a metal ruler. A craft knife can easily cut nicks out of a plastic ruler which is then useless.

Pencil with rubber
A pencil is needed in any craft and a rubber as we all make mistakes! if you also have a notebook handy you can note down any ideas you may get while working, then you can go back to them later.

Pva glue with a dish & cocktail sticks
Pva is water-based glue that is all-purpose and dries transparent, this is glue that is used in most papercrafts. using a dish and cocktail stick is the perfect way of using the glue without getting it everywhere.

Glue stick
These handy items are great for when you want to get an even film over a large piece. They are very easy to use and don't make your papers soggy.

Double-sided adhesive tape
This tape does not cause any mess and you don't need to worry about it drying up so is an easy alternative to glue. Double-sided adhesive tape is great for mounting work behind apertures.

Cutting mat
This will help protect your surfaces when you are busy with your crafts, needed especially when you are using a craft knife.

Scrap card and paper
although you will be buying card and paper for your projects it is a good idea to start a selection of extra sheets and off cuts so you always have extra pieces that you can add into your work if needed.

Storage of all your goodies may not be the main thing on your mind at the moment but it is something you should think about, even when you are just beginning. If you start out organized then as your collection of goodies grows you will still always know where things are. There is nothing more frustrating then running out of time because you have spent half your time looking for things!

By: ERLincoln

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