Re: Kirigami Greeting Cards (Kirigami Craft Books Series)
Macabeo Eastman
Simple and easy to master designs
Practical use for creations: greeting cards, table decorations etc
Compiled and designed by the Marie Claire Idées group a renowned and respected international hobby craft brand
Emphasis on the modest and traditional aspects of the Japanese craft
The traditional art of paper cutting and folding explained here in simple terms. The book contains 40 delightful projects, by two papercraft designers, to help you hone your skills. The projects include pop-up greetings cards, Christmas decorations, flowers, tea-light holders, wall décor and much more. With great photography, easy-to-follow instructions and all the necessary templates, each project is graded as to cutting and folding difficulty, so this book is suitable for anyone from beginner upwards.
Kirigami is a Japanese paper cutting craft, accessible and easy to master for all levels of crafter. This new books contains a selection of 40 projects all accompanied by detailed and thorough instructions and diagrams which are easy to follow and master. Templates and photographic step-by-steps are also included. Follow the projects to encompass pop-up cards with a difference.
Social media platforms are filled with stunning kirigami creations, inspiring others to try this exquisite craft. Virtual communities and forums offer spaces for asking questions, sharing techniques, and celebrating the beauty of paper artistry.
Kirigami art can be considered an offshoot of the popular origami, also known as the art of Japanese paper folding. While origami is folding paper, kirigami is the art of Japanese paper cutting art. This involves folding and cutting paper. All the materials needed for kirigami are usually a single piece of paper and scissors or a craft knife. Glue is not necessary.
The first kirigami art is said to be traced back to Japanese Buddhist temples and was believed to represent things like perfection, elegance as well as wealth. The Japanese paper crafts are often seen at Buddhist festivals and within the Shinto culture, which can be described as the indigenous Japanese spirituality.
Japanese paper crafts is a great art form that can be done by all ages. There are easy kirigami projects, but then there are also more intricate and challenging ideas. Some of these ideas can be used to make unique and beautiful greeting cards, which can involve a simple flat design or a fun pop-up design.
Japanese paper cutting art only requires a few supplies including a sharp knife, sharp tip scissors, a ruler, paper, and preferably a cutting board. You do not have to purchase books on the subject, simply check out the library to see if there are books available. Below are a few easy kirigami project ideas.
There are books and tutorials as well as kirigami templates you can use to get you started. There are many easy kirigami projects, however, all these follow some basic ideas. For example, when it comes to kirigami, you will find that symmetry is extremely important. Once the paper is folded and cut, both sides should be the same.
Kirigami is seen more as an art form that has changed and developed over the years, in countries all over the world. However, one feature that remains throughout, is the use of a single piece of paper to create the designs. Most kirigami art is for display and decorative purposes and has no real function, which makes it more of an art form than a craft.
A Bit of History
Paper even plays an important role in the history of Mother's Day. A woman named Anna Jarvis organized the first official Mother's Day celebration in the US in 1908, at a church in Grafton, WV, as a way of honoring her own mother, who had been a woman's rights activist.
According to history.com, "Arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, (Jarvis) started a massive letter-writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood. By 1912 many states, towns, and churches had adopted Mother's Day as an annual holiday, and Jarvis had established the Mother's Day International Association to help promote her cause. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day."
Hallmark Holiday?
Since letter-writing played such vital part in establishing the holiday, it's not surprising that writing to Mom is still very much associated with Mother's Day. The US Postal service reports that mail volume jumps about 20 percent in the week preceding the second Sunday in May.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that US consumers will spend US$23.1 billion celebrating Mother's Day in 2018, and of course that means plenty of paper greeting cards. About 86 percent of Americans are expected to celebrate Mother's Day this year, with the average amount spent on Mom being US$180. Most consumers will give cards (77 percent) and flowers (69 percent), but the biggest expenses is jewelry (about US$4.6 billion, according to the NRF.) Greeting card manufacturer Hallmark even offers some tips about what to write in your paper card for any "mom" in your life.
For something a little different, Lovepop offers a variety of paper pop-up cards sure to impress. "The intricate 3D paper sculptures are designed by naval engineers on cutting-edge software and then handcrafted in the Asian art form of sliceform kirigami," says the company website.
In spite of the amazing options available commercially, many moms will say the cards they love best are the ones made by hand. Online magazine RedTricycle has collected 16 Homemade Mother's Day Cards Every Kid Can Make (or check out this page with a ton of other paper-related Mother's Day crafts.)