Lately my new found alternative to hold 2 or 3 sheets, usually printed articles or clippings of all sorts, is to dab a little glue or paste double-sided tape at the corner of each page. Both ways work out great!
Next I came across this clever tip for making a simple booklet without needing even glue, tape or thread!
The method consists of 2 parts. Here are my jots:
Part 1 (the base): fold paper in half. On the fold, mark out A and B, then cut along the lines. Unfold to reveal gap B. Keep A at least 1cm. I kept B at 0.5mm and could bind up to 10 sheets (excluding the base).
Part 2: fold a new sheet in half and unfold. Make a slit (equal length to A) on opposite sides along the crease. Then insert through the base and rest the slits on the bridge. Repeat to add more pages.
I made a blank notebook with a fancy (and thicker) cover at the front and back. The front is part of the base while the back cover is actually the very first sheet that is inserted (through the base).
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Something I’ve been longing to do is to make a brooch cum hair clip (using one of those handy combo bases) out of an artificial flower, but the right bloom just never seem to surface…until a few months ago.
Having picked up a dress for my cousin’s wedding dinner, I was pondering on matchy accessories, say a humongous floral interest either on the dress or on my head. It was timeliest when I found THE ONE black rose in a florist’s one week before the wedding at only $2.80 a stalk.
The glue I felt should gel both parties just fine was “Perfect Deco” (commonly used for glitter deco crafts) which I use to make some jewelry. And it didn’t disappoint.
So on that wedding night I worn it on my hair. And am regretting that I didn’t snap a picture of my nicely-done-up-hairdo-by-a-makeup-artist-cum-hair-stylist-sponsored-by-my-aunt when my camera was with me all night.
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While having tea + toast in Toastbox, a rustic-style cafe, I fell in love with the nifty idea behind the 2-faced menu stand on the table.
Hinge to join at the top.
Screw eyes and a string at the bottom.
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To be honest, I was never keen on folding origami hearts (or roses for that matter) for a fairly long time because it was hard to accept the way they look — I find them too edgy and not very loving. But that’s all in the past, my perception has changed (I’m so glad). I have embraced their looks and I will admire them as they are.
I’ve been on a folding spree over the new year break, particularly enjoying making heart after heart, starting with:
1. Origami heart ring
The ring design is by Hiroshi Kumasaka [熊坂浩氏]. I use a 7.5cm/2.95″ square to make a size 5 ring. As a rough guide add 2.5cm to the circumference (of the finger) to determine the length of the paper. Say, if the finger circumference is 6cm, the paper size should be about 8.5cm.
Make bigger rings to use as napkin ring, bangle, scroll tie, bottle tag, etc.
1. Use a square and divide it into one-eighth.
2. Fold in half vertically.
3. Unfold. Fold towards the 2/8 crease. Crease.
4. Turn over.
5. Fold 2 triangles to meet the vertical centre.
6. Fold the peak behind as shown.
7. Lift up the flap.
8. Flatten to a triangle. Repeat on other side.
9. Bring the edge marked “A” to align with vertical centre.
10. Crease.
11. Repeat on other side.
12. Fold down a tiny bit on both peaks.
13. Fold up the remaining 1/8 folds, one on another.
14. Turn over.
15. Bend and slip the left band into the right (or vice versa).
16-17. Slip the end into the nearest slot.
My preference is to hide those 2 flappy peaks (from step 12) inwards.
2. 2-sided heart
Totally in love with this heart by Matthew Gardiner which looks identical both front and back. You got try it to believe!
Notes:
Crease well. Bring up the sides to meet in the centre, which should result in a square base. Then fold down the base in half for the heart to show up.
3. Easy heart
Followed this tutorial which uses a piece of triangle paper (i.e. half a square).
4. Change of heart
Designed by Kathleen Weller for a dollar bill. Features kite-like folds in the middle to hold a coin. Truly brilliant.
1. Paper length should be >2x longer than its breath.
2. Fold a triangle at both ends. Crease well.
3. Unfold.
4. Repeat step 2 on opposite sides.
5. Unfold. Identify A and B.
6. Push in the triangles A and B.
7. Let them contact in the middle.
8. Press the top triangle down.
9. Repeat on other end.
10. Fold up a triangle. Crease.
11. Open up the triangle from step 10.
12. Flatten to become a square.
13. On the square, fold in 2 smaller triangles.
14. Open up the triangles and flatten as shown.
15. Repeat steps 10 to 14 on the other three sides.
16. Carefully fold in half. Crease.
17-18. Open up. Lift up the right section.
19. Bring it to align right next to the left section.
20. Lift up the right section again.
21. Fold in corner triangles.
22. Bring the right section back down.
23. Fold a portion behind.
24. Turn over.
25-26. Fold in the sides. Turn over.
Other hearts to heart:
Simple heart using dollar bill/rectangle paper
Single heart with front pocket
Page marker cum 4-leaf clover leaf
Lover’s ring by Franics Ow (demo)
Pull-apart card
Gallery of hearts based on designs by Francis Ow
plus
Amazing hearts with either a crane, boat, plane, house, lips, diary and much more!!
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Dividing into 8 equal sections is essential for folding the origami Kawasaki rose and the Hiroshi Kumasaka heart ring.
1. Use a square or rectangle of any size.
2. Fold it in half. Crease.
3. Unfold.
4. Fold the ends to the half mark. Crease.
5. Unfold.
6. Fold in both ends to quarter mark. Crease.
7. Unfold.
8. Bring top to the quarter mark on the bottom half. Crease.
9. Unfold. Arrow points to a new crease.
10. Repeat step 8 on the bottom.
11. Unfold.
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Have you tried this? Just a paper bag (like this) or an envelope will do the trick.
1. Identify points A and B.
2. Squish A to B.
3. Align.
4. Fold up a flap to seal.
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Remember this wrapper? I like to see nice papers made into paper bags for stuffing gifts and things. For I feel that a bag would stand a higher chance of being reused than if wrapping was more tight-fitting.
Do you make yours like this?
1-2. Paste one end* with double-sided tape. Identify point A.
3. Turn over. Identify B, the mid-point of C.
4. Bring A onto B. Crease the side.
5. Adhere the edge of the other half. Crease the side.
6. Fold up a base.
7-8. Fold up corner triangles. Unfold and snip them off.
9. Open up the 2 flaps.
10-11. Cut off the top flap. Seal with bottom flap.
I’ve trimmed the top just like the base.
* OR bring the far side onto the adhesive end and the joint line will rest along the edge.
To make a bag with a flat bottom, I will:
1. Repeat above steps 1 to 7. White lines indicate the edges of the triangles.
2. Make a fold on each side to align with white line. Crease.
3. Unfold all.
4. Tuck in the side folds.
5. Erect the base and open it up.
6. Push in from the side for a triangle to emerge inside.
7. Then flatten that triangle.
8. Flatten the outer flap.
9. Repeat steps 6 to 8 on the opposite side.
10-11. Seal up the base.
Tune in next week for an interesting twist on the use a paper bag.
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Here are this year’s complimentary Christmas wrappers from 2 department stores — Takashimaya (left) and Metro (right). I bought some stuff from both stores and collected them free (after showing my receipts at the gift wrap counters). I’ve been happily using them interchangeably to wrap Christmas gifts and to make bows.
To create some visual interest, I occasionally combined the wrappers with last year’s leftovers and blended in some funky lime to synergize the bow mix.
To make the bows, I followed (and at times combined) the steps at Stamping with April and Craftster.
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