Origami Cards: Incorporating the Art of Japanese Paper Folding
11 August 2009
Author: Nicole Ratzlaff
If you like making cards then you will definitely enjoy trying your hand at origami, the traditional art of Japanese paper folding. For some the word origami brings to mind elegant animals made intricately from paper or even napkins or bath towels. In fact, if you have ever been on a cruise you know just the towels I am talking about—they get more and more complicated as your vacation progresses. But origami cards do not need to be complicated. In fact origami focuses on simple paper folding techniques – and what goes together better than cards and folded paper? It is just like peanut butter and chocolate if you ask me!
Because origami uses paper folds and creases, there is generally no paper cutting or gluing involved. There are only a few different types of folds for you to learn; the complexity of the art comes with how you use those folds to create.
With regard to card making there are a few types of folds that are fun to use; some are more traditional than others. For example, the card shown here is uses one piece of paper that is folded within itself to create a little pop-up box. This box holds a small card on the interior and is held closed with a band of paper. The box is authentic in origami design in that it uses simple folds with no paper cutting or gluing.
This same card base could be duplicated with slightly larger paper (approximately 1/2 inch larger than the original) and used as a box lid. There are many different origami cards and boxes you can make. I hope that seeing this encourages you to grab some paper and try your hand at Japanese paper folding.