The Art of Papercraft

November 1, 2021
The humble sheet of paper is elevated to art in 40 projects using folding, cutting, and fastening. Hiebert begins with an introduction to paper, the basics of folding and sewing, and the tools and materials needed, from rulers to recipes for glue. A variety of paper artists provided the projects, and the book includes images of their work throughout, providing further inspiration. Each project includes the designer, the specific paper used, and what to look for when choosing an alternate paper (a resource list is in the back). A project that uses origami paper could be made with any text-weight paper; Tyvek can be replaced with ""a thin strong paper that will stand up to multiple folds."" Text directions are accompanied by diagrams or full-color photos on the opposite page, making them easy to follow. The projects themselves range in complexity from a simple origami candy dish to the Blushing Tiger Card, which uses LED stickers, to a quilled snowflake. Though the projects range in style, they all rely on precision, and ambitious crafters will appreciate the variety.

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December 6, 2021
Paper artist Hiebert (The Papermaker’s Companion) offers a first-rate guide for all manner of paper crafters. A little creativity can “transform a single sheet of paper into fantastic and sometimes unbelievable forms,” she writes, and offers detailed descriptions of papercraft techniques (including setting, stitching, and folding), tools (for cutting and gluing), and materials. The author presents 40 projects, grouping them by technique. There’s folding, which includes an origami candy dish designed by 11-year-old Trinity Adams, a deceptively simple two-fold name card by Paul Jackson, and an origami bat by Ioana Stoian; cutting, which features Hiebert’s stunning Peace Tree card and One-Sheet Tree; constructing, with Hiebert’s floral lantern, Shawn Sheehy’s pop-up dragonfly, and Arnold Grummer’s plantable paper; and surface treatments, which has tips for stenciling, laminating, embossing, and watermarking. Hiebert’s helpful templates, easy to follow instructions, and full-page color photos will help crafters nail the projects, and the extensive list of resources and project index are a bonus. This delightful collection should have a spot on both seasoned artists’ and hobbyists’ bookshelves.