Paper Crafting

This is probably the single most fascinating and addictive one-piece technique! Once the basic measurement principles have been grasped, endless variations suggest themselves. To speed up construction, stick squared paper to the back of the card and draw the measurement onto it.


This is the basic Steps form. Note which of the distances are equal and how the mountain and alley creases touch the slits.


1.  Having carefully drawn the construction, cut along the parallel lines.


2.  Use an indenting tool to go over all the creases, beung careful to differentiate valleys from mountains. Then carefully form all the creases simultaneously to collapse the steps into their final shape.


3.  This is how the pop-up should look when the creasing is completed.

4.  Finally, flatten the pop-up and press all the creases firmly.



On a sheet of thin card (cardboard) and using a pencil, draw the gutter crease across the centre. Measure a square grid seven units wide and eight high. Note that the llength of A is twice B.

Using the grid as a guide, draw the steps, as shown. Your drawing must be extremely accurate.



Erase all of the lines that are not needed for the construction. (For clarity, coloured lines hae been used in this example to show which lines are for cutting and which for creasing.)

Any occasion that calls for a party certainly warrants party hats—including one that you can pin in your hair. These hats look good on kids and grownups alike. Variations on the embellishments are endless and almost as fun as the party itself!                                                  

                                                     Supplies

Party-Time Party Hats templates     Pencil     Scissors for paper    Liquid glue     Ruler     White butcher paper    Glue stick Ribbon      Crepe paper in various colors


1.   To make the top hat: Trace the three hat templates on card stock and cut out. Shape the walls of the hat into a cylinder. Apply liquid glue to the side tab and glue to the wall, pressing firmly. Hold for about 5 minutes. The top of the hat is wider than the bottom. Bend in the tabs at the top of the hat and apply liquid glue to the tabs. 


 Adhere the top of the hat to the tabs. Next, bend out the tabs on the bottom of the hat and apply liquid glue to the undersides. 

Attach the tabs to the brim. Allow to dry for about 10 minutes.



 2.   Using the hot glue gun, attach the hair clip to the underside of the hat. Allow to dry for about 5 minutes.





3.    (I recommend covering your work surface with newspaper before starting this step.) Pour the thin liquid glue into a small dish. Place the hat upright, and apply a thin layer of thin liquid glue with the foam brush. Working over a scrap paper, cover the hat with glitter. Shake off the excess onto the scrap paper. Check for places that need more glitter, brush with glue, and sprinkle on more glitter. Allow to dry for about an hour. 


4.   Trace the feather template on the magazine paper and cut out. Attach the feather to the hat at the quill with liquid glue, and hold in place to dry for about 5 minutes. Punch out a  circle from your chosen paper.


 Using the glue stick and a dot of liquid glue, glue it to the base of the feather. Allow to dry for about 30 minutes before wearing.

This project is an exciting combination of surfaces and embellishments, which come together as a beautiful box to hold your stationery and correspondence. Fabric paper covers the exterior, fabriccovered foamcore pads line the interior, and ribbon and buttons add a decorative fl air. After you’ve completed the box, use the leftover fabric and paper scraps to create a coordinating set of handmade stationery and cards. If you are making this project as a gift, beware—you may be tempted to keep it for yourself !



                                    MATERIALS AND TOOLS
 
10¾" x 7¼" (27cm x 18cm) wooden box     decorative fabric paper    fabric    foamcore board    chipboard    button thread     26" (66cm) length of ½"     (12mm) decorative ribbon     3" (8cm) length of ¹⁄8" (3mm)     round elastic cord     needle     scissors      rotary cutter with pinking blade     fabric glue     industrial-strength glue     laminating liquid   acrylic paint: green     ¾" (19mm) wash brush
mother-of-pearl button   1" (3cm) antique button with shank   miniature decorative metal frame   (optional)  decorative glass knob   (for box handle)     pencil    metal ruler   hand drill   screwdriver    brayer   hot knife tool


1.  Paint box

Paint the entire box, inside and out, with green acrylic paint, using a ¾" (19mm) wash brush. Let the paint dry completely.

2.  Drill holes

Prepare for the clasp by hand-drilling two holes on the front center of the box—one hole on the base to accommodate the button and one hole on the lid to accommodate the elastic clasp loop. Use a ruler to determine the center point of the box lid’s top surface. Mark the point, then drill a third hole through it. 

3.   Cover exterior

Measure the top and side surfaces of the box exterior. Following these measurements, use a rotary cutter to cut decorative fabric paper to cover each side of the exterior, cutting separate pieces for each side of the box lid and bottom. Use laminating liquid to adhere the paper to the box, then run a brayer over the paper to burnish it in place.


4.  Insert lid handle

Locate the drilled hole on the box lid top, then puncture through the fabric paper to expose the hole. Insert a decorative knob into the hole and tighten to secure it in place, using a screwdriver, as necessary. If desired, embellish the lid by adding a miniature decorative frame around the knob, adhering it with industrial-strength glue.


5.  Create lid interior

Using a hot knife, cut a sheet of foamcore to fi t inside the interior of the lid. Cut a piece of fabric large enough to cover one side of the foamcore board. Adhere the fabric to the foamcore with fabric glue, pulling the ends of the fabric tightly over the edges of the foamcore before gluing in place.


6.  Line lid interior

Add two lengths of ribbon across the fabric-covered foamcore, forming an X, and adhere with glue. Pull the ends of the ribbon over each corner and secure with glue. Sew a button in the center of the X. Glue the fabric-covered foamcore into the lid interior.


7.  Line box base interior

Cut a piece of chipboard to fi t into the interior base bottom, then cut a piece of fabric large enough to cover one side of the chipboard. Adhere the fabric to the chipboard with fabric glue, pulling the ends of the fabric tightly over the edges of the board before gluing in place. 


8.  Line interior sides

Measure four panels of chipboard to fi t along each  interior side of the base. Cut four pieces of fabric  to cover each panel, then adhere the fabric to the board with fabric glue. Adhere the fabric-covered panels to the interior sides, using fabric glue to secure.

9.  Add clasp

Cut a length of elastic, then run both ends through the drilled hole on the box lid, forming a loop on the exterior of the lid. Be sure that the loop is large enough to fi t around the button you’ll be using for the clasp. Tie the two ends of the elastic together to secure the loop. Add industrial-strength glue to the back of the button. Insert the shank of the button into the drilled hole on the box base and through the liner added in step 8. Leave enough of the shank exposed to accommodate the elastic loop.

10.  Make coordinating stationery

Use scraps of the fabric paper to create coordinating notecards. Add embellishments, such as clay buttons and decorative borders, as desired. When fi nished, store the stationery in the box.

Inspiration for this mobile comes from the Cheshire Cat’s wise admonition, “Depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” You want to use papers that are not too flimsy so that the shapes will hang without flopping over, but not too thick so that the mobile will still have an airy, light feeling. Choose papers that coordinate in color and design and are similar weights. You may want to select pages from the same magazine article or children’s book for continuity; mixing styles of paper and combining papers with text and images will also work well. The string or yarn should be able to support the weight of the mobile without breaking.



                                                  Supplies
Alice in Wonderland Mobile templates    Pencil   Sturdy magazine or book pages   Scissors for paper    Glue stick   Wire cutters    Ruler    20-gauge straight stick floral wire     Sturdy string or yarn    Liquid glue     Scrap paper.

1. Download the Alice in Wonderland Mobile templates from www.chroniclebooks/sweetpaper.com. Using the pencil, trace the cat head template on your chosen paper. Trace the Cheshire smile template on paper of a contrasting color. Cut out both pieces with the paper scissors. Be careful to cut inside the pencil lines so that you don’t have to erase them later. Using the glue stick, affix the smile to the cat’s head.

2. Trace the kitten template on paper and cut out. Trace four stars and cut out. Fold a piece of paper and place the two pennant templates along the fold as marked, then trace and cut out. Trace each letter template on paper and cut out.


3. Using the wire cutters, cut two pieces of floral wire each 18 in/46 cm long. Using the scissors, cut a piece of string 25 in/63.5 cm long. Place the two wires together and overlap them so that the total length of the wires is 20 in/50 cm. In the center of the overlapped wires,tie one end of the string with a firm knot. Make a loop in the other end and hang the wires.


4. Cut two pieces of string each about 18 in/46 cm long. Tie each piece to an end of the wires where they still overlap, leaving the string hanging down. If the wires do not hang horizontally, slide your center knot left or right.


5. Cut three lengths of string about 14 in/35.5 cm, 17 in/43 cm, and 18 in/46 cm long. Place the lengths of string on your work surface in three rows, with the shortest away from you and the longest close to you. Arrange the letters as follows: “DEPENDS A GOOD” on the short length, “DEAL ON WHERE” on the next, and “YOU WANT TO GET TO” on the long one. Check your spacing. The words should be readable when hung. Each length of string should have about 4 in/10 cm on either end for tying to the mobile.


6. Turn the letters right-side down, keeping them in the same order. Starting with the shortest piece of string, place a dot of liquid glue at the top of the D. Set the string in the glue and press firmly. Continue gluing the letters of the first three words, spacing them evenly and allowing space between the words. The glue will dry clear; if you do not use too much, you won’t even see it on the backs of the letters. Continue to glue the remaining words on the remaining lengths of string. Allow to dry for about 15 minutes before continuing. Turn the strings of words right-side up. 


7. Center “DEPENDS A GOOD” on the mobile and tie each end of the string to the wire. Tie “DEAL ON WHERE” to the mobile, making sure it hangs below the first three words. Finally, tie “YOU WANT TO GET TO” in the same way. Adjust the knots if each part of the phrase is not centered on the wire. The words add weight, so you may have to adjust the top support string until the mobile balances.

8. Place a dot of liquid glue on the back of the cat’s head (between where the eyes would be) and another dot about 1 in/2.5 cm below the first. Cut a 1-in/2.5-cm square of scrap paper. Using the glue stick, cover the paper with glue. Set the left string in the glue on the cat’s head. Place the cat’s head low enough so that it does not touch the words. Cover the string and glue with the square, pressing firmly. Apply the glue stick to the inside of a pennant and a dot of liquid glue on the fold. Attach to the string about 2 in/5 cm below the cat’s head. Apply a dot of liquid glue to the center of a star and place it at the end of the string below the pennant. Repeat with  another star and press the stars firmly together. Again adjust the center support string for balance.


9. Apply glue stick to the inside of the second pennant and a dot of liquid glue to the fold. Attach to the right string. Cut a ½-in/12-mm square of scrap paper and use it to attach the kitten to the string
in the same way you attached the cat’s head about 2 in/5 cm below the pennant. Apply a dot of the liquid glue to the center of a star and place it at the end of the string below the kitten. Repeat with another star and press the stars firmly together.


10. After you adjust for balance, trim any excess string across the top of the wire. You may want to move the other lengths of string, rather than only the center string, to get the balance just right. Once your mobile is hanging straight (or with a small amount of tilt), place a dot of liquid glue on each knot across the top of the wire. Allow to dry at least an hour before moving.

For something a little different, think outside the box—or maybe inside the box! This section focuses on special places to store personal keepsakes. Why shouldn’t the exterior of a container be as  impressive as, or more impressive than, its contents? And why should you bother wrapping a gift, when you can make the gift box itself a treasure? You might be surprised how just a little fabric, some ribbon and a few stitches can make a plain old container spectacular! Some of these projects incorporate store-bought containers, such as wooden and papier-mâché boxes. These are like prefabricated blank canvases, with surfaces that are ready to be decorated. Other containers are waiting to be discovered in the most unexpected places. Who would’ve guessed you could recycle old mint tins or crocheted potholders in such a unique way!




                                       MATERIALS AND TOOLS
 
papier-mâché boxes    (set of three, if desired)     cardstock    fabric (in three coordinating patterns,
if desired)    ribbon (coordinating with fabric)     scissors    fabric glue    liquid seam sealant (such as fray check)    hole punch     eyelets   eyelet setter   pencil    ruler   iron


 
1.  Cut fabric

__Cut a length of fabric to fi t around the sides of a papier-mâché box, allowing about 2" (5cm) of fabric     around the top edge of the box and 1" (3cm) of fabric (or less) around the bottom edge of the box .



2.   Adhere fabric to box

 Use fabric glue to adhere the fabric to the box. Fold the 2" (5cm) of extra fabric into the box,  adhering it to the interior sides with glue.

3.  Glue bottom edges of fabric

Fold the remaining fabric over the bottom edges of the box and glue the fabric to the bottom surface.

4.  Cover bottom surface with fabric

Cut a piece of the same fabric used to cover the box, trimming it just slightly smaller than the box’s bottom surface. Glue the fabric to the bottom, then add liquid seam sealant to the fabric edges.

5.  Line box interior

On a piece of cardstock, trace around the bottom edges of the box. Th en, measure the sides of the box; using these dimensions, measure and mark pieces of the same cardstock to line the box interior. Cut out the bottom and side pieces. Use the cardstock to line the box, adhering the pieces to the bottom and side panels with fabric glue.

6.  Cover box lid

Cut a piece of fabric 1" (3cm) wider and 1" (3cm) longer than the box top. Glue the fabric onto the top surface of the lid, centering the lid so there is ½" (12mm) of fabric on either side. Cut the corners of the fabric at an angle, then glue the corners in place for a mitred look.

7.  Prepare fabric for sides of lid

Measure the width of the box lid sides. Cut a long strip of fabric that is double this width. Fold in both sides of the strip to make the width equal to the sides of the box lid, then glue and iron the strip.


8.  Cover sides of lid

Glue the fabric strip around the sides of the lid. If the strip is not long enough to cover all four sides, repeat Step 7 to make another strip. Line the lid of the box, as you did the bottom in Step 5.


9.  Set Eyelets

Determine a center placement for the eyelets on two opposing sides of the box. Punch one hole on each side, then set the eyelets with an eyelet setter.






10.  Tie bow

Cut and place a length of ribbon around the exterior of the box, running each end through an eyelet. Put the lid on the box, then bring the ends of the ribbon on top of the lid and tie the ribbon in a bow. If desired, cover two more boxes with coordinating fabric to make a complete set.