Paper Crafts

Beautiful Origami Paper Crafts

The ancient art of origami paper crafts dates back to the 11th Century in Japanese history. There are also early findings in China, Germany, and Spain, but this traditional art of paper crafting is known primarily as a Japanese art. Origami figures like birds, butterflies, swans, and boats have been used in Japanese ceremonies for decades to bring good fortune.


The art of making origami paper crafts is meticulous and requires great attention to detail and proportion. The folding techniques can be done with or without tools. There are tools to make the process easier:

  • a bone folder makes sharper creases
  • tweezers can make smaller folds
  • paper clips can hold the paper
  • a ruler can help with proportions.

Larger forms of this paper craft are easier to construct than small ones, but both require precision and skill.

There are different types of papers used in origami, and most can be found in paper craft supplies and scrapbooking crafts stores. Paper used for origami often comes in precut squares, with color or pattern on one side and white on the other. It comes in different weights, similar to copy paper, except foil papers that are lighter and thinner. Traditional papers used in Japan are washi, a thicker paper made from bamboo fibers, or very thin papers coated with a paste. These papers are harder to find, but scrapbooking paper crafts stores may have them. Finished origami models should be coated with a fixative to hold their shape.

Origami models can be still forms, 3D forms, or mobile forms that create energy and movement, even interaction with the viewer. Popular forms are birds and animals, flowers, and free-forms. Folds are typically geometric and create flat surfaces, however, wet-folding creates curved surfaces by using a dampened paper. The art of making beautiful origami paper crafts will require some study. There are books on origami in book stores, libraries, knitting crafts and sewing crafts stores. Origami is a craft that is fun to learn for adults and a paper craft kids would enjoy making too.