Tag Archives: paper

‘The Art of Paper Craft’ book features one-sheet paper creations using different techniques

Posted on by

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Folding

Paper art can be more appealing especially if done right. In a world where almost everything is transitioning to digital and electronic media, paper may be considered obsolete and that’s not what creatives don’t want to happen.

Paper creations are beautiful. Paper crafting is not yet a lost art but it’s a tradition that must be preserved. We’re not just talking about origami as there are other types of paper art like weaving, pop-up, and quilling. There are plenty of other inventive techniques not many people know but Helen Hiebert has always been generous in sharing her talent.

Designer: Helen Hiebert

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Weaving

Hand papermaking is Helen’s passion. This love for paper art is being shared further in her upcoming book “The Art of Paper Craft” published by Storey Publishing. Helen has always believed in the versatility of paper as a material. She also believes there are numerous and diverse ways to transform just one sheet of paper–from a flat form into a colorful masterpiece.

The Art of Papercraft

The book offers different ways to turn a single sheet of paper into a masterpiece. Different dimensional techniques will be presented whether origami, quilling, folding, weaving, pop-ups, or stretching. (Via Colossal)

There will be 41 unique projects you can try working on. Helen teamed up with other artists from different parts of the globe to show off different techniques and designs. Special projects include pop-up cards, votive lights, envelopes, folded paper gift boxes, and woven paper wall hangings among others.

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Lights

Crafters, designers, and artists will love this book for it presents new papermaking techniques developed by other people. You will definitely be challenged and learn new things you haven’t known or tried before. In this book, the creative author further proves there is more to paper art than just folding, cutting, or crumpling.

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Text

Helen Hiebert’s various experiences make her a worthy artist to follow. She’s been known for paper as her primary medium. She has done notable installations, sculptures, movies, and artists’ works and books with paper. She was once featured on Sesame Street, offering Papermaking Class to the children.

She’s an author who shares her knowledge via how-to books like the upcoming “The Art of Paper Craft”. She’s also a teacher doing papermaking masterclasses and retreats in her Red Cliff, Colorado studio held in September of each year.

The Art of Papercraft 2

According to Hiebert, her imagination is sparked every time she discovers new paper. She quickly sees new creations in her mind. It becomes a magical process as soon as she gets hold of paper and starts cutting, tearing, crumpling, or folding. She says paperwork is fun. It can also be inspirational as it teaches you to be patient and diligent in following in-depth instructions.

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Pop ups

In her new book, Helen Hiebert will wow you once more with the different single sheet paper creations you can do on your own. The 320-page book contains dozens of projects that are a mix of easy ones to those with more advanced techniques. If you want to be challenged, you can try the projects and prove that it can be easy.

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Folding Origami

The Art of Papercraft via Colossal Cutting

The post ‘The Art of Paper Craft’ book features one-sheet paper creations using different techniques first appeared on Yanko Design.

This insanely detailed Hayabusa scale-down model is made entirely out of paper

Posted on by



With a dizzying level of detail all the way down to the cylinders on the engine and even the needles on the speedometer, this tiny Suzuki GAX1300R Hayabusa model shows how versatile and powerful paper is as a material.

If you’re taking out 20 full minutes to watch the video above, be warned, it’s nothing short of sheer madness and devotion. The artist, a Japanese Hobbyist by the moniker of YoshiwoModels, goes into absolute thorough detail, constructing literally every aspect of the superbike just from scraps of paper found in sketchbooks, cardboard boxes, and receipts. If there’s ever been a video that captures true passion and perseverance, it’s this one right here. YoshiwoModels explains his process as he builds out every single part of the Hayabusa, relying on model schematics found online. He talks about his love for the environment and how waste paper can be such a versatile material to work with, while also highlighting his shift to starch-based glues because they aren’t bad for the environment. As he assembles the engine he reflects on how gasoline engines will be obsolete in the future. There’s an inherent respect for the Hayabusa as YoshiwoModels meticulously carves out every single gear and piston from scratch, and the entire video is a phenomenally humbling experience, watching how simple sheets of paper transform into easily the most thoroughly detailed physical model/replica I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Designer: YoshiwoModels

YoshiwoModels’ process is a simple yet painstakingly laborious one. He finds schematics online and meticulously creates plans and outlines of each and every single component, which he then traces onto sheets of paper. For a lightbox, he either uses an illuminated window or relies on the backlight of a computer monitor. The tools YoshiwoModels uses are relatively specialist too… he relies on a hole-punch to create perfect holes in cardboard sheets and uses scalpels and tiny scissors to cut out parts. Assembling the paper scraps isn’t easy too, as Yoshiwo relies on a pair of tweezers to carefully join paper elements together, building first the oil sump, then the engine, the wheels, the chassis, seat, outer body, exhaust, and finally the incredibly tiny elements on the dashboard.

The techniques used by Yoshiwo in this video have their roots Kirigami, a paper-folding style that lets you cut the paper (unlike Origami that only allows you to manipulate paper using folds). In a conscious effort to be as environment-friendly as possible, Yoshiwo doesn’t use any blank or fresh papers in his constructions. For the most part, he relies on boxes and sketchbook covers to create his models and even employs thermal paper found in used receipts, because they can’t be recycled. Once the model is completely ready, Yoshiwo finishes it off by adding the Hayabusa’s kanji logo on the fairing of the superbike.

While the Suzuki Hayabusa is associated with speed and power, this video is the polar opposite, displaying an almost meditative calmness in its slow craftsmanship. Sure, it’s easy to appreciate how beautiful a Hayabusa looks… but when you see every single part of it built and assembled from scratch, it allows you to appreciate the superbike’s design on an entirely different level.

The post This insanely detailed Hayabusa scale-down model is made entirely out of paper first appeared on Yanko Design.

This compact paper shredder comes with a built-in removable pouch to collect the shreds!

Posted on by

Pocket is a compact paper shredder designed with a detachable pouch that collects all of your paper shreds before throwing them in the trash.

Paper shredders are the types of products that are reserved primarily for settings like clinics, pharmacies, banks, and educational settings. Whatever the reason we have for shredding paper, the bulkiness of most paper shredders turns the task into a journey that takes up more time than you’d expect.

Yifeeling, a design studio based in Zhengzhou, China, created their own Pocket paper shredder that’s small enough to tuck away alongside the books and binders that line your desk and comes with an integrated pocket that carries shreds before discarding them.

Shredding paper can be a headache when the machine you’re using doesn’t register differently textured paper. Like a vending machine incessantly spitting out your crumpled dollar bill, conventional paper shredders often have trouble swallowing crinkled and larger pieces of paper. Specifically designed to handle every kind of paper, Pocket can shred unfolded, folded, and crumpled paper scraps in one go.

Taking it one step further, Pocket can transform into a literal pocket at any moment. Whenever the user needs an exterior sack to catch all of the paper shreds moving through the machine, built-in slits near the outer edges of the Pocket shredder provide slots for random pieces of paper to latch onto and form a curved pouch to collect the shreds. Slim by design, Pocket is portable and compact for easy storage and quick shredding. No more are the days of dreading the long walk to the one paper shredder in the entire office, with Pocket, shredding paper can happen at your desk.

Designer: Yifeeling Studio

Pocket carries a nondescript overall look, with bright blue buttons for intuitive operation.

Pocket can handle any type of paper, from crinkled to folded up pieces, and even larger ones.

Along the bottom, Pocket features rows of teeth that grip pieces of paper to form pouches that collect shreds. 

Pocket boasts a slim build to fit anywhere on your work desk.

Pocket can swallow longer pieces of paper in one go.

Craft Your Own 3D Pixelated Papercraft Mario Figure: It’s-a Me, Mario!

Posted on by

Mario: he could never commit a crime and get away with it because absolutely everybody would be able to pick him out of a police lineup. I mean unless he took his hat off and shaved his mustache, then nobody would have any clue who he was. Created by user DAZMAKER, this is an Instructable detailing how to construct your own 3D pixelated Mario papercraft sculpture. I can already feel the stinging paper cuts on my fingers.

Crafting your own pixelated Mario papercraft sculpture basically involves using a razor blade to cut out a ton of paper pieces, then folding those and carefully taping those pieces together. No glue is required for the project, which is a good thing because my wife is probably getting tired of driving me to the hospital with one body part glued to another.

Am I going to make one? Maybe, but I might just start with only crafting Mario’s head first and going from there. I’m very noncommittal. Like when I said “I’ll give it the old college try” instead of “I do” during my wedding vows. My wife still holds that over my head during an argument.

This biodegradable prescription pill bottle is an open-source design made from paper & its child-proof!

Posted on by




Prescription medications are only packaged in stores in plastic containers and about 90% of them are not recycled, according to Tikkun Olam Makers, an Israel-based collective, that is constantly working to solve social and environmental problems with innovation. To battle plastic waste generated from the pharmaceutical industries they’ve created the Prescription Paper Pill Bottle and yes, it is child-safe!

Each year 4-5 billion bottles made of polypropylene plastic are made for prescription medication and then end up as non-biodegradable waste which means it can’t be naturally broken down and adds to the pollution levels. Usually, these pill bottles are small and end up in landfills or water dumps creating microparticles and toxic waste that is dangerous for the environment. Tikkun Olam Makers designed a paper pill bottle that’s 100% compostable, biodegradable, meets FDA regulations for water, light, and child resistance! When the bottle is empty, it can be composted to add more value to the soil without leaving behind any harmful waste.

“The Prescription Paper Pill Bottle, a first of its kind, is 100% compostable and biodegradable. Its open-source design adheres to FDA regulations for durability, light, water, and child resistance. It’s available to any pharmacy for filling prescription tablets and capsules. Once used then emptied, the paper bottle can be tossed into any compostable bin with its Rx label to decompose and be reused as fertilizer to safely replenish the soil in fields, gardens, and landscapes,” says the team. Tikkun Olam Makers made it an open-source design which means anyone anywhere in the world can use their method and make their own paper pill bottles by downloading the .stl file that contains the attendant images and assembly instructions.

Designer: Tikkun Olam Makers

World’s first paper disposable razor unveiled in Japan

Posted on by

This gives a completely new meaning to the word ‘papercut’! Say hello to the Paper Razor, a sustainable alternative to the disposable plastic razor. The Paper Razor, as its name suggests, comes with an all-paper body and sports a metal blade-head on top. Designed to be flat-packed, the single-use razor comes completely unfolded and can easily be put together in a matter of seconds by merely folding in the sides and the top to create a rigid, ergonomic razor with a grippy handle. Its origami-inspired design gives it as much strength and maneuverability as a plastic razor, while minimizing the use of plastic by as much as 98%. The result? A razor that can be easily flat-packed and shipped, used, and then disposed of… safely, of course.

You’re obviously wondering, how would a paper razor fare under exposure to water? Well, the fine folks at the Japan-based Kai Group fashioned the Paper Razor out of a relatively water-resistant grade of paper – keeping durable milk cartons and cardboard paper-spoons in mind. The handle can withstand water temperatures of up to 104°F (40°C), allowing you to shave with lukewarm water, and the metal head even features a notched channel on top that makes it easy to rinse shaved hair off the blade every few strokes. Designed ideally for travelers, the single-use Paper Razor offers a much more ecologically-conscious alternative to those disposable all-plastic razors. The overall razor weighs a mere 4 grams, comes in a flat-pack that’s no more than 5mm thick, and is available across 5 different colors – ocean blue, botanical red, jade green, sunny yellow, and sand beige.

Designer: Kai Group

Coca-Cola, the world’s largest plastic polluter, is testing out the viability of paper bottles

Posted on by

It seems like the title of the world’s largest plastic polluter (for 4 years in a row) is finally beginning to get on the nerves of the executives at Coca-Cola. After making a statement only last year that they don’t intend on breaking free from plastic, the company’s slowly begun re-evaluating its supply chain and choice of materials.

Thanks to a partnership with Danish company Paboco (Paper Bottle Company), Coca-Cola has now unveiled its first ‘paper bottle’. Available for a limited online trial in Hungary, Coca-Cola is planning a run of 2,000 bottles of the plant-based beverage AdeZ. It’s barely anything to begin with, but it is a start… and it gives Paboco, the company behind the bottle’s design, a much-needed boost.

Paboco’s paper bottle comes with an inner bio-polymer lining to provide a waterproof barrier (so that the paper doesn’t get soggy). The outer layer is made from a Nordic wood-pulp-based paper, and provides the perfect substrate for printing on, eliminating the need for a label. The bottle itself can be molded quite like plastic bottles are, paving the way for the use of forms, textures, and patterns to help the product stand-out… and the necks of the bottle can be threaded too, allowing for the use of a paper cap (with the option of the crimped metal caps too). While the bottle is biodegradable, Coca-Cola hopes to develop a design and supply chain that allows bottles to be recycled just like paper. “Our vision is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like any other type of paper, and this prototype is the first step on the way to achieving this,” said Stijn Franssen, EMEA R&D Packaging Innovation Manager at Coca-Cola.

Coca-Cola’s limited run should be met with a bit of skepticism (after all, 2000 bottles isn’t enough, is it?) but the challenges faced by the company are understandable. Bottles can easily get crushed or damaged when transported in large volumes, a complication that exponentially increases with CO2-filled pressurized beverage containers. AdeZ, however, seems to be the perfect candidate for this trial run, given that it’s a thick, dairy-free smoothie that contains seeds, fruit juices, and vitamins. If successful, Coca-Cola may look to gradually expand on this approach, helping it achieve the company’s “World Without Waste” sustainable packaging goal of substantially reducing its waste footprint and developing solutions for easily recycling its bottles and cans, and shifting to using only 100% recyclable packaging materials by the year 2030.

Designers: Paboco & Coca-Cola

Images via Coca Cola and Paboco

Research shows answering one robocall doesn’t lead to more

Posted on by
In an attempt to better understand robocalls, researchers from North Carolina State University set up 66,606 fake phone lines and recorded 1,481,201 unsolicited calls over an 11-month period. Their research debunks a couple longstanding myths, but it...

You Could Empty This Cardboard Vending Machine with a Box Cutter

Posted on by

When it comes to unusual vending machines, Japan is the place that always comes to mind first. After all, this is the country that gave us machines that vend bananas and fried chicken. But this particular vending machine isn’t notable for what it vends, but what it’s made out of.

What you’re looking at is a full-size, working vending machine that’s made primarily out of cardboard. Like other vending machines, this one dispenses canned drinks, though it offers neither refrigeration, nor does it have a coin mechanism. Instead, it has a simple push button and rubber band system that causes drinks to drop into its tray. At least it doesn’t have those stupid spiral things that snack machines like to steal your purchases with. Though I do love it when you occasionally stumble onto someone else’s misfortune and get a two-for-one deal from those coils.

The machine is set up at the offices of cardboard box company Hacomo in Kagawa City, and you can check it out in action in the Twitter post below:

It’s a cool design for sure, but I don’t think it would last very long if a soda can exploded and sprayed all over the insides of this thing, or if someone went near it with an open flame. On the other hand, it’s probably much easier to move around than a regular vending machine, and wouldn’t kill you if it fell onto you while shaking it.

If you like the idea of a cardboard vending machine, Hacomo makes a miniature desktop version that’s available for about $9 on Amazon Japan.

[via SoraNews24]