There's a legend in Japan that if you fold one thousand origami cranes your wish will be granted. That noble endeavor can take the average folder more than 60 hours!
Here's a short cut: Fold a "fairy" tiny lucky star wishing wand and say the magic words!
What you need:
- A strip of paper 1/2 inch x 11 inches.
- A cocktail stick or toothpick.
- An embroidery needle.
- Nail polish or paint.
These origami french fries could be used to present a gift card to a fast food restaurant, or a lunch or birthday invitation, or even a "Merci Beaucoup" to your "golden" French teacher!
Today we're folding little booklets that can be used as cards, notebooks, journals and more!
What you need:
- Copy paper for the inner pages.
- Thicker paper for the cover. (I recycled a Tommy Hilfiger ad.)
- Scissors and a paper cutter.
- Double sided tape or glue.
What to do:
1. Cut your copy paper to size. Cut the cover a few millimeters larger than the copy paper.
3. Use glue or tape to attach the pages inside the cover.
Voila! Your own one-of-a-kind upcycled notebook or scrapbook!
Experiement with junk mail, magazines, brown paper bags, thin cardboard packaging and other papers in your recycling box for unique, free and eco-friendly booklets!
Today on diy friday we're folding pretty, peaceful decorations for your favorite cupcakes and treats!
The crane is a traditional Japanese symbol of good luck, long life, health, happiness and world peace.
If you would like to read more about the significance of the origami crane, click here.
You will need:
Paper squares approx. 3" x 3". You can use any thin, strong paper to make these. Try origami paper for a traditional look. Or even more peaceful - go green! Recycle paper from colorful ads in magazines. Scrapbooking paper tends to be thick, so save it for larger cranes.
Toothpicks or wooden/bamboo cocktail picks.
Treats, sweet or savory! This is a nice decoration for fruit, little cakes and other sweet things but equally pretty holding the edges of your sandwich wrap in place or to fancy up your appetizers.
Follow these simple steps:
1) Make a crane out of a square of paper 2"-3" per side depending on how small you would like your crane to be (and how nimble your fingers are!). You can follow this diagram on Origami Club or this animated diagram.
Recycled Magazine Paper Crane
2) Insert your toothpick into the hole that is naturally formed on the underside of the crane's belly. If you use the blunt, square ended cocktail picks you will not even need to use any glue as they will hold firmly and will not need any force to be inserted.
3) Make as many as you like and stick them into your treats!
