Papercrafting 101: Papercraft Definitions

Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is the art of saving memories in hard copy. Scrapbookers are people that love their families and friends and treasure those relationships. Scrappers place photos into blank albums and embellish them with artwork and journaling, as a way of preserving precious memories.

Although people have been creating scrapbooks since the 15th century, it did not develop as an industry until 1980. Today, even people that are artistically challenged can enjoy making scrapbooks. Thousands of scrapbook supplies and embellishments may be purchased at any craft store, making it easy for anyone to create a lovely scrapbook layout.

Scrapbooking is not only a method to preserve memories for future generations but also a creative outlet. Scrapbookers frequently gather at scrapbook "crops" where they share tips, tricks and socialize as well. Local craft stores often sponsor cropping events.

Card-Making

People have been exchanging greeting cards for hundreds of years, but it wasn't until recently that handmade greeting cards have become a craft industry phenomenon. Birthday cards are the most popular greeting cards, followed by Christmas cards. Receiving a handmade card is a special gift, because of the time and effort someone spent making it. It lets the recipient know just how much you care about them. 

Paper Flowers

Decorative flowers made from paper are beautiful. The best thing about paper flowers is that they don't die. Paper flowers can look like the real thing or be fantasy, depending on what type of paper one uses. Many people make paper flowers for their weddings, and they look beautiful. Paper flowers also may be incorporated into home decor. Paper flower making is a craft that is not limited by age, both young and old can enjoy the art of paper flower making.

Decoupage

Decoupage is a centuries-old craft. It consists of gluing bits of paper onto various items. It is a craft that doesn't cost very much and is easy to do. The only tools needed are paper scraps, scissors, and glue.

Decoupage embellishes furniture and other objects adding richness and intricate detail to the design. Decoupage became quite popular in the 17th century as a poor man's alternative to painted furniture. Decoupaged furniture continues to be popular in this day and age.

Papier Mache

The first experience people often have with papier mache is as an art project in elementary school, but don't let that fool you. Surprisingly sophisticated sculpture and art can be produced with papier mache.

The art of papier mache consists of strips of paper dipped in glue or a compound of paper mash applied to an armature. After the mache dries, the object is painted to add color and pattern.

Origami

Origami is an ancient technique developed in Japan where squares of paper are intricately folded and formed into various objects such as flowers, animals, and boxes. One of the requirements of traditional origami is that no glue, pencil marks or cuts are used to make the finished product. To be considered authentic origami, the final project must be produced solely from folds.

Paper Cutting

Most people think that paper cutting art is founded on ancient German art called scherenschnitte. Various cultures have been practicing some form of this craft for centuries. A craft knife creates beautiful pictures with intricate and detailed cuts from a single sheet of paper.

Electronic die cut machines and laser cutters have made modern-day papercutting easy to achieve. These tools make it possible to cut intricate paper-cut works of art in minutes.

Quilling

Quilling is the art of rolling thin paper strips into various shapes and attaching them with glue as embellishments to greeting cards and other paper crafts. Quilling has its roots in the Renaissance but is still considered a viable paper art today.

Paper-Making

Paper-making as a craft is the art of recycling scrap paper into unique sheets of paper. Many crafters find that making their own paper is tremendously satisfying. Not only is recycling paper helping our earth, but it also creates beautiful papers that are unique and not available commercially.

Bookbinding

Bookbinding is the papercraft of making a book from paper pages bound together under a hardcover. Crafters often will create their books in conjunction with scrapbooking or journaling.