Read an Excerpt
Decorative Origami Boxes
By Rick Beech, Rikki Donachie Dover Publications, Inc.
Copyright © 2007 Rick Beech
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-486-17428-0
INTRODUCTION
This selection of elegant origami boxes, including some designs previously unpublished, will delight both the beginner and the expert enthusiast. We recommend attempting the easier models at the beginning of the book first.
Rikki Donachie's beautifully-crafted and artistic diagrams will enable the reader to competently fold many differently shaped boxes and containers from one or several sheets of paper (this branch of origami is called "modular" or "unit" folding).
By way of a few tips, always fold carefully and accurately, and remember the "look ahead" rule of checking the next diagram to see that you have completed a particular stage correctly
Never allow yourself to become impatient or frustrated with your first results; try the design again and again until you are totally delighted with the outcome. Origami is to be enjoyed!
Paper Choices,
It is important when folding origami boxes to choose paper which is strong and sturdy, and which holds a crease well. The ideal stock to use is 80-100 gsm (grams per square meter), especially if the particular design is to fulfil a practical purpose; you may be making a confetti container for a wedding or a candy holder for a party, for example.
There are many sources for such material, including art suppliers, specialist gift shops and craft markets. You will notice on the covers of this book that for the best results highly coloured and patterned paper is recommended. Be creative!
Some instructions refer to A-size paper. This is an international paper size standard that uses the metric system. Some commonly used sizes are: A4 (8.27" x 11.69"), A5 (5.83" x 8.27"), and A6 (4.13" x 5.83"). These sizes are based on a single aspect ratio of the square root of two. The proportions of A-size paper always remain the same. For example: when an A1 size paper is folded in half, it becomes the size of an A2, when an A2 is folded in half, it becomes an A3, etc.
If you wish your box to be very sturdy and long lasting it is a good idea to glue flaps down and then to apply 2 or 3 coats of polyurethane varnish. Try the varnish on a scrap of the paper first as colours may run.
Creating boxes
After folding all of the boxes in this book you may be tempted to create your own designs. It is easier than you might expect. Just by changing a valley to a mountain can have a dramatic effect if done in the right place. Keep experimenting with different shapes and maybe more than one piece of paper. Have fun!
When you have created a new design it is always a good idea to diagram it. This is also easier than you might expect. Rikki Donachie has, on his Web site, simple step-by-step instructions on how to draw origami diagrams.
Just visit; www.itsjustabitofpaper.com
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Decorative Origami Boxes by Rick Beech, Rikki Donachie. Copyright © 2007 Rick Beech. Excerpted by permission of Dover Publications, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
