I really love Japanese crafts and paper crafts a favorite of mine as well. Simply Precious Pop-Ups- Easy to make and Beautiful 3D Greeting Cards by Kiyoshi Kikuchi is a perfect fit.
This is an English translation of a book by Kiyoshi Kikuchi. He's written several books of kirigami projects that are only available in Japanese. Kirigami is cut paper art, it can be sculptural or flat. These cards are right in between. They are dimensional, but not quite sculpture. They are very clean looking and easy enough that if you couldn't do it in 5 minutes, you could certainly do it in 15 and have just the right card for any occasion.
The cards all follow the same basic steps. You fold the paper, cut out the lines to create a mirror symmetrical shape that is mountain folded in contrast to the valley fold that makes the cards. When the recipient opens the card, the mountain folded parts pop out.
The first few pages show the cards in color, with white paper for the pop up and the colored background for the outside of the card. Then you get into the patterns.
The patterns cover a wide range of interest, holidays and special occasions. Baby showers, weddings, new job, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas and some cards that are just general occasion cards. Some are very Japanese in style such as the Emperor or the rice cake card.
After the photos are instructions for making the cards. Starting with a copy of the pattern from the book, it explains step by step with meticulous precision how to trim, fold and cut the designs. While the trimming is done with a craft knife, the designs are cut with scissors. Lots of photos show how to cut each card neatly. Then it explains how to glue it to the contrast paper.
Then the projects themselves all have their own pattern and folding instructions. All the folds are simple folds, but some of them are very tight, such as in the guitar design. However, most of them are easily done. At the very end are more patterns to cut out of a contrast paper to personalize your card a little more, those are shapes that look much like silhouettes.
I really like this book, it doesn't have sliders, spinners and other fancy effects like some pop-up books. Just very clean designs that are easily accomplished. You may need to practice a bit before trying some of the more intricate designs, but none of them are too intricate. They can be done with your children too as long your children are mature enough to use sharp scissors.
Published by Vertical Inc
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I received a complimentary copy of this book to review, I received no other compensation, and my review is my honest opinion of the book. You can read more about my review policy here.
