Paper Activities

Old wrapping paper -- brown paper -- insides of envelopes -- corrugated cardboard
stamps -- postcards -- cereal boxes -- candy wrappers -- old newspapers -- tissue paper -- aluminum foil
wax paper -- straws -- egg cartons -- cardboard cartons -- mailing tubes -- wallpaper -- magazines or catelogues

Scotch tape

Triangle for corners

Candles for wax resist

Hole punch

Paper fasteners

Straws for spattering and decorating

Toothpicks for armature [flower stems] among other things or for scoring

Ruler for straight lines

String, yarn, threads and ribbons [also for lines, templets, stencilling]

Glue [see a recipe for paste below]

TECHNIQUES:

Paper curls - wind round pencil, etc.

Paper beads - double thick spin from wide end of triangle

Crumpled paper for texture

Weaving strips

Shreds

Twirling into strings or ropes

Accordian folds

Different sheets glued together

Folded armatures

etc.

ACTIVITIES:

Glue together two or more pieces of paper of different color and tear or puncture

Cover a sheet of durable paper with colored [tempera] Elmers or paste paint. Decorate with patterns or designs [lines and shapes, zig zag and squares and twirls] done with cardboard scrapers.

Use the same paste paint for Printing: Use kinds of Sponges, natural or man-made objects, wax and paint [resist], crumpled paper impressions, stencils, flick spattering with brush or straws.

Paint a sheet and crumple it up. Paint and fold impressions, too.

Weave. Slit and slot. Fold a sheet in half. Make slits top to bottom. Or side to side. Then weave strips through the slots.

Designs and Patterns. Cut slit zig zags flaps or expanding circle or triangle or square slit flaps in white paper backed by a sheet of colored paper or vice versa. In same way pull out taps and twirl round a pencil. Designs and patterns. Rhythm. Repetition. Getting larger/growth or smaller/disappearing.

Designs and Patterns. Same as above, but employing scoring and folding. Gently push the shapes up or down and away from the fold.

Alphabet [for graphics or calligraphy]. Icons. Logos.

Frieze or collage. Louise Nevelson. Space station. Afternoon Tea. Cut fold, slit and insert animals and birds, fruit and vegetables, flowers, etc. Paper fasteners for moving parts, etc.

Stand-ups. Paper board or cardboard. Make double slits, cutting twice, so that pieces slot together neatly with strength and durability--the slotted bottom of one fitting the slotted top of another piece--tree, house, animal... Slots should be slightly more than half the size of the shape.

Cards. Cut/design a folded sheet of colored paper into repetitions of line or shape--and glue/include cut-outs. Can do the same thing with several pieces of colored paper glued together and cut or tear or punch.

Card. Glue two colors of paper together, fold, and cut out a large letter. Then, punch a hole in the cut out and thread a cord and include --two letters.

Pop-up cards using taps.

Shoe box theater. Curtain and 5 or 6 backdrops--what will show? Plus - slit in side for insertion of tabbed character or car or animal or bird, etc.

Gift tags - shapes paper punch holes and circles Loops. Ribbons,

Snazzy Designer Shopping Bag with strips or ribbons--printed or slit.

Jewelry. Triangle twirled earrings, accordion triangles or mid tie flaring, squares with twirls, fine weaving, beads, etc.

Colorful printed or slit Paper Mâché bowls - ball or bowl forms. Free form or natural shape forms. Cups and trays.

Fish bowl top with fine strings to suspend cut paper, slit and punched exotic fish...

Other Environments. Twirls of paper strips for plants, torn shapes for fuzz of water current, etc... Pleated, twirled, rolled, flowers....

Paste Recipe:

1. Measure out a cup of flour and three cups of water.

2. In a saucepan, mix a little of the water with the flour to make a smooth paste.

3. Add the rest of the water and heat the mixture until it boils--stirring all the time.

4. Turn the heat down - let it simmer until the paste thickens.

5. Leave the mixture until it is cold.

[The Paper Book & The 3-D Paper Book, Fun Things to Make and Do With Paper, by Hannah Tofts, Written and Edited by Diane James, Photography by Jon Barnes, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1989.]