Joyful Origami Boxes: A Basic Book for Beginners [Paperback]

Tomoko Fuse (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Japan Publications (USA) (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870409743
• ISBN-13: 978-0870409745
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #994,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fuse is a genius., January 1, 2001

By 

Atheen M. Wilson "Atheen" (Mpls, MN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Joyful Origami Boxes: A Basic Book for Beginners (Paperback)

I love boxes and have collected examples from all over the world in a variety of materials. When I found Fuse's Origami Boxes, I fell in love. They were challenging without being frustrating, effective without being extravagantly expensive to make. This year before Christmas I found Fabulous Origami Boxes and bought it to add to my collection. I had hoped the lady would have added additional shapes and ideas and was definitely not disappointed. When I found Joyful Origami, I wasn't quite sure if I should spend the money on yet another box book by the same author, a book that might just be a re-hash of what I already knew. It seemed inconceivable that Fuse could have come up with anything beyond her impressive collection to date. Still I couldn't resist; I purchased the book. Well I was wrong; the lady is a genius at the paper folding art! Not only are there newer embellishments of her square, triangular, octagonal, and hexagonal boxes, but she has added an heptagonal shape of all things. I had thought it was a misprint at first, but counting the sides did indeed prove that there were seven. If one wonders what conceivable difference one more or one less side could possibly make, one has only to look at the color photo illustrating finished items. Gorgeous, especially in the paper she has chosen for them. The lady has also added steeple shaped and pyramidal lids, and several new patterns for "plates"--actually more bowl shaped than flat--in folded petals. Lovely. She has also added somthing she calls "docking boxes," some of the simplist patterns I've ever seen for a box, yet some of the most useful and effective. They require only two pieces of paper, have simple folds and can be made of either square or rectangular starting sheets. Another interesting design, also very simple and made in much the same manner as the docking boxes are her "trays with stand." These are also made of two pieces of paper, again either square or rectangular, that make a one piece shallow tray with "legs" beneath. I could see these as very effective containers for jewelry, coins or other small items normally kept on bureau draws, or as candy or nut dishes for parties, or in sturdy enough paper as trays from which to serve slices of cake, cookies or dessert bars. Personally, I can hardly wait for the lady's "next act!"

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite book from Tomoko!, July 23, 2002

By 

Mary Jo Sminkey "dog trainer and web programmer" (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Joyful Origami Boxes: A Basic Book for Beginners (Paperback)

Length:: 4:08 Mins

I'm a huge fan of Tomoko and not only have all her English box books, but most of her ones in Japanese as well! This book actually contains a lot of my long-time favorite models from some of her Japanese books, but it's really nice to have them in English now, for those little points I missed before. Most of the models are not too hard to fold, but are really beautiful looking. Unlike some other boxes, most of these are also not too bad to fit the pieces together on. I like folding ones like the octagonal boxes from decorative chiyogami and/or washi paper...people can't believe that they are actually hand-folded, they look so beautiful! With scrapbooking becoming so popular, you can often find really nice papers that can be cut down to make boxes with as well. This book has a wide variety of the octagonal (8-sided) models that I love so much, but also includes a wide variety of other boxes, from triangular, square, hexagonal (6 sides) and even some heptagonal (7-sided) boxes. A must-have book for anyone interested in origami boxes.

Keep in mind that these are not meant for total origami beginners. You should be experienced with basic folding before trying these. With boxes, it is essential to be very accurate in your folds or when you go to lock the pieces together you won't get great results. Start with regular origami paper before working up to more decorative washi papers for truly lovely boxes (check your local craft store or internet origami paper sources).

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These boxes are fun to fold and there are many models!, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Joyful Origami Boxes: A Basic Book for Beginners (Paperback)

This book is a must have for any paperfolder, and a good book for a beginner. All the models embody elegance and beauty. To remark on a previous review, actually the book shows how to assemble the units for every box and lid.