Customer Reviews

Origami Card Craft: 30 Clever Cards and Envelopes to Fold

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I chose this book to make interesting card and scrapbook pages as well as a new craft to "play" with. The first use was for reserved seating notifications for our daughter's wedding. Guests were quite taken with the folded letter. Then I took the book and some paper to the nursing facility where my mom lives. She used to sew and quilt a lot so I thought I would try some techniques with her. Even though she has dementia, we accomplished two projects and will do more. She is very proud of her work and shows it to everyone. She says it helps keep her hands and mind active. So we are now planning new ways to use our projects when she and I make them - gifts of note cards, fun designs, etc.

The book is nicely produced and packaged, and the photos and directions are pretty good. However, I had problems folding a few of these things--I followed the instructions to the letter but wasn't satisfied with the results. I emailed the author asking for help with the problems I encountered but never had a reply. I agree with another reviewer that though the book is probably fun for newbies, many of the projects are identical to those in other books. But, there are some fun projects.

Excellent idea to the book, but a few items are hard to make & not very logical as a card. I had fun trying to make some things, but I bought the book for my 9year old daughter. She also enjoyed trying to make some cards & money holders etc, but instructions are out of her depth. Reccommended for older people.

I've only tried a few of these so far, and they've been successful, but the few I've learned are so useful, that they are worth the price of the book alone. And I have found inspiration for other projects as well looking through the pages. I stopped doing origami for a long time, because after all the figuring and folding, I rarely had any use for the objects created - not to mention the ROOM to keep and display them. But these things are useful as well as elegant. I may never buy another greeting card (which is a good thing, because greeting cards have become quite boring of late.) I can now combine collage, calligraphy, & illustration with paper folding. I know I am going to love it.

My excitement over this new title faded when I found that the majority of the ideas/projects have been circulating among paper crafters for several years. The author has repackaged them, but the ideas are far from original. She even recycles some of her older material.

I like many of the projects in this book. I have been making cards for awhile and needed something to add a fresh idea. This book gives you some great basics that you can build on and the instructions are well done.

I was interested in this book so checked it out from my library. It has a lot of interesting and clever projects in it, many of which you can make from letter size (8-1/2x11"), A4 or origami (ie, square) paper. Some of the projects, however, called for non-traditional sizes of paper. Usually this was because the finished product needed to be a specific size (e.g., the money holder is made to fit American bills). Unfortunately I do not know where to get paper that is, or can be cut to, 12x17" without a lot of waste or, if I needed it in bulk, cost. 11x17", sure. At least I could borrow a sheet or two at the office to practice and see if I'd like to invest in fancier paper to make one "for real." That said, maybe it is possible to modify the instructions to use 11x17" paper. I didn't try because I don't need a paper money holder, but I did tweak some of the other instructions, so it could be worth trying. Another alternative would be to shrink the scale and use whatever paper is available for the practice runs.

To her credit, the author does make a note of times when a standard size won't work. For example, the classic envelope works with A4 paper but not letter size. They're so close, yet letter is not quite long enough.

My other concern is that starting paper sizes for a couple of the projects I tried were incorrect. I made a note of these and was able to complete the project the next time around with the correct starting size.

Finally, a note to origami purists: A couple of the projects call for some cutting, which is technically not origami. That didn't bother me.

Minor concerns aside, there were enough cute projects in this book for me to continue to check it out of the library. Were it not easily available there, I'd purchase it, but my inner environmentalist and community activist tell me I should patronize my library. (Sorry amazon!)

This is a great book for origami. the directions are clean and effective. The projects are fun and worth the effort. All together, you can create a fun greeting at home in the same amount of time it takes to go to the store and buy a card-less time really.

I purchased this book with the intent of making some of the projects. EVen if I never make any, I am still completely satisfied with it. Why? Because it is a beautiful book to look through. The projects are photographed in full color, making for an inspirational text for any crafters. I have had no trouble making the projects I was interested in assembling. I only wish I had a better eye for matching papers and colors like the author.

A book filled with charming and creative designs--that are easy to duplicate and to adapt to your own ideas and inspirations.
Simple materials, primarily paper, combined with photographs, diagrams and easy to follow directions insure success.
This books is a marvelous tool for creating special, one of a kind cards, gifts and memory keepers. Enjoy.