KIRIGAMI Kirigami is a form of paper art The word comes from the Japanese words kiru meaning cut and gami meaning paper Kirigami artists fold and cut paper into amazing pieces of art One of the most important elements of kirigami is symmetry Artists unfold their paper to reveal perfectly symmetrical designs It is possible that long ago kirigami was used in Japanese temples as a way to make offerings to the gods Today kirigami is often seen in Japan as part of Buddhist festivals However kirigami has become popular around the world Anyone can be a kirigami master including you
MATERIALS All you need to practice kirigami is paper and a pair of scissors However the kind of paper that you use can be very important depending on the project Some kirigami designs require sturdy paper such as construction paper so that folds stay firmly in place Other projects require cutting through several layers of paper So using thinner paper can make this task easier There are also certain household materials that are well suited to kirigami Kitchen papers such as parchment paper wax paper or freezer paper are all very thin They also come in long sheets that can be cut to any size Be sure to ask for permission before using these types of paper for kirigami projects
