We all know what origami is, you fold a single piece of paper several times and it ultimately turns into something else. Kirigami is a varaiation of the original origami art and is made by the same technique of folding a piece of paper. The difference is, once the paper is folded, a series of cuts are made into the paper to create a more elaborate model.

You may even have made kirigami without even knowing you were creating it. Have you ever made a paper snowflake? If so, then you have made kirigami. Folding the paper into different shapes and then cutting into the base so when unfolded a snowflake like design is presented makes the snowflakes.

This is a great craft for children to partake in and even use as decorations around classrooms or in the home. Just punch a small hole in the snowflake and insert string to hang. Children love creating things and this gives them the opportunity to be as creative as they can be. Try also using different colored paper for a special effect.

A woman by the name of Florence Temko actually created the term “kirigami” when describing her book on paper cutting. It was so popular that the actual Japanese people adopted this term to describe the art. It was appropriate as the word “kiri” means the act of cutting and the word “gami” means paper.

There are more intricate forms of kirigami that take on various shapes and intricate cuts to create a more architectural model. This is something that is done by those who have had years of practice, as they can be quite elaborate and even full-scale models of famous buildings.

This art is one to be learned and practiced, so why not start out with a few snowflakes and see how far you can go with that and then let your imagination flow.