The Kirigami Project - Week One - 2014

I loved having a creative challenge in 2013! Sending pretty mail (and receiving it) was a fun way to stretch my creative muscles all year long. So I knew that I wanted to take on another challenge in 2014.

So, this year, I'm teaming up with Geri from The Languid Lion for The Kirigami Project. I'll do the cutting, Geri will create the templates, and each week we'll bring you a new kirigami design to try. Some will be simple, some more difficult. Some will take on a specific form (like flowers), others (like this week's) just for fun. AND at the end of each month, we'll provide a free printable with that month's designs on it so you can print, trace & cut to your heart's content.

To play along, all you really need is some 6-inch origami paper (the thinner, the better) and a sharp pair of scissors. I hope you'll enjoy this year's adventures in kirigami!

Let The Kirigami Project begin!

For the first set of designs, I wanted to celebrate the dawning of a new year. For this week's design, I used 2014 as a starting point. The result? A kind of flower with lovely wide heart-shaped petals with an intricate centre.To create your own 2014 kirigami, start with the 6-Point Fold Pattern and the design below. Then, fold, trace & cut your own kirigami creations!Happy crafting!

Send Pretty Mail #56/57/58/59/60 - New Year Wishes

For the final Send Pretty Mail of 2013 (okay, so this project drifted into early 2014, but since the idea came to me in 2013, I'm counting it!), I decided to send New Year's wishes in the mail.

For 2014, I'm wishing you all Love, Health, Joy, Luck & Abundance. Abundance is such a good word isn't it? So round & full - and rather than the single-minded Wealth, Abundance fills you up with whatever you need much of this year - be it money or a plentiful veggie garden or a groaning bookshelf.

Origami cranes seemed appropriate as the vessel to carry these wishes for the new year. Full of hope and peace. A string of 3 slides nicely into a small envelope.

Star print origami paper the loveliest touch - full of the dark blues of winter. A little moody but also calm.

 

Envelopes bedazzled with a little glitter tape greeting on the front...

Golden doodles on the back (of the drawing kind rather than the puppy kind)...

And more stars to line the envelopes.

Fly straight and fly true crane friends. You're carrying precious wishes on your wings.

Happy New Year!

I'll be recapping the whole 2013 Send Pretty Mail project a little later in week, but see you tomorrow for the introduction of 2014's creative project!

What Christmas Looked Like - 2013

this year's washi tape tree  / a Christmas Eve Santa snack peppermint inspired pom poms / pretending you love winter is the first step

snow past the tops of our boots / homemade granola gifts 

Japanese treats beneath our tree / all wrapped up in kraft with pom toppersEasing back into the swing of things - and the new year - with a look back at how our Christmas looked. Hope your holidays were full of your favourite people and festive foods!