Paper Cutouts

45 spectacular designs for handcrafting with paper cuttings.

The art of paper cutting has a long history. Ancient cuttings, some dating from before 1000 B.C., have been excavated in China''s Xinjiang province. Today, paper cutting is a popular handcraft worldwide, with a variety of applications.

Paper Cutouts features 45 designs of stunning motifs that can be used around the home or framed as elegant artworks. Each design includes a full-sized template to photocopy in advance. The authors provide step-by-step instructions that explain how to fold and cut, with the intricate designs revealed in white or colored paper.

The designs include:

• A hanging lamp
• Room dividers and screens
• Motif rounds (swans, winter chalets, angels)
• Motif squares (spring, summer, winter, autumn)
• Wall friezes (under the sea; garden; on the farm)
• Repeating motifs (bird on a branch, fern, scarabs)
• Mirror motifs (dragons, herons).

Paper Cutouts is a beautiful how-to guidebook for this ancient handcraft and a unique showcase of modern designs for artists and crafters.

Hélène Leroux-Hugon graduated from the School of Fine Arts at Angers, France, and is a graphic designer as well as an author.

Juliette Vicart is a self-taught artist and the author of several books.