One of the very first crafts I learned how to do when I was little is origami. My Japanese grandfather always had a few squares of paper in his pocket for folding emergencies. The first origami I mastered was the samurai helmet, followed by flapping birds, flowers, and eventually, the classic crane. My friends and I even made giant newspaper hats at one of my birthday parties. It was a hit!
While I haven’t attempted to teach Eliana origami yet, we definitely love to tackle crafty projects together. We always have various types of paper in our stash, and it’s such an easy, non-messy medium to experiment with.
8 Books About Paper Crafts
Origami 1-2-3 by David Petty
This is a wonderful beginner book that covers everything from basic folds to more advanced models. There are plenty of animals, plants, containers, and other projects to keep you busy. I especially like that the directions contain photos of each step instead of drawings, making them easier to follow.
Super Nifty Origami Crafts by Andrea Urton and Charlene Olexiewicz
This is a rather short book that includes some unusual, kid-friendly models like a hot air balloon that doubles as a candy dish, a candle holder, and a friendship ring.
Not-Quite-So-Easy Origami by Mary Meinking
Don’t get scared off by the title! This book contains plenty of easier projects like pinwheels, airplanes, and corner bookmarks in addition to more advanced models like hopping frogs.
Paper Folding by Sally Henry
This book mixes origami with a bit of cutting and gluing to make projects like picture frames, animal head snappers, and crowns.
Easy Paper Crafts in 5 Steps by Anna Llimos
This book contains some fun projects that would be perfect for a classroom: a tissue paper butterfly, a trumpet with tissue paper streamers, a 3D jungle scene, and even a dragon.
Paper Artist by Gail Green
Most of the projects in this book are better suited for middle school and up, but they are unusual and beautiful! From jewelry to stationery to decorations, there is something here for everyone. Many different techniques are covered, including quilling, decoupage, stenciling, and more.
Papertoy Monsters by Brian Castleforte
This book is a must for those kids who love monsters! It comes with brightly colored, prescored templates that you can pop out and start folding right away. It would make a great gift!
Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes
For all the aspiring pilots out there, I would highly recommend this book. Klutz is known for their high quality, fun projects, and this book does not disappoint. There are 10 different planes to fold, and the book comes with 40 pieces of paper to get you started.
Happy crafting!
