made: origami box

the base of these boxes is one of my favorite patterns called, "tsura" designed by tomoko fuse. the pattern is from the book written by her titled "origami boxes". it is made of two pieces that fit together to create a square cube that is so much fun to make. the paper i used is actually calendar pages from the typographic calendar designed by kit hinrichs of studio hinrichs. it's just too beautiful of a calendar to recycle so i save it for paper projects. fun! the lid is made from the "masu" box pattern with a sticker placed inside to keep it together. to finish, i thread the ribbon through a washer because it is simple and has just enough tension to hold the ribbon in place. bonus, the ribbon doesn't get wrinkled like it would if tied in a bow, which makes reusing it easier. yes, i am one of those people who reuses ribbon, and tissue, and wrapping paper. fact: making origami boxes is pretty high on my list of fun. paper geek, i know!

made: origami vase covers and upcycled milk carton vase

ok, i know, i know, the images are crunchy. they were shot with my cell phone, so my apologies. the origami vase covers are brown kraft paper that is folded. it's one of my favorite materials to work with because it is utilitarian, humble, soft to the touch and has good memory for folding. the origami patterns are from the book, home decorating with origami, written by tomoko fuse. even if you are not skilled at origami, these are patterns you can fold with ease. the vase covers are beautiful, sculptural and almost architectural. all you need is an empty can or jar to hold the flowers inside and no one will notice because the paper will cover everything. i used tape to secure the edges together but if you have some of those mini magnets or brads, that would work also. when the flowers have faded, if you don't use tape, you can take off the magnets or brads and store the covers flat to reuse them later. the bottom images are of a plastic milk carton with the stickers removed and an angled section cut off the top to create the vase opening. leaving the handle on makes it easier to transport the vase. i usually use these when i am bringing flowers to a friend because it's so easy to grab and go. decorative paper shown is zinnias from snow and graham. the translucent character of the plastic has a nice diffused quality so you can skip the decorative paper if you want instead. just a couple of ideas to package flowers that save time and money by making use of everyday items that are usually already on hand.

made: party plate

item: party plate
origami pattern designer: tomoko fuse
material: paper
courtesy of: fabulous origami boxes, written by tomoko fuse
comments: my favorite origami books are written by tomoko. her origami patterns are beautiful and so well engineered. this plate has many uses and it is quite sturdy. i love that it's made with two different papers, one for the base and one for the liner. it's fun to pair contrasting or complimentary papers. her book can be purchased on amazon. all paper geeks welcome.