Passover papercut

Although not my usual style, this was an interesting project.  This is a papercut which has been specially commissioned as a template for a religious summer camp for kids in the USA. A range of age groups will be cutting various parts of the piece which is why I've tried to incorporate some easier as well as more tricky bits. The papercut involves some folded cutting as well as some flat cutting.  I just hope the kids can do it!!!

The size is A4


These are the stages involved for cutting this piece.

Stage 1
Fold the paper and make the first relatively simple cut.
This is my first ever folded papercut!

When opened, the papercut will be symmetrical.
There are now 4 cups of wine and a Seder plate.  The leafy bits are just decorative and are there to hold it all together!

Stage 2
The most complicated cutting is the symbolic parts of the Seder plate.
All writing had to be done in reverse as this is the wrong side.
You can click on the photos for larger images.

This is the right side.
The shank bone looks like a guitar, I know!

Cut the border writing - not too hard but time-consuming.

I have made a reverse image template for the kids to cut from.

Windmill Papercut - completed piece.

Here's the finished piece.  Sorry about the slightly blurry bottom image.  I'll take that photo again with my camera on a tripod!

Windmill Papercut

So here are the final few Work In Progress photos.  I'll post the finished item up separately.

I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out.

A tip for anyone who's thinking of trying papercutting - don't draw out your picture with pen!

This was a bit of a mistake as it made my cut line virtually impossible to see and I ended up cutting slightly off the line in most places.  When you're cutting over a pencil line, the cut line shows up very clearly and makes life much easier.

Windmill papercut - wip photos

I'm making good progress with the cutting today.  

I enjoy this stage where it's emerging from the paper.

Windmill papercut - initial drawing

My good friend Tania reminded me today that my blog was woefully neglected!

She's absolutely right of course - life seems to have taken over recently - like getting all three of my children healthy and at school on the same days! That's an ongoing battle that I'm determined to win!

Anyway, despite having my oldest son at home ill today, I still managed to get cracking on a drawing for a new piece.  As you can see, it's another of my cross-sections, but this time I thought I'd do something a little different - hence a windmill!

This is the reverse of the papercut - the right side is black as is usual for me.

Can't wait to get cutting this one - will keep you updated with lots of wip photos.

Windmill papercut drawing

Size A3


PS: If you're wondering what's happening with the unfinished piece from the previous post - well, I'm just really not sure about it.  It just doesn't feel right to me.  I never throw anything away and may come back to it at some point - but for now it's shelved :(
These things happen.