This Paper Trick Will Be Your New Favorite DIY Technique
When it comes to DIY wall art, we’re all about simple projects that make a statement. This paper-cutting technique creates a 3D effect, making it a great alternative for those of us who are origami impaired ;) What’s more, this DIY includes supplies you likely already have and takes under an hour to complete. Check it out!
Materials + Tools:
— 2 sheets of paper
— 2 wooden dowels
— ribbon
— glue gun
— glue stick
— cutting mat
— X-ACTO knife
— ballpoint pen
Instructions:
1. Draw your design in ballpoint pen on one sheet of paper.
2. Using an X-ACTO knife on a cutting mat, cut along the lines you’ve drawn (but be sure to not cut out entire shapes!), then thicken each cut as desired. Pull the paper toward you slightly to give it a 3D effect.
3. Glue around the back edges of the cut sheet of paper with a glue stick, then carefully place the second piece of paper exactly on top, making sure the side you want to see through the cuts is facing down. Seal with your fingers and let dry.
4. Next, lay a strip of glue on the base of the paper with a glue gun. Center one dowel over this and slightly roll the edge of the paper around the wood. Repeat with the opposite end of the paper and let dry.
5. Tie a piece of ribbon to the ends of the top dowel to hang. Voila!
We drew an artichoke, but you can really do this with any shape, abstract or not. TBH, we *seriously* considered drawing Ryan Gosling…
Draw your design in ballpoint pen on one sheet of paper.
Using an X-ACTO knife on a cutting mat, cut along the lines you’ve drawn (but be sure to not cut out entire shapes!), then thicken each cut as desired. Pull the paper toward you slightly to give it a 3D effect.
Glue around the back edges of the cut sheet of paper with a glue stick, then carefully place the second piece of paper exactly on top with the correct side of the paper showing through the cuts. Seal with your fingers and let dry.
Next, lay a strip of glue on the base of the paper with a glue gun. Center one dowel over this and slightly roll the edge of the paper around the wood. Repeat with the opposite end of the paper and let dry.
See? Simple and elegant.
Tie a piece of ribbon to the ends of the top dowel to hang.
And we’re done!
DIY Production + Styling: Madeline Bachelder
Photography: Kurt Andre
Will you be trying this technique yourself? If so, we want to see the results! Share a photo with the hashtags #britstagram and #iamcreative so we can take a look.