What can YOU make with package wrapping paper?

[Arnold K]

Just like the title suggests, I just got a whole bunch of wrapping paper, and I would like to see what you guys can make with wrapping paper.

[DiscoDucky]

Not much. My wrapping paper, I found to be quite a hassle, as its nature was more plastic-like, rather than that of conventional paper. It could never hold a crease properly, nor remain folded down for even the shortest periods of time. The sheer size advantage that came with the wrapping paper turned out to be not worth it at all, as I ended up reverting back to draft paper. The cons of wrapping paper heavily outweighed the pros. My advice would be to stay away from it.

[Sara]

Ah, this is not a fair judgement. The truth is: there are too many varieties of wrapping paper to actually rate it in general. There is some wrapping paper out there that works really well.

Indeed, I've worked several times with wrapping paper, and especially when I started with origami. It was the first source of larger sheets I discovered for myself.

You asked for examples, so here are a couple:

My most recent, large project working with wrapping paper was for my wedding. This was a deliberate choice after trying out different paper for look and feel. I don't have a picture of the boxes, but I show them in this video: http://www.happyfolding.com/vlog_update ... -lid_brill (Kraft paper)

I've also used wrapping paper in videos, for example:
http://www.happyfolding.com/instruction ... last_waltz (Kraft paper)
http://www.happyfolding.com/instructions-lang-valentine (Kraft paper)
http://www.happyfolding.com/instruction ... ic_twister (Kraft paper)
http://www.happyfolding.com/instruction ... ern_dragon (some Christmas wrapping paper - not sure how to define it better)
http://www.happyfolding.com/instruction ... und_beetle (plasticy paper - horrible to work with)
http://www.happyfolding.com/instructions-brill-matchbox (foil paper)
http://www.happyfolding.com/instruction ... tte_packet (foil paper)
http://www.happyfolding.com/instructions-brill-horse (foil paper)

I don't often use wrapping paper for display models, but it happens once in a while:

http://www.happyfolding.com/gallery-brina-tutankhamun (Kraft paper)
http://www.happyfolding.com/gallery-per ... k_in_a_box (Kraft paper)
http://www.happyfolding.com/gallery-lan ... lock_adams (parcel wrapping paper)
http://www.happyfolding.com/gallery-brill-matchbox (foil paper)
http://www.happyfolding.com/gallery-bri ... tte_packet (foil paper)
http://www.happyfolding.com/gallery-eli ... st_waltz_2 (foil paper)

These aren't all, but I guess it's a nice start.
Also note that not all wrapping paper is suitable for origami - or at least not all origami models. I have the habit of opening a pack a bit (or usually: taking one of the packs that is already opened a bit) and feeling the paper. Taking a tiny corner and making a crease also helps check whether the wrapping paper will work for your project.

-- Sara

[bethnor]

as sara points out, wrapping paper is a very heterogeneous term. using it for origami requires a "leap of faith," as it were. it is probably the easiest source for paper if you want to fold "super large" projects. you can test fold a corner, as she suggests, but even that may not give you a full idea of the paper's properties. many folders have achieved gorgeous results with wrapping paper. if you find eyal's gallery, a lot of those folds in her flickr are done with wrapping paper she has painted. similarly, a lot of the vietnamese designers fold with "wrapping paper," which in actuality is "chinese crumpling paper" (again demonstrating "wrapping paper" is a highly heterogeneous term that encompasses many things).

that said, in the US, the common wrapping paper that one buys from hallmark or any department store (i.e., walmart, target) is usually poorly suited for complex origami. it is not particularly strong, and the colored sides have a nasty tendency to rub off. those that have a foil appearance are not very malleable, is thicker, and does not hold its shape the way japanese foil does. even for practice purposes, it's not all that useful, as the large sheets tend to flop around quite a bit.

[Fc1032]

Yea, I have a few rolls of wrapping paper. The majority of them are plastic like, but my favourite one is a roll I bought from Ikea.

Its white and is "handmade" so the paper fibres are large and course (but i like this!). I could try to fold larger things with them., but my skills don't go very far...

But if you mean what I do to my gifts, here's some stuff I've done





I learnt my hydrangeas from sara's videos!

[cjbnc]

US department store wrapping paper is usually garbage. Look at it wrong and it tears in 3 places and wrinkles in a few others.

Kraft paper rolls have been working pretty well for me. I have some brown shipping paper (60lb Kraft, about 98gsm) that I've used on Maekawa's Rabbit and Triceratops models. Only problem with that roll is that it's been sitting wrapped around the roll for years so it's hard to get the curls out of it at first. The paper is noticeably thick - you can squeeze a few layers together and feel them compress. I also recently got a roll of white easel paper (40lb Kraft, about 65gsm) which is less prone to curling, and about the same to fold as US copy paper.

I located a school supply store in my area and picked up a couple rolls of "bulletin board paper", basically kraft paper with color on one side, white on the other. Supposed to be fade and tear resistant. Comes in 24 - 48 inch widths, so lots of room to make big squares.

[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak- ... 1981_n.jpg[/img]