The problem with making cards, I find, is that you make birthday cards and Christmas cards, and then…Random Occasion Cards. Note cards. "Happy Post" cards, except then you probably don't post them, because have you seen the cost of even a second-class stamp these days?!
You run out of recipients and occasions, and then either don't make cards because you don't need them very often so you only make them when you need them, or you continue making them and find yourself drowning in pretty cards. My solution to this problem is that I've discovered a local charity shop who accept donations of handmade cards. At present, I have no plans to start selling them. I'll start with making and donating.
But cards aren't the only things you can make with pretty papers, stamps and cardstock.
I rediscovered a book of origami instructions when I was tidying the craft supplies, which I remember looking through and then feeling overwhelmed by all the folds. It just seemed a bit complicated. And also there's the problem of not being able to visualise quite what the instructions wanted me to do: I usually find watching someone do something like this is more effective for me to learn how to do it myself. So I never really did anything with the origami, and I certainly didn't want to destroy the very pretty papers which came with the book.
I also found a pack of black-and-white patterned origami papers, some of which patterns, quite frankly, made my eyes hurt. Excellent practice papers. Starting at the start with paper cranes: the more complicated bags and bowls and things can wait until I've got the basics down.
Apparently, if you make 1000 paper cranes, you get a wish. My book tells me of a lady from Hiroshima, Sadako Sasaki, who folded cranes until she died in her quest to become well again, and for whom there now stands a peace memorial in Hiroshima: her cranes became a symbol of peace. There is also something called the Peace Crane Project, which was established in 2012 for the United Nations Peace Day, to connect children across the world.
Well, even without hunting down a YouTube video to supplement the written instructions, I've got a flock of about a dozen cranes, and I can make them without having to refer every step to said instructions. Much easier than I thought it'd be. I need to practise explaining what to do, though, as M rather struggled to follow my instructions. To be fair, though, my first crane wasn't very good either.
Folding paper is really rather therapeutic: a very mindful sort of activity, especially when you know what you're doing and don't have to refer to the instructions after each fold. Very calming, to take a square of paper and turn it into something else entirely. I might even risk some of the very pretty, gold-foiled papers which came with the book.
And now I have to think of something to do with my flock of cranes. And try some of the other projects in the book. Two, at least, are projects I used to make as a child: a fan (haven't we all made paper fans?), and a jumping frog.
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