Origami can be made from almost any kind of paper but some paper makes the task of folding both easier and more pleasant, as well as resulting in a prettier origami structure at the end.
Steps
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Look for specialty origami paper packs in craft stores. There are pre-packed papers in bags that come with origami papers cut to different sizes from a variety of colored and patterned papers. This paper tends to fold really easily but it can also be flimsy, so bear this in mind when purchasing it.
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Find duo paper. This is paper that comes in two different colors, one on each side of the paper. This tends to be popular with origami creators because it allows the end product to be colored in two distinctive ways, letting parts of the model be highlighted. Again, these tend to come in packs from the craft store but you can also find it in the art store (look for the term "fadeless duo").
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Check out the scrapbook paper area in the craft store for papers with interesting textures or patterns to them. Textured paper can bring origami animals to life with a suggestion of fur, skin, hide, etc. Textured papers tend to be useful for wet folding methods. Patterned papers can be anything from gift wrap to scrapbooking specialty papers - the choice is endless and exciting.
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Use handmade paper. Handmade paper has a particularly nice texture and appearance and the Japanese version (washi) is particularly good to work with as origami paper. You could also try making your own handmade paper and working it into origami models.
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Be adventurous with metallic, foil, and shiny paper. These types of paper are very pretty, especially when the light bounces off them but they are equally probably the most challenging types of paper to work with as an origami artist. Be prepared to make a few mistakes until you get the feel for working with these trickier types of paper.
- Creases may make the foil paper so thin that it splits; take care!
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Consider recycling paper. There is plenty of paper around the house, including magazines, junk mail, napkins, receipts, tickets, inflated paper currencies from an overseas trip, favorite store wrapping, etc. Look around and try everything; this can be a nice way of turning a treasured piece of paper into a longer lasting memento.
Tips
- Store origami paper in a cool, dry place, away from moisture. Always store it flat to prevent unwanted creasing.
- Suitable places to find paper include: craft stores, stationery stores, hobby stores, art suppliers, gift stores (wrapping paper section), origami supplier, toy store, online sites and auction sites (craft section), the wastepaper basket, the recycling bin, and thrift stores.
Things You'll Need
- Origami paper
- Origami inspirations (borrow a library book on origami making)
- Stores selling paper
