Paper craft is a collection of crafts using paper or card as the primary artistic medium for the creation of two or three-dimensional objects. Paper and card stock lend themselves to a wide range of techniques and can be folded, curved, bent, cut, glued, molded, stitched, or layered.^[1] Papermaking by hand is also a paper craft.

Paper crafts are known in most societies that use paper, with certain kinds of crafts being particularly associated with specific countries or cultures. In Caribbean countries paper craft is unique to Caribbean culture which reflect the importance of native animals in life of people.^[2]

In addition to the aesthetic value of paper crafts, various forms of paper crafts are used in the education of children. Paper is a relatively inexpensive medium, readily available, and easier to work with than the more complicated media typically used in the creation of three-dimensional artwork, such as ceramics, wood, and metals.^[3] It is also neater to work with than paints, dyes, and other coloring materials. Paper crafts may also be used in therapeutic settings, providing children with a safe and uncomplicated creative outlet to express feelings.^[3]

Folded paper[edit]

The word "paper" derives from papyrus, the name of the ancient material manufactured from beaten reeds in Egypt as far back as the third millennium B.C.^[4] Indeed, the earliest known example of "paper folding" is an ancient Egyptian map, drawn on papyrus and folded into rectangular forms like a modern road map.^[5] However, it does not appear that intricate paper folding as an art form became possible until the introduction of wood-pulp based papers.^[5]

The first Japanese origami is dated from the 6th century A.D.^[6] In much of the West, the term origami is used synonymously with paper folding, though the term properly only refers to the art of paper folding in Japan.^[5] Other forms of paper folding include Chinese zhezhi (摺紙), Korean jong'i jeopgi (종이접기), and Western paper folding, such as the traditional paper boats and paper planes.
 

Cut paper