FOLD & PULP the art of urban papercraft toys
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CONTENTS introduction 004 chapter 1: what is papercraft? 006 chapter 2: a (brief) history of papercraft toys 012 chapter 3: loyal subjects & creations 020 chapter 4: modern urban papercraft toy artists 028
Shawn Schinault GR601 Type Systems | Fall 2014
the art of urban papercraft toys
Spider-Man & Venom Mookeep Origami & Papercraft 2011
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INTRODUCTION When I was a kid, there were two things that always seemed to excite me more than anything else. One was a toy of course. No surprise there, what kid does not love a good toy? I loved all sorts of toys. Creative building toys, the kind that allowed me to bring my ides to life, were very high on my go-to list. Lego, Erector Sets, Colorforms, Play-Doh, Etch-a-Sketch… there were all toys I could create, make and rearrange to my imagination’s content. Following these very closely were actionfigures. Toys featuring my favorite characters from movies and Saturday morning cartoons followed these closely. Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Transformers, He-Man, Voltron… all stories I could bring to life and expand with all new adventures. My other childhood passion was art. I loved to draw, my toys in particular, on a makeshift art-desk I crafted from an old appliance box. At some point I began to combine my passions for art and toys, taking old white cardstock UTZ potato chip boxes (a Maryland staple) and using them to turn my drawings into life. The white clean cardstock backs were the perfect blank canvas to allow my imagination run free. With a few markers, a pair of scissors and some round-head fasteners I could bring anything I wanted to 2-D life with my imagination. I could have my favorite new hero and villain the Saturday afternoon after they debuted and characters unmade or unaffordable in toy form were now in my grasp. It was a world of endless possibilities for me. As I grew older, I stopped creating my own cardstock creations but I always kept the fond memories of creating paper toys from those old chip boxes. I would stop in a hobby shop or bookstore to admire a paper model kit and played around with a paper airplane set on occasion. Fast forward to a few years ago when searching the Internet I discovered an emerging art culture around urban papercraft toys. I was amazed by what I had found. Growing out from the papercraft model world was a new low-cost alternate to plastic and vinyl for the design art and toy community that was growing into a whole new art form of it’s own. Papercraft toys had taken the designer toy world by storm!
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CHAPTER ONE: WHAT IS PAPERCRAFT? PAPERCR AFT IS A WONDERFUL ART. It is where you take something very thin and flat (sheets of paper and cardstock) and turn it into a colorful, three-dimensional sculpture.
IT ALMOST WORKS LIKE MAGIC!
Interchangeable figure display Momot 2013
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A FEW POPULAR DEFINITIONS OF PAPERCRAFT:
Paper models, also called card models, “pepakura” or papercraft, are models constructed mainly from sheets of heavy paper, paperboard or card stock. Papercraft is a hobby where computer images are printed, cut into pieces, and glued into a 3-dimensional model. A hobby of crafting three-dimensional models out of paper, not too different from origami. The difference is that papercraft involves cutting out shapes and holding them together with glue, whereas origami involves folding a model from a single sheet of paper without glue or cutting. Very similar to card modeling.
THE TERM “PAPERCR AFT” IS quite vague and a broad category, thus the reason “paper model” and “paper toy” are also commonly used to describe what is covered in this topic. For this book’s purposes papercraft is treated as a hobby and art form in which a printed template is cut into pieces that are then folded and/or glued together to form a three-dimensional model. The focus is on the designer art community, most often referred to as “urban papercraft toy” art.
SIMPLY PUT, IT IS THE ART OF MAKING THINGS FROM PAPER.
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A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND‌ ORIGAMI IS THE PROCESS OF MAKING a paper model by folding a single paper without using glue or cutting while the variation Kirigami does. Card Modeling is making scale models from sheets of cardstock, on which the parts were printed, usually in full color. These pieces would be cut out, folded, scored and glued together. Some people refer to papercraft as Pepakura, in homage to the large Japanese paper crafting community. Pepakura is the art of combining these model types to build complex creations such as wearable suits of armor, life size characters, and accurate weapon models.
rabbit traditional origami unknown
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Sometimes the model pieces are die-cut and can be punched out. More frequently the printed parts must be cut out. Edges may be scored to aid folding. The parts are usually glued together with polyvinyl acetate glue (“white glue” or “PVA”). In this kind of modeling the sections are usually pre-painted, so there is no need to paint the model after completion. Some enthusiasts may enhance the model by painting and detailing. Due to the nature of the paper medium, the model may be sealed with varnish or filled with spray foam to last longer. Papercraft can be large or small, humble or ambitious, and it is incredibly varied. It is also easy to learn, and the Internet has greatly facilitated the exchange of papercraft designs and patterns. Internet forums provide useful tips for budding papercrafters who may be struggling with their work.
Paper sculpture subjects can get quite elaborate, running the gamut from replicas of sculptures made from other materials like marble to models of things like trains, boats, and planes. Really dedicated crafters will sometimes devise papercraft objects with moving parts, which requires a very fine eye and a lot of patience. Simple papercraft does not require extensive math skills, but it can be used to illustrate basic math, or to get people excited about mathematics. More advanced papercraft can call upon impressive math abilities, which is part of the fun for some crafters.
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right: gallery show display Momot 2014
left: boat traditional origami unknown
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CHAPTER TWO: A BRIEF HISTORY OF PAPERCRAFT TOYS
cranes traditional origami unknown
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PAPER TOYS DATE BACK TO ANCIENT TIMES. The history of paper folding goes back to Egypt with papyrus being used as folded maps and folded papyrus boats for children to play with. A more defined history of paper toys can be traced back to the art of origami (or-i-ga-me). The word is based on the Japanese words ori, which means to fold, and kami, which mean paper. However origami’s roots are actually in China in the second century B.C. where it spread to Japan somewhere around the sixth century B.C.
As time passed, papermaking spread along trade routes and it reached the Middle East around the end of seventh, beginning of the eighth century. By the end of 15th century, Turkey had a guild devoted primarily to the task of paper crafting.
One observer noted that during a ceremony in 1582, a guild member displayed a garden, which was completely made of cut paper flowers for the ruler at that time. What an amazing sight that must have been.
The craft was for only the rich at first because the cost of paper was very high so they found useful ways to use the folded paper. For example, they would fold it with strips of dried meat or fish and this was called noshi, which was a token of good luck. Also they would often wrap the glasses of wine at a wedding into butterfly form to represent the bride and groom. As time went by new methods of making wood-pulp based paper were developed which lowered the cost of paper, allowing the art of origami to be more accessible to all people.
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THE JOURNEY CONTINUED AND EVENTUALLY PAPER crafting techniques entered into Europe and during seventeenth century paper maskers in Italy, Holland, Germany, and Switzerland were developing different regional styles. By the end of seventeenth century German and Swiss Scherenschnitte, which literally translates as “scissor cuts� in German, had become the popular folk art in these countries. At that time they were using white or black paper for crafting according to the needs of the projects. Scherenschnitte continues today and is considered one of the finest paper crafts in the world. Papercraft toy roots can also be traced to the traditional paper theatres of Europe, dating back to the Victorian age. These models would help serve as a template to the paper doll toy and paper play-sets of the early-mid twentieth century, both predecessors to the urban paper toy. The earliest found representation of a paper model is a paper cross-designed around 1529 A.D. by the German engineer Georg Hartmann. This sundial depicts the crucifixion of Jesus on the front and a miracle of Moses on the back. It is now located in the Germanisches National Museum in Nuremberg, Germany.
paper model: sundial Georg Hartmann Germaniches National Museum above: paper theatre display traditional design unknown
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left: christmas trees Scherenschnitte unknown
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MODERN PAPERCRAFT TOY HISTORY
DURING WORLD WAR II, ALMOST all materials were in short supply and those that were available had restricted use and were heavily rationed. Obviously, toys were at the bottom of the list. These restrictions ruled out metal toys — wood and paper were about all that was available. Toymakers switched to toys and games that used paper and other nonstrategic materials. Shortages of printing ink lead to some innovative and sometimes rather bizarrecolored paper models, this inspiring more artistic based designs. One popular style of paper-model construction used was developed by Wallis Rigby who was internationally know for his paper models of airplanes, boats and trains prior to WWII that featured tab-andslot construction. He is generally credited with this method of papermodel construction.
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Cereal makers, too, felt the materialshortage pinch for premiums. Simplified paper-airplane models, similar to those of Rigby, were used as cereal premiums for General Mills in 1944. Mail in two box tops from Wheaties Cereal and you received a pair of paper airplanes. General Mills gave away thousands of these models, giving thousands of kids and adults their first try at model building. This trend also gave life into the “paper doll” toy, another influence on today’s urban papercraft toy. A paper doll is a two-dimensional base figure drawn or printed on paper for which accompanying tabbed paper clothing was made to attach to the doll.
During World War II, almost all materials were in short supply and those that were available had restricted use and were heavily rationed. Obviously, toys were at the bottom of the list.
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above: Girl Pilots of the Ferry Command paper doll set Merrill Publishing Company left: Imp. Protin & Vuidar paper figures Rene Touret
After the end of WWII, material restrictions lifted and toy companies returned to making toys and models of metal, balsa wood and even some of the new plastics. Paper models presence disappeared from store shelves in favor of low-cost plastic toys but still retained a niche hobby presence, especially among European and Asian enthusiasts.
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A RENAISSANCE BEGINS AS THE PAPER MODEL continued to hold a small but strong fan base a major player emerged during the 1970’s in Japan with the Nintendo Company and their Nintendo Paper Model Series. From around 1977 onwards, Nintendo would specialize more and more in video games. But in the first half of the 1970’s, their strategy still was about branching out in many areas of the game and toy business. One of the areas, which Nintendo tried, was handy craft. After a first attempt in the 1960’s, Nintendo introduced in 1974 a series of paper craft models. At first glance, this may appear a surprising market for Nintendo, but with in-house printing presses available for mass cardboard printing (an inheritance from Nintendo’s playing cards roots), producing paper model kits was actually not that farfetched. The series was called Paper Model. The Paper Model series consisted of two types: the regular Paper Model,
above: Paper Model collection Nintendo 1974 below: Paper Model Car Nintendo 1974
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Today the art of papercraft toys is seeing a renaissance thanks to modern computer design programs and the abundance of affordable printing options. 18
which contained a single paper sheet per model, and the Panorama Paper Model, which contained no less than four sheets.
sold in a nicer cardboard sleeve with a plastic window. These sets consisted of many parts, which together formed a scene like a harbor or airport.
The regular Paper Model sets were grouped into three themed series. The first of these series was the Vehicle Series, the largest of the three, consisting of 16 different models. Models in this series included airplanes, a hot-air balloon and all sorts of truck and cars.
All four series combined - Vehicle, Building, Zoo and Panorama Series - there are 39 different Paper Model sets in total. These sets would serve as a template for the modern papercraft toy community.
Today the art of papercraft toys is seeing a renaissance thanks to modern computer design programs and the Each model set consists of a single piece of thick paper, measuring 36 by abundance of affordable printing 51 centimeters, folded once inside the options. The rise of the DIY do-itplastic bag it was sold in. These sheets yourself art culture has turned to were printed in full color on one side. papercraft as an easy to access and The other side is plain white. Building low-cost method to bring their creations to three-dimensional life. these models requires the usual cutting, folding and gluing. The second Paper Model series is called the Building Series consisting of 7 different sets. These include a range of buildings; from famous landmarks like the Tower Bridge and Notre Dame to more regular houses.
Panorama Series: collection Nintendo 1974
The third series was the Zoo Series with six different animal themed sets. For builders that were looking for more of a challenge, Nintendo released 10 sets that were much larger in scope called the Panorama Series 19
Panorama Series: Harbor Nintendo 1974
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CHAPTER THREE: LOYAL SUBJECTS & CREATIONS
Momotist Gallery Show Momot 2014
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Paper toys have conquered the hearts of millions of Internet users all over the world. Never before has art been so easy to do: designers and artists create amazing paper toy templates, which they then share for free on their own web sites and blogs. Fans download these templates and using a few basic tools—paper, an Internet connection, a home printer, an Exacto knife, scissors, glue, and just a little patience—assemble wondrous toys. The low cost of materials, simple tools required and ease of production make the entry barrier very low.
The thrilling part of the process is watching a sheet of paper transform into a three-dimensional object that’s as creative as you want it to be. The cost to make them is minimal, and the ruling idea is very simple… DO IT YOURSELF!
Piperoid: Muscle Joe Takashi Tsunoda 2007
MATT HAWKINS, ONE OF THE MOST RENOWNED MAKERS OF PAPER TOYS, SUMS UP THE PHILOSOPHY OF PAPER CRAFT DESIGN IN A SIMPLE AND DIRECT FASHION: “IT’S VERY DEMOCRATIC! ANYONE, ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET WITH A LITTLE TIME TO WASTE, CAN OWN ONE OF MY TOYS.”
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SUBJECT MATTERS Subjects are unlimited‌ animals, robots, gadgets, airplanes, cars, motorcycles, pop-culture icons, video-games and fantasy creatures, not to mention original creations are just a few of the subjects explored. Anyone anywhere in the world can take part in the creation of paper toys, from the artists who design them to the fans who build them. This do-it-yourself dynamic of the movement encourages fans to become artists and vice versa.
The recent popularity rise of the designer toy movement has led to huge surge in interest in papercraft toys as a low-cost alternative to the high-cost of traditional toy design and production. Toy and figure design production is a very costly process requiring specialized tools, equipment and high up-front expenses. Creators of paper craft toys come from the world of graphic design, graffiti, and illustration, and one of the most interesting aspects of this trend is the collaboration between artists from all over the world. Artists share their blank templates with other artists, who customize them, adding their own style to an individual paper toy.
ANIMALS, ROBOTS, GADGETS, CARS, AIRPLANES, MOTORCYCLES, TRAINS, POP-CULTURE ICONS, VIDEO-GAMES AND FANTASY CREATURES, NOT TO MENTION ORIGINAL CREATIONS ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SUBJECTS EXPLORED.
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Paper toys are en vogue. Best of all, they are yet another way for artists to promote their creations; akin to a homemade advertising campaign, their creations are distributed freely and without boundaries through the internet, with the outreach and magnitude it carries.
Anyone, anywhere in the world can take part in the creation of paper toys, from the artists who design them to the fans who build them. This do-it-yourself dynamic of the movement encourages fans to become artists and vice versa.
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rescue dog, yeti, evil sheep & chalet Snowdin 2011
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Paper toys are en vogue. Best of all, they are yet another way for artists to promote their creations; akin to a homemade advertising campaign, their creations are distributed freely and without boundaries through the internet, with the outreach and magnitude it carries.
Space Shuttle Columbia / Discovery Patryk Zaleski-Ejgierd 2010
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Anyone, anywhere in the world can take part in the creation of paper toys, from the artists who design them to the fans who build them. This do-it-yourself dynamic of the movement encourages fans to become artists and vice versa.
clockwise (from top left) Motorsportsworld Racing Yamaha Motor Racing Company 2013 Toyota FJ-Cruiser Papercruiser 2012 Hawker Hurricane Kilo 66 2013
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military aircraft collection Chaiwat Kosatanakom 2013
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Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story collection Momot 2014
above: Wall-E Maxim Rozhkov 2012
below: Loki face-off Momot 2012
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CHAPTER FOUR: MODERN URBAN PAPERCRAFT TOY ARTISTS TODAY THE URBAN TOY ART MOVEMENT HAS BECOME A contemporary/modern art form in it’s own right. Designers and artists create amazing paper toy templates, which then are shared, modified and passed around worldwide through the Internet. Creators come from the worlds of graphic design, graffiti and illustration and one of the most interesting aspects of this trend is the collaboration between artists from all over the world. Artists share their blank templates with other artists, who customize them, adding their own style to an individual paper toy.
some assembly required Sikat Ako 2011
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The following pages explore some of the finest urban paper toy designers from around the globe. Each artist gives a glimpse of their world and explains their passion for paper toys.
left: Marvel Super-Villain City Momot 2013 center: Woody & Buzz playground Momot 2012 right: Mickey & Cheese Momot 2013
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3eyedbear Amsterdam The Netherlands
“They send you photographs of one of your characters taken atop the mighty Machu Picchu or in front of the majestic Taj Mahal; that really makes your day!� first row, left to right: Kawaii for Truckers Voodoo Quarantine Army of Death second row, left to right Girls Old Wise Bear Snowboy Sunmarine third row, left to right: 3eyedbear Golddiggers Bushdoctor Killer forth row, left to right: Emotikits Kitcity: Truck 3eyedbear various
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line-up of models 3eyedbear various
understand this material and the potential of its low price and the fact that it’s readily available in a vast variety of thicknesses, structures, sizes, colors, and eve scents. Paper toys fit very well in today’s connected world, so you can easily reach out to millions of kids and show them what can be done with it. You get immediate feedback from faraway and exotic places, as people add to your initial idea by building your models and then customizing them with new ‘skins’ or modified shapes. They send you photographs of one of your characters taken atop the mighty Machu Picchu or in front of the majestic Taj Mahal; that really makes your day! Thanks to this recent explosion of enthusiasm, paper toys are expanding very quickly without any remarkable practical or cultural boundaries, growing rapidly and changing trends almost on a weekly basis, and the child in me finds that really exciting.”
“To me, creating paper toys is the perfect kind of escapism. It’s obscure enough for us not to be bothered by mainstream media, and critics still haven’t decided in what shelf to put us; they are still figuring out whether it is craft or art, if it is for youngsters or adults, or whether it’s meant to be serious or just for fun. In the meantime, I can play freely, investigate shapes and connect them with imagery, and constantly be surprised by the solutions and combinations we come up with. I feel like a sculptor, a digital 3-D artist, a graphic artist, a designer, and a creator of characters, all at the same time. Oh, and also like Santa Claus, as I just give all of my creations away for free (that is something critics find hard to understand), and in the process I make lots of friends. I’m the king of my own little paper world. Their accessibility also makes them addictive. Paper has a long history; it is elegant, enormously versatile and yet fragile. Even children
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Takashi Tsunoda Japan
“PIPEROID is a paper craft robot that is made from paper pipes with predrilled holes. All you need is a pair of scissors to cut, connect, and bend the pipes to form a cute unique robot without a need of tape or glue.
With the motto “communication from hand to hand”, Takashi Tsunoda designs toys that moves your hands and makes you think. The “I would like to let the world concept of his work, PIPEROID, is In 2007, PIPEROID received the Good Design Award in Japan as well to make people think about the world know about the beauty of through hand crafting. In our current hand-crafting.” as becoming the featured product in world full of pre-made goods, he New York Museum of Modern Arts. wants people to rethink about having As such, this product has been quite popular to young adults who consider responsibility in creating products. Feel the deep message behind the it to be a decorative item in their cute designs he brings to the world. home or office.
Captain Drill & Repeat Takashi Tsunoda
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Mantis Harry Takashi Tsunoda
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Rokusuke & Hachi Takashi Tsunoda
Lift Takashi Tsunoda
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Charuca Barcelona Spain
“Paper toys are pure art, and they are art for art’s sake.”
“I love paper toys. Thanks to this technique, you can have a creation by your favorite artist for very little money, often for free. (I’m so in favor of the democratization of art.) Paper toys take away some of the solemnity and weight carried by the notion of an “art toy.’ They are toys, so we can play with them. It’s a two-way street. It’s not just the creator of the toy who plays; there is another aspect to the game where the most fun is to be had, which is enjoyed by anyone who prints and builds the paper doll. Thanks to this system, anyone can have their own toy as a physical object, immediately and without intermediaries. No monetary interests involved.”
Carmi Paper Toy Charuca 2010
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Creature-kebab UK
Blue Bear, Bearzah & Sneeder riding on Danger Steve the Dragon Creature-Kabab 2010
“Paper toys are fantastic! I really love taking my 2-D characters into the realm of 3-D through paper engineering. When I finish a design, I upload it to the web for others to download and build. It’s a great way to promote yourself as an artist, and also to spread some fun around the world. It makes me happy to know that office workers everywhere download my toys and secretly build them when they should be working. I currently have several paper toys in my workspace. Seeing their grinning faces everyday gives me so much inspiration and joy. Remember to recycle your paper toys when they’ve faded or fallen apart!”
“It’s a great way to promote yourself as an artist, and also to spread some fun around the world.”
Captain Chilli Pepper Creature-Kabab 2010
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Chris Beaumont NYC, New York USA
Cubeecraft (pronounced “kyoob-ee”) papercraft toys feature interlocking tabs for construction – eliminating the need for tape, glue or other messy adhesives.
Is Cubeecraft art? This body of work is a paper based “installation” functioning as an interactive community project; self coined “Cubeecraft”. “Cubee”, pronounced “kyoob-ee”, takes “cube”, the geometric form underlying each design, and adds “ee” to denote the cutification and miniaturization of each subject. “Craft” describes the handmade approach to my premise and its relation to the ancient and modern practices of paper-craft generally. The subject matter of each Cubee is heavily grounded in the subset of pop culture sometimes referred to as “geek culture”; each piece personifying concepts spanning from classical literature to the newest video game. Originally inspired by commercial package design, I fine tuned the Cubees structure for over a year in advance of launching it to the public. Cubees are meant to be quick and user friendly.
Cubeecraft line-up Liza T 2010
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“As a creator, I love to see an idea become something real. There’s a thrill in coming up with a design and seeing it through until you have a finished, tangible object. Paper provides a relatively cheap material to work with and the designs are very easy to distribute as a fan, I love seeing all the great ideas that appear in the community and of course I love putting them together.�
Stormrtroopers Woma 2009
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Matthew Hawkins A.K.A. Custom Papertoys USA
“Good old paper, so humble, yet remarkable.”
E440 Matthew Hawkins 2010
I just love to create, to make things with my hands. I love to challenge myself both creatively and technically, and paper toys provide that. I find it thrilling when a technical hurdle is cleared in the pursuit of a creative idea. Also, I really enjoy sharing my work and passion with others. Paper toys are a great medium for what I want to do as an artist: create, share, and grow. I’ve been into toy design for a long time, and paper offered me a great way to make the toys I wanted to make, and an amazing way of distributing them to those who like them. It’s really democratic! Anyone, anywhere on the planet, with a lime time to spare, an Internet connection, and a printer can own one of my toys. I love that building the toy requires the participation of the collector. They are basically the ones who bring my work to life; they take part in the creative act. And create a really unique bond. You just can’t get that from buying a chunk of plastic made in a factory overseas, placing it on a shelf and letting it gather dust. It’s so satisfying for me, being able to design toys and bringing them to life with my own hands. No factories, toxic chemicals, low-wage labor, shipping, worries about whether it will sell or not—after all, it’s just paper. Good old paper, so humble, yet remarkable. And, at the end of the day, it remains a recyclable and biodegradable object. Plus there is just something truly magical about a flat piece of paper forming a 3-D object, wouldn’t you agree? Paper to the people! opposite page Mr. Robot Matthew Hawkins 2010
Calling All Cars Matthew Hawkins 2010
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Cubotoy Chile
“My love for toys goes hand in hand with my passion for drawing, designing, and creating. Cubotoy is all that and then some! With my brand, I play and enjoy with each creation. It allows me to communicate and build an imaginary world, and the best part is that you, him, them, and everyone else becomes port of it because they love them as much as I do.”
Louis Mask, Sandy and Louis Cubotoy Cubotoy 2010
“I play and enjoy with each creation”
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Dadik Triadi A.K.A. Dyadik Jakarta, Indonesia
Paper D & Scooper Toy Dyadik 2009
“There are many reasons why I really love paper toys: they are cheap, useful, innovative, environmentally friendly, and it’s easy to get and build awesome paper toys from all around the world. All you need is an Internet connection, a primer, a pair of scissors, glue, and a |title time to build them. I love creating paper toy designs because it is good exercise for both my brain and my sense of creativity. Paper toys have always blown my mind, because when you see a flat piece of paper turn into a three-dimensional object it feels like magic—from the intangible to the tangible. A paper toy is not just a toy; it is a new canvas on creating great art. That’s why I fell in love with paper toys.”
“A paper toy is not just a toy; it is a new canvas on creating great art.”
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DMC Australia
Hoody Series DMC 2010
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“I love paper toys because they’re simply awesome. Paper toys have enabled me to bring forth ideas, styles, and all sorts of things to the design scene. When I say design scene, I mean the paper toy scene. I’ve always been a sucker for designer toys, but they were too expensive to collect. This was so until I found Shin Tanaka; I found his models to be really unique, especially T-Boy. It had that vinyl designer toy feel, and that’s when I hit it off with “No matter what I did, other designers, who helped me with their terrific feedback, drove me.”
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paper toys. I’m pretty sure I built all of his available models as well as a few by Readymech. But I didn’t just want to be a collector, I wanted to design. One of the two best things about paper toys is that anyone can do them. I was thirteen when I first started designing my own models. My skills were really basic, I used pen and paper as well as Microsoft paint. These models got me nowhere. I was going in circles. But the other best thing about them, the people, really helped me a lot. No matter what I did, other designers, who helped me with their terrific feedback, drove me. I reckon I would have given up if it weren’t for all the help I received. I would like to thank Brian for nicepapertoys.com—that site has helped me and many others, and continues to do so. Now, being fifteen, I’ve been able to create some nice models and develop my ideas better. I love that paper toys can be either taken seriously, like a full-time job, or just as a simple hobby.”
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Do||y Oblong The Netherlands
“I’m a plush maker and paper toy designer who fills every spare minute knitting cute, cuddly creatures, building pieces of paper totem, doodling, designing, and keeping track of all things happening in my world on my blog. I love collecting toys, I’m mad about bunnies, and do not start a day without a cup of Earl Grey! Last but not least, I love collaborating with other artists from around the world. “
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“What I like most about paper toys is that anybody with basic materials like a printer, scissors, and some glue can start their own toy collection! As a designer, it’s easy to connect with a worldwide audience, because most paper toys are freely available for download. For me, paper toys are about pushing myself creatively and getting designs out there.”
mini-totem with radio Dolly Oblong 2009
“I love collaborating with other artists from around the world.”
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Faisal Azad Indonesia
“As opposed to mass-produced plastic toys, paper toys can be created according to individual taste and style.”
above Gatokaca Riza Azad 2009 right Reog Ponorogo Riza Azad 2009
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“Paper toys are simple but unique creations. As opposed to mass-produced plastic toys, paper toys can be created according to individual taste and style. They are also very accessible and cheap, and they are really easy to distribute quickly. Paper toys are not only a blank canvas for their creators, they are also a medium for designers, builders, and fans to communicate and disseminate art.”
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Pep Sanabra A.K.A. Grooph Barcelona Spain
“I love paper toys because I see them as a great way of giving expression to my designs. I love the do-it-yourself feel of this kind of figures. I can shape them as I please, and there are varied kinds of paper to build them with (different colors and golden and metallic finishes, etc.). The possibilities are endless, so if you’ve made up your mind about the kind of model you want to design, you can do any-thing. I’ve worked on a series of paper toys called ‘dd Munky Cru’ and another one for which I invited other illustrators and designers to customize a model I created called “Cap Kid.” My next project’s related to the world of paper toys revolve around creating a series of figures from illustrations I made, and exploring new formats and materials to push future creations.”
above Groovy Guy Yakuza Pep Sanabra 2013 lower right/left Andy & Korgie MS-10 Pep Sanabra 2008
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Harlancore Austin, Texas USA
“My love for toy goes beyond paper. I really like cute, small things, and wish to surround myself with them. I like to draw deformed and sometimes twisted versions of my favorite characters, and I am constantly challenging myself, trying to create characters that are full of life, but exist in a very confined, rectangular space. I make my toys out of paper because it is inexpensive, and the idea of sharing the templates with others on the Internet is very attractive.”
a handful of Boxpunx Harlancore 2007
“When I am not creating my own toys, I am downloading templates made by other artists and building them. It’s very addictive; once you start, it can be very hard to stop.”
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Jerom Dijon France
“I love modeling my own three-dimensional characters with my own hands. I love every step of the creation of a paper toy: doodling, scribbling on my little sketchbook, using the pen tool in Photoshop and Illustrator for hours, and assembling the final
“…this ‘free sharing’ aspect of the paper toy scene is very important.” paper toy. It’s like a do-it-yourself vinyl toy, only with paper and ink. You can also easily customize a paper toy to your liking and share it with other people. I think this ‘free sharing’ aspect of the paper toy scene is very important.”
top row Shushis Shushis 2 middle row Kitsune Oni bottom row My Little Cthulhu Jerom 2009
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Jack Hankins A.K.A. Horrorwood Japan
“Well, I love toys and I love illustration, and paper toys are a natural fusion of the two. I have always wanted to create three-dimensional objects, ideally my own toys, but my crafting skills are very limited. Therefore, paper craft gave me the means to turn my two-dimensional ideas into real world products with ease. I create most of my illustrations digitally, so shifting to creating templates for paper craft was not so hard. Paper craft is great because it brings together art, design, and craft, so I get to do all these things at once. Sometime ago, I designed my first paper toys and made them available for download on my web site. I started getting very positive feedback, after which I decided to put all of my energy into producing papercraft, and haven’t looked back ever since. This is another great thing about working with paper. Thanks to the Internet, you can now easily distribute your artwork to people all around the world.
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Not only that, but people end up with a physical object in their hands. I can’t think of any other medium that works quite like this. Unknowingly, I have found myself in the middle of a real paper boom. A couple of years ago, the papercraft scene began to explode globally, and the community is growing day after day. Everyone collaborates and communicates, and there is a constant flow of activity and new projects. This is a really exciting time to be a paper artist.
“I can’t think of any other medium that works quite like this.” top row Shushis Shushis 2 middle row Kitsune Oni bottom row My Little Cthulhu Jerom 2009
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“I think it’s attractive for flat surfaces to change into three-dimensional objects”
Rommy Kamimodel 2009 opposite page Koomarty Kamimodel 2010
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“I like the texture of paper. It’s easy to shape into anything I want. I think it’s attractive for flat surfaces to change into three-dimensional objects. And I can make papercraft with simple tools. I designed Rommy so that a beginner in papercraft could build it. If many people build it and feel an affinity for the character, I will feel very happy.”
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Tetsuya Watabe A.K.A. Kamimodel Japan
the art of urban papercraft toys
Kikoo the Monkey Ivan Ricci 2012
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“I would love to create a commercial line using more sophisticated crafting techniques, high-quality paper, and special ink, to make them even more unique and beautiful.�
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Ivan Ricci A.K.A. Kawaii-Style Italy
“Paper toys are fantastic. I keep them on my desk and on the shelf above my computer because they inspire me and make me happy. I like to see my graphic works on three-dimensional objects, and I think it’s wonderful to be able to share my paper toys with many other people. It’s nice to know they have them somewhere in their homes, perhaps very far from here. While it’s great that paper toys are free, I would love to create a commercial line using more sophisticated crafting techniques, high-quality paper, and special ink, to make them even more unique and beautiful.”
3 Eyed Bear Ivan Ricci 2008
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Kenn Munk London UK
“I love paper toys because I love paper. When I worked at an advertising agency, I had paper suppliers come in to present their products whenever they wanted to. A girl from Arctic Paper visited every couple of months and brought loads of samples, and we would have geeky conversations about the white stuff. I still enjoy the smell of freshly printed uncoated paper. I also did many point-of-sale displays and packaging designs, and I enjoyed the engineering side of the work, so that where it’s started—with something pretty boring.
But I had fun with the engineering aspect and soon designed my Antior hunting trophies. This was back in 2004/2005, when there weren’t many ‘designer’ paper toys around. I think Sjors Trimbach and I were amongst the first ones. Of course, I’ve created paper kits, what normal boy hasn’t? It started in the eighties, when I made paper versions of BMX bikes in my street. My own bike was blue and yellow.”
Antlor Kenn Munk 2005
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Antlor Kenn Munk 2005
Antlor Kenn Munk 2005
“… we would have geeky conversations about the white stuff”
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Walter Cheapskate paper toy setting left Loulou & Tummie 2009 above small selection of Paper Toys Family Loulou & Tummie 2010
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Loulou & Tummie The Netherlands
“We love and collect toys, so the choice to start making our own paper toys come naturally. And, of course, it’s very easy and cheap to share them with everyone around the globe! Besides those practical considerations, we also enjoy figuring out ways to fit the template for the toy on a single sheet of paper. There’s fun in making the template design look good on its own, as well as coming up with ways of integrating the instructions in the design. The instructions have to be easy to follow and at the some time match the style of the overall design.”
“There’s fun in making the template design look good on its own, as well as coming up with ways of integrating the instructions in the design.”
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Macula California USA
“I love paper toys because they are fun to build and can be share with people all around the world. With only a few craft supplies and a little time, you can have your very own custom toy. It is one of the most inexpensive ways an artist can design their own toy. Paper toys are also like model kits; you have to invest some time into building each one, making it more of a prized possession. It is very nice to see people taking their time to build one of your creations and being so proud they made it themselves.� Paper toys are also like model kits; you have to invest some time into building each one, making it more of a prized possession.
Chibi Yetti Macula 2009 right Deer Macula 2009
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Marshall Alexander The Netherlands
“I like how paper toys create extra interaction between you and your audience. Regular illustration work is consumed rather passively and sometimes gets lost in the chaos of visual information people have to process these days. With paper toys, you need to actively become part of it in order to appreciate it. What I want to achieve is making people look at one of my flat templates and wonder how the hell it is going to turn into this 3-D character. And then, hopefully they will feel the desire to build the model so they can find out how it is done, be surprised by the process. It becomes a very tactile experience. Another attractive part is how easily you can distribute your work and the relatively simple setup you need to work with the materials. I design my models at the kitchen table and with one click of the mouse they’re suddenly available to millions of people around the world. Finally, I think one of the aspects that makes paper toys so special is the whole customization scene, where paper toy designers release blank models for others to customize. This isn’t just a great way for newcomers to get some hands-on experience in paper today design, but it’s also an amazing opportunity for already established artists who traditionally work on flat surfaces to see these models as an exciting new canvas on which to express their work. This has resulted in some fantastic collaborations. The paper toy scene is a very active and open community that welcomes everyone who wants to give it a try.”
opposite page Momo Marshall Alexander 2010 above right
I design my models at the kitchen table and with one click of the mouse they’re suddenly available to millions of people around the world.
Pop 3D Marshall Alexander 2009 below right Lily Marshall Alexander 2010
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Tougui Paris France
“I love paper toys because of the endless possibilities! The only limit is your imagination. You can create any shape you want with a piece of paper. It costs nothing, so everybody can make one. You just need to cut it, fold it, and glue it together! I love illustration, art toys and detailed work, so with paper toys I found a great medium to express my creativity.”
“I love paper toys because of the endless possibilities! The only limit is your imagination.”
Rodrico Tougui 2013 opposite page top row, left to right Nanibird Tougui 2009 Rock the Beast! Tougui 2009 bottom Barry! Tougui 2009
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Mundosopa! Chile
“To think time and again about the final look of the pleats, the cutout, and the final assembly… those are challenges that make designing these characters so much more interesting.”
“Up to now I had never pinpointed the reason why I like paper toys so much. For starters, part of it has to do with the fact that I’m very fond of all kinds of toys; from the old tin toys to urban toys or toys for collectors. When I found out about modern paper toys, it was love at first sight.
Cerebrus Mondosopa! 2009
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I feel they fulfill my desire of turning my characters into physical objects, and if even works the other way around: creating a 3-D model and then figuring how if would unfold in order to create it’s template. To think time and again about the final look of the pleats, the cutout, and the final assembly… those are challenges that make designing these characters so much more interesting. For me it’s satisfying when I imagine someone, somewhere in the world, downloading a paper toy I made, assembling it, and displaying it in his or her own space.”
Nino Caneza De Radio Mondosopa! 2009
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My Cryptonauts Hawaii USA
Paper toys level the playing field in a consumer-based world of vinyl toys and plush dolls.
“I love paper toys because paper in itself is one of the most accessible mediums that can be used to create something that’s fun and enjoyable for yourself and others without having to spend a small fortune. Paper toys level the playing field in a consumer-based world of vinyl toys and plush dolls. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t adopt one of my Cryptonauts, but the idea of being able to just grab a piece of paper and make a toy out of it says a lot about one’s imagination and resourcefulness.”
Cyrtopaper Toys (various) My Cryptonauts 2010
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Nanibird Japan
“Nani is the Japanese word for ‘what’ and it pretty much sums up my experience of living here in Japan. I constantly find myself asking ‘Nani? Nani?’ but I wanted to turn the word into a thing, make it real, something I could hold and look at and, ultimately, give away. Paper seemed like a natural choice. Paper is a fast, cheap, forgiving medium to work out ideas. I love that some many talented artists and designers from around the world are using the same medium to make things that are given away for free.”
Paper is a fast, cheap, forgiving medium to work out ideas.
Nani Birds (various) Nanibird 2008
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Shin Tanaka Japan
“I love paper toys because paper is the most beautiful material in the world, with smooth curves and sharp lines. And it is part of daily life. People can download the templates from the Internet and exchange them. Customizing them is also easy; people can make their own paper toys. Creating with paper is much faster than with other materials, such as plastic and vinyl. Paper toys are always fresh!�
top Hoophy on a Wall Shin Tanaka 2008 bottom T-Boy 144% Shin Tanaka 2009
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“Paper toys are always fresh!”
top 4-in-1 Robot Shin Tanaka 2010 bottom Hoophy #2 100% Shin Tanaka 2008
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Paul Shih NZ/TW
“I love paper toys! I believe it has always been my calling. I’ve been collecting collected toys since I was a kid, and never stopped hunting for cool new toys; one of my dreams was to see my characters in 3-D form some day. As on artist, I think we all try hard to live our own dreams, so I’m constantly looking for ways to make toys. Obviously, the easiest way and the most accessible medium is paper.
Big Foot Paul Shih 2006
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My first paper toy was Big-Foot, back in 2006, and the design was credited as an aid I did for a paper diorama I did back then; it also served as a small tribute to the mythic creature called Sasquatch. The great thing about paper toys is that they are really easy to obtain; you don’t need a credit card or to travel anywhere to buy them, when I uploaded my Big-Foot toy to my web site, I asked the downloader to participate in my Big-Foot exists project: all they had to do was to build the toy and send a photo of the Big-Foot taken in their backyard, and I’ve been getting photos from all over the world, ‘sightings’ of Sasquatch! I really enjoy the interaction between paper toys and those who download them, it’s something regular toys can never provide: paper toys not only make me feel closer to those who like my creation, they also bring artists together. TNES and I put together the “T-Wrecks” paper toy template in ‘07. We invited some of our friends and favorite artists to customize it, and the outcome was mind-blowing. You never know what you will get. There are just endless possibilities for paper toys.”
“I really enjoy the interaction between paper toys and those who download them, it’s something regular toys can never provide…”
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Remember The Little Guy UK
“I love paper toys for one reason, really—they’re easy to make! It doesn’t matter who or where you are, you don’t need any molds or machines, plus you need very little to get started, just a sheet of paper, really.
“I want people to build them, rather then be put off by the amount of time they need to work with scissors and glue.”
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I start every toy with a box shape, then redesign, add shapes, and cut bits away until I am left with something from which I can develop a character. Most of my toys have this simple style because I try not to make them too complicated. I want people to build them, rather then be put off by the amount of time they need to work with scissors and glue. The goal of my Toypaper project is still the same as it was when I started: an excuse to create cool things, meet some lovely people along the way, and to give away free stuff. So don’t be a stranger, drop by toypaper.co.uk sometime and say hello!
Shiori Yes Toypaper 2008
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Sjors Trimbach The Netherlands
“I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil. I enjoy drawing robots, monsters, hot-rods, monkeys, and, whenever possible, a combination of them. In 2004, I created the Brickboy paper toy and was one of the first—along with Shin Tanaka—to create a paper toy template to be customized by other artists. I don’t love paper toys. I happen to make them and have fun doing it. When I started with Brickboy, I wanted to make a vinyl toy and decided to design something simple. In order to see if it would work, I made a paper version and discovered out how easy it is to work with paper. And one thing led to another. It’s just the easiest way to have your figures out there in the world; maybe too easy, as there is so much crap out there. That is why I decided to release my figures only in a printed format. This gives me control over the paper quality and colors, and it gives me a chance to experiment with extra layers of paint. I also love designing a nice package and making a small production out of it to go the extra mile. Through my paper toys I’ve met wonderful people, worked with my favorite artists, seen great places, and had my work in exhibitions all over the world. And you might say I love them for that.”
Brickboy Sjors Trimbach 2007
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Through my paper toys I’ve met wonderful people, worked with my favorite artists, seen great places, and had my work in exhibitions all over the world.
Thought Processor Sjors Trimbach 2009
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Thunder Panda Jakarta Timur, Indonesia
Banjobird Thunder Panda 2010
“Since the first time I saw someone making figures out of paper, the idea of creating a character out of paper seemed stimulating, and all of a sudden I was trapped in it’s geometrical shape, doing mathematical calculations to find the exact measurement of each pair and side. This kind of activity stimulates both sides of the brain, as you have to use both sides in order to do the main and the design, and I believe my mind is clearer after each character I have created. Since paper toy design is so easy to access, I’m also able to spread my love for character design all around the world.”
The Zombiefie 6 Sjors Trimbach 2007
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Mau Russo Italy
“… something that is easy to build and have fun with for all lazy guys like me!”
PaperZ Mau Russo 2012
“I love paper toys because, above everything else, they are toys; toys to play with and toys for company to enjoy. When I see my designs becoming a real object you can see and touch, I feel like a real artist, perhaps even a ‘god’ that can create life!
I also love paper toys that are easy to cut and fold, so I prefer easy templates, not just paper toys to look at on the Internet, but also something that is easy to build and have fun with for all lazy guys like me!”
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Momot South Korea
MOMOT is a Korean design studio whose name comes from “Nemo Nemo Robot.� Nemo means a rectangle in Korean. As the name stands for, MOMOT designers see unlimited possibility in a piece of rectangular paper as a venue for expressing their creativity.
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For MOMOT designers, a piece of paper is not just a paper. For them, it is a source of inspiration. It becomes an infinite canvas where brilliant ideas and creativity inspired by different cultures become realized by their elaborate design skills. We would like to introduce to you and the world MOMOT paper crafts that everybody can collect and enjoy! Please come and have fun with our paper toys :)
this page & opposite various gallery images Momot 2014
“MOMOT designers see unlimited possibility in a piece of rectangular paper as a venue for expressing their creativity.�
Nemo rocks the world!
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various gallery images Momot 2014
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various gallery images Momot 2014
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various gallery images Momot 2014
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GO FOLD SOMETHING.