TUTORIAL: HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN PARAGAMI 3D WALL ART

Paragami Templates are a great creative activity for everyone! It is a fun project. Your effort will be rewared with astonishing home decor piece!

Don't hang up boring paintings and posters, instead make for your interior an extraordinary Paragami 3D WALL ART.

You do not have to be manually super-skilled. The core of PARAGAMI is using large number of simple blocks which comprise visually attractive mosaic.

In this TUTORIAL you will follow these steps:

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CUT OUT THE SHAPES?

Paragami Templates provides both data files for printer+manual cut-out (PDF) with SCISSORS/SCALPE
and vector data to cut it mechanically with a PLOTTER (DXF) - Cameo Silhouette or Cricut.
Both options are possible!

See what is inside the Download Package

STEP 01-A / Scissors/Scalper

  • PRINT THE LAYOUT SHEETS

    Download the PDF and print the sheets on a regular printer. The paper size is A3 by default. We recomend to use colour paper 120g - 240g.

  • CUT OUT WITH SCISSORS

    Carefully cut out all the shapes. It is easier to roughly separate individual shapes. And then precisely cut out each shape following the outline. It is easier manipulation.

  • CUT OUT WITH A SCALPEL

    Use a metal ruler to guide the blade. Be careful not to cut you fingers!

STEP 01-B / Plotter

  • PREPARE THE DATA

    Download the enclosed DWG/DXF file. Find a print shop with a plotter or use your own desk-top one (Silhouette Camero, Circut). The data are vectors and can be easily re-arranged to the size of the working area of the cutter. You will have to import it into your plotter program and set up the cutout.

  • DIFFERENT SETTINGS

    Set up different settings for the lines. The Outline and the Numbers should be cut all the way through, but lines for folding just a bit or with a dashed or dotted line. The different cut setting is used for different materials and thickness. The outline of the shape and lines for foldings are on different layers. This gives the option to plot them with different settings (e.g. dashed, less power), which makes assembly easier.

  • PEEL OF THE SHAPES

    Once plotting ready, carefully peel off the shapes. Do not bend or fold the paper, bend the cutting mat instead! The paper will pop up easily.

STEP 02 / PREPARATIONS

  • MARK DOWN THE NUMBER

    Rewrite the number of the shape on the other (bottom) side. Once the shape will be folded-up and glued, the number will not be visible.

  • GROOVE THE FOLDING LINES

    Use a ruler and a dull knife (or a needle) to groove the folding lines. Bare in mind NOT to cut the paper through. This will give rise to effortless, nice and sharp folds later.

  • ORGANIZE THE SHAPES

    Now is a good time to double-check if nothing is missing. Look before you leap! You can already organize them in ascending order.

STEP 03 / FOLDING-UP

  • BENDING

    Fold all the edges. Keep the front side of the paper inside the shape. The printed lines are on the front side. Thanks to keeping the printed lines "inside" the shape of the final ART PIECE will be clean. Otherwise - if you fold it up the other way, the art piece will be "mirrored."

  • ADD GLUE TO THE TABS

    Use regular paper glue.

  • FOLD UP THE SHAPE

    Firmly press both sides and hold until they stick together.

STEP 04 / PREASSEMBLY (OPTIONAL - NOT FOR ALL PARAGAMI DESIGNS)

  • TWO SHAPES - BIG & SMALL

    Some of the Paragame designs consists of multiple shapes - small and big pyramids. It is good to make each from different colour paper.

  • GLUEING TOGETHER

    Glue the small one into the big one. There is guiding dashed line for proper alignment.

  • GLUE - HOLD - REPEAT

    Repeat the process with all the shapes. Remember - do not glue wrong number together!

STEP 05 / THE GRID

  • PREPARE THE BACKGROUND

    Use plywood and any other hardboard as a background. The board will keep them in place and the art piece will be tough and easy to hang. Draw a grid on it corresponding to the particular design.

    The layout grid dictates the position of each folded-up shape. Each cell has a number which matches the number of the shape.

  • 3D paper wall art parametric design PARAGAMI TEMPLATE

    ASSEMBLE IT IN DRAFT

    First, assemble the blocks in the draft without glueing. Again - look before you leap!

  • GLUE IN ON THE BACKGROUND

    Finally, it is time to start sticking the shapes to the background. Start with the ones, which are not hanging over other blocks.

STEP 06 / FINALIZING PARAGAMI ART WALL

    See all PARAGAMI Templates

    Take a pace lap and test your dexterity

    Still wondering if you can make it? You are awesome. And we assure you that you can make it! But if you want to warm yourself up first, we recomend to start with an easy one.

    Take the pace lap with this simple template!

    APPLY FOR A 30% DISCOUNT ON YOUR NEXT PURCHASE

    Once you finish the wall art, let us know! Allow us to share photos of
    your piece on social media and get a 30% discount on your next purchase!

    LET US KNOW