Monday 29 September 2014

Origami cranes and other birds

Bird motifs lend themselves nicely to numerous occasions. Here are all the cards from my inaugural collection that feature origami cranes, hummingbirds, swans or doves.

1. Cranes

 

The blank crane card

 

Article No.: 00OF-A2-RED14091

  • The pictured card is made with scarlet card stock, but other colours are available as well.
  • Placed in the centre is a handmade origami crane folded from beautiful chiyogami paper (precious Japanese silk-screened paper) that matches the colour of the card stock. The crane is affixed to white paper with glue, but is otherwise not glued so that one of its wings can be folded out or up. 
  • Surrounding the crane is a frame that is hand-cut from linen card stock that matches the colour of the chiyogami. 
  • The size of the card is A2.  
  • Blank inside. Contains a loosely inserted sheet of delicate Japanese lining paper.
  • An envelope in the same colour as the card is included with every order. 



The crane birthday card: Simple Elegance 

 

Article No.: 01OF-A6-RED14091

This card is essentially the same as the blank crane card, except for two features:
  • It contains a wish underneath the framed crane, in this case: "happy birthday!"
  • And it is slightly larger. To be precise, this card is A6 instead of A2.
It is available in different colour combinations as well.




The crane birthday card: The Crane Chain (small)

 

Article No.: 01CC-A2-MIX14091

This exceptional birthday card features an elaborately constructed, hand-made mini origami-crane chain with beads on modern printed black-and-white card stock.
  • Dimensions of the folded card: 8.5cm x 13 cm (3 3/8" x 5").
  • The pattern continues on the back of the card.
  • Seven handmade origami cranes, made from origami paper in red, orange, yellow, light green, green, blue and purple are arranged in the colour sequence of a rainbow on a black string with interspersed transparent yellow mini beads. The string is stitched onto the card at the top and bottom; it is knotted on the inside of the card, and a protective sheet of white paper, which can be written on, is glued on top of it on the inside.
  • "Happy birthday!" is handwritten in gold pen on a rectangular piece of white card stock on the right-hand side of the card.
  • Blank inside.
  • A white A2 envelope is included with the card.



The crane birthday card: The Crane Chain (large)


Article No.: 01CC-A6-WHI14091

This card is essentially the same as the small crane chain card, except for three features:
  • This card is larger (A6). 
  • The black-and-white card stock pattern does not continue on the back; the overall card is white. 
  • The "Happy Birthday!" wish is framed by green paper.



The crane thank-you card 

 

Article No.: 02OF-A6-TEA14091

Another variation of the blank crane card and the crane birthday card.
  • The colour of this card stock is teal, and the size of the card is A6. 
  • The text label says "thank you".
This card is also available in other colour combinations.




The get-well-soon card with a crane

 

Article No.: 08OF-GS-LIL14091

Again, the same style as the previous cards with framed cranes, but with some variation.
  • The colour of this card stock is lilac, and the size of the card is A6. 
  • The text label says "get well soon".
This card is also available in other colour combinations.



The good-luck card with a crane 

 

Article No.: 10OF-GS-BLU14091

Because we love the crane with the simple but elegant frame so much, here it is again in a different colour/text combination.
  • The colour of this card stock is a bright baby blue, and the size of the card is A6. 
  • The text label says "good luck!".
This card is, like all the previous framed crane cards, also available in other colour combinations.




The crane congratulations card

 

A2 card with sandy copper envelope - Article No.: 07OF-A2-NAV14091
A6 card with white envelope - Article No.: 07OF-A6-NAV14091

This is an elegant handmade card to offer congratulations on a variety of occasions.
  • The colour of the card stock is navy blue.
  • The collage consists of chiyogami (precious Japanese silk-screened paper with a leaf design in dark shades and gold), one origami crane folded from the same chiyogami paper, a frame made from antique gold paper, and silk white kozo tissue.
  • "Congratulations" is handwritten on the outside of the card in gold pen.
  • Blank inside. Contains a loosely inserted sheet of delicate Japanese lining paper.
  • The card is available in two sizes:
    • A2, which comes with a sandy copper envelope;
    • A6, which comes with a white envelope.


2. Hummingbirds

 

The congratulations card with hummingbirds 

 

Article No.: 07OF-SS-NAV14091

This card featuring two hummingbirds would be well suited to congratulate a couple on their engagement, wedding or anniversary. The materials used are the same as in the crane congratulations card. 
  • Dimensions of the folded card: 12.7cm x 12.7cm (5" x 5").
  • This card comes with a white square envelope.

  

The wedding card with hummingbirds 

 

Article No.: 03OR-SL-IVO14091

A very special card for a very special day. With its combination of chiyogami (precious Japanese silk-screened paper), satin ribbon, and origami hummingbirds, this elegant handmade card celebrates love, beauty and togetherness without drawing on traditional bride-and-groom motifs. While designed with a wedding in mind, the card would be suitable for engagements as well.
  • Dimensions of the folded card: 13.9cm x 13.9cm (5.5" x 5.5").
  • Ivory Japanese linen card stock. 
  • The collage is composed of a square sheet of paper in dark eggplant; chiyogami in a rich white-lilac-purple colour palette with gold; two handmade origami birds that are arranged to look as if they are flying towards each other at the top of the card; and a narrow stripe of lightly textured ivory card stock, which has a purple satin ribbon (tied into a bow) glued on top of it. 
  • There are also three hand-cut paper flowers, decorated with gel pen, glued to the chiyogami, and imitating its pattern in 3D.
  • Approximately a third of the square paper is left intentionally blank on the right-hand side and can be customised to suit your preferences. Options include: 
    • Text "Congratulations"
    • Text "Wedding Wishes"
    • Text "[Name of Spouse 1] & [Name of Spouse 2]"
    • Text of your choice (max. 4 words)
    • Blank
  • The card is blank inside.
  • A large square envelope (ivory) is included with the card.



3. Swans

 

The swan sympathy card (with condolence text on card stock) 

 

Article No.: 09OR-A6-BLA14091

This is a unique handmade sympathy card to express your sincerest condolences. The colour range is kept tastefully modest (black, grey, white and silver).
  • Dimensions of the folded card: A6 (11.5cm x 15.3cm / 4.5" x 6")
  • The card stock is black.
  • The collage consists of grey German card stock with a classic black flowery print, black kozo paper, a handmade origami swan folded from washi paper, and a black satin ribbon.
  • "With deepest sympathy" is handwritten in black-rimmed silver directly onto the card stock.  
  • Blank inside. Contains a loosely inserted sheet of delicate Japanese lining paper.
  • A matching white envelope is included.  



The swan sympathy card (with condolence text on vellum paper) 

 

Article No.: 09OR-A6-BLA14092

This sympathy card is essentially the same as the one above, except for the finish. Here, "With deepest sympathy" is handwritten in black-rimmed silver onto firm vellum paper, which is glued onto the card stock below the ribbon.



The "I love you" card with swans in blue 

 

Article No.: 11GO-A6-MIX14091

This handmade card replicates a traditional romantic motif -- two courting swans whose necks form a heart shape -- in origami. Here is your chance to say "I love you" with a beautiful and unique card.
  • Dimensions of the folded card: A6 (11.3cm x 15.5 cm / 4 3/8" x 6").
  • The card stock has a cute print design with flowery hearts in blue and red tones and white. The pattern continues on the back of the card.
  • A stripe of red card stock, embossed with hearts, and cut with an elaborate finishing on each side, runs along the left side of the card. 
  • Two origami swans, folded from white washi paper, are arranged -- with their beaks touching -- on a double layer of washi; the bottom layer is a translucent white, and the top layer an opaque blue. 
  • "I love you" is handwritten in black ink on white washi paper, which is glued onto an elegantly shaped piece of the heart-embossed red card stock, and arranged in the bottom right corner of the card.
  • Blank inside.
  • A white A6 envelope is included with the card.



The "I love you" card with swans in red

 

Article No.: 11GO-A6-MIX14092

This handmade card has a very similar design as the previous one. There are three design/material differences:
  • The card stock of this card has a classic red-and-white print design (also continuing on the back of the card)
  • The swans are placed on cornflower-blue Japanese momi paper.
  • "I love you" is handwritten in black ink on white washi paper, which is glued onto another piece of the blue momi paper. 



4. Doves

 

The wedding card with doves

 

Article No.: 03OR-SL-TUR14091 


Another special card for a very special day. With its combination of flowery chiyogami (precious Japanese silk-screened paper), satin ribbon, and origami doves, this elegant handmade card celebrates love, beauty and togetherness without drawing on traditional bride-and-groom motifs. While designed with a wedding in mind, the card would be suitable for engagements as well.
  • Dimensions of the folded card: 13.9cm x 13.9cm (5.5" x 5.5").
  • Aquamarine Japanese linen card stock. 
  • The collage is composed of a square sheet of white paper; chiyogami in a rich mint-red-pink colour palette with gold; two handmade origami birds that are arranged to look as if they are flying towards each other at the top of the card; and a narrow stripe of lightly textured ivory card stock, which has a red satin ribbon (tied into a bow) glued on top of it. 
  • There are also three hand-cut paper flowers, decorated with gel pen, glued to the chiyogami, and imitating its pattern in 3D.
  • Approximately a third of the square paper is left intentionally blank on the right-hand side and can be customised to suit your preferences. Options include: 
    • Text "Congratulations"
    • Text "Wedding Wishes"
    • Text "[Name of Spouse 1] & [Name of Spouse 2]"
    • Text of your choice (max. 4 words)
    • Blank
  • The card is blank inside and contains a loosely inserted sheet of delicate Japanese lining paper.
  • A large square envelope (aquamarine) is included with the card.

Wednesday 24 September 2014

What’s up with that folded bird?



Red-crowned cranes are majestic large birds that are revered in Japanese culture. Since they are not as common as other birds and were believed to live up to 1,000 years, they have become symbols of good luck and longevity. When origami became a popular pastime during the Edo period (17th century CE), people began folding cranes, and the paper crane has since assumed similar symbolic value as the live animal.  

I learned to fold origami cranes, when I was approximately ten years old, and I still have the instructions that I used back then (not that I need them anymore). Together with an origami book, which surprisingly did not include instructions for the crane, my mom had also bought me a pack of made-in-Japan origami paper, which came – and this is no surprise at all – with crane-folding instructions. Once I had mastered the simpler folds from my book, learning how to fold cranes was the logical next step. Since that day, I have folded many many cranes in my life.

Other people’s folded cranes have also had an impact on me. When I visited the Japan Foundation library during the 2012 Doors Open Toronto, I found an origami crane on a book shelf that had a message on its wing, which read, “Unfold me!” Upon unfolding, a teeny teeny teeny paper crane fell out, and I was blown away anew by the magic of origami. 



A few months later, my husband and I travelled to Japan on our honeymoon, and at our very first hotel, we were greeted by two paper cranes on our bed, which was not only a beautiful sight, but a gesture that made us feel welcome straight away. 

The greatest impact on me, however, had Sadako Sasaki, whose story I encountered during my visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Sadako suffered from leukemia as a result of her exposure to the radiation of the atomic bomb when she was a small child in 1945. Believing in the old Japanese legend that promised the granting of one wish to anyone who folded one thousand paper cranes, she folded as many cranes and more in order to be granted the wish to overcome her illness. She died at the age of 12. While Sadako has become a symbol of innocent victims of war, the paper crane has become an important peace symbol. In honour of Sadako and all the innocent victims of the atomic bomb, I bought a pack of origami paper at the Peace Memorial Museum’s gift shop, folded a crane at the Children’s Peace Monument, and donated it right there. I think of Sadako and the victims of war every time I fold a crane.   
 









When it comes to decorating cards with origami, there is nothing as versatile as the crane. It looks stunning in both 2D and 3D. It is thick enough, to jump out of the card and provide a nice texture, but thin enough to stay in shape without glue and complement a two-dimensional design. When glued to a card, one wing can be folded up, out, or to the side. There is no good side or bad side; a paper crane looks good on either side when it’s folded right. It is pretty on its own, but looks lovely in company, too, whether it’s two cranes beak to break, or a chain of cranes. And it fits a great variety of tones, not just in colour, but in sentiment. That’s why Paper Turns is full of paper cranes. 

Monday 22 September 2014

Welcome to Paper Turns!



I have been making greeting cards since I was a child, and in 2008, I decided that one day I will create my own label. Here it is: Paper Turns by KD Urschel!

Paper Turns greeting cards are designed and handmade by me. I am most inspired by the great variety of Japanese papers and crafting traditions, such as origami, and I combine these traditional materials and styles with elegant modern card stock, including German printed card stock, as well as ribbons, buttons, bamboo, feathers,... None of my cards are completely flat or include just one texture; on the contrary: each Paper Turns card combines many different textures, and whenever I use print designs I replicate parts of the pattern in 3D.  

  • You think a greeting card can sometimes be a gift in itself and should thus be made with love and care?
  • You find the texts that are printed on greeting cards cheesy, but can’t find a good selection of tasteful blank cards?
  • You are bored by the standard motifs on store-bought cards and are looking for birthday cards without presents and cakes or wedding cards without brides & grooms, champagne glasses and rings?
  • You like handmade cards, but don’t have the time / energy / ability / materials / creative vision / [insert your own reason] to make them yourself?

You have come to the right place! Let me design and make the perfect card for you.

My first collection can be found in the Paper Turns Etsy shop, and I will introduce all the designs that are currently available for purchase on this blog shortly. I will also start working on a smaller Winter/Holiday collection soon, and plan to introduce it in early/mid November. I would be happy to custom-design cards for you as well.

I hope to hear from you soon!