Marie Gudme Leth - Pioneer of Print

Prints: Guinea Fowl 1941; inset: Lime Leaf 1946

Reporting back on an exhibition showcasing the work of an inspirational and influential Danish print designer. Marie Gudme Leth (1895-1997) - Pioneer of Print, at Design Museum Danmark (Copenhagen). The exhibition has closed recently - I was lucky to catch it.

Marie Gudme Leth's bold and simple designs haven't dated - they still look fresh today. According to the museum brochure, "Leth revived textile printing as an artisanal craft in Denamark around 1030...". She reinvented herself several times during her long and productive career, adapting to changes in taste and manufacturing methods. 

Here's a link to a Google Images collection of Marie Gudme Leth's work. 

Pleated Paper Shades at Design Museum Danmark

Saw these superb paper pleated lampshades at Design Museum Danmark (Copenhagen). You should definitely swing by if you, too, are lucky enough to go on a hygge hol! :) I believe these shades are crafted by a selection of designers (very sorry - credits photographed blurry). 

If you would like to learn how to create your own paper pleated lampshades, this book should be your first port of call:

Here's a link to my review of Paul Jackson's Complete Pleats.

Lift-Out Cupcake Box

Still channelling cupcakes here! :) Another packaging lightbulb idea today - looks like an ordinary petal-close box. But hey - what's this? Not all the flaps are attached to the box base. Lift the two opposite free flaps to raise the cupcake out of the box. Tah dah.

Look above - the box has a liner with flaps attached.

Here's your freebie cupcake box:
Lift-OutCupcakeBox1of2.pdf 
Lift-OutCupcakeBox2of2.pdf 

Lift-OutCupcakeBox1of2.studio3 
Lift-OutCupcakeBox2of2.studio3 

Lift-Out Cupcake Box

1 Print box templates on 160 gsm photocopier card.

2 Score the fold lines; cut out.

3 Stick the flap liners onto the flip side of the top flaps. Match the colours. Glue stick is fine.

4 Assemble the box base, gluing adjacent flaps (or use d/s tape).

5 Lower the box liner into the box at right angles to the flaps on the box itself.

6 Pierce a hole in a corner and tie the gift tag on to the box with craft thread.

7 Petal-close lid: to close the box fold down the flaps consecutively, tucking under as needed. The left side on each flap goes underneath - flower corner on top. 

So there you go.That's a wrap. Happy cupcakes to you!
 

Decorative Paper Craft, by GMC. Review.

Decorative Paper Craft

Origami/ Paper Cutting/ Papier Mâché

By GMC Editors

GMC Publications May 2016

Paperback £9.99 UK/ $14.95 US

ISBN 978-1-78494-174-1

Star rating: ***

This title is a pleasant compendium of papercraft projects – sourced from Making magazine. I get the impression that it was compiled a bit hastily (carousel-style memory book looks a bit dated with 2011 labels, lack of spelling agreement, etc.), although for the most part the projects are attractive (as you would expect, coming from Making) and  well-chosen.  

The makes are divided into four categories: Gifts, Celebrations, and For the Home. Projects within each category are a grab bag of papercraft techniques. Confession: I’ve never been a fan of papier mâché. Labour-intensive and results often underwhelming.  Having said that, the projects in this book are very appealing. The Money-Box Bear (polar!) is lightly painted – I love how the newsprint shows through - not fake anything - real pm. Its construction is very clever. The paper mâché teacups are charming and would make sweet desktop storage containers. 

The paper cutting projects are simple yet elegant. The Valentine’s Papercut, Moroccan Cards, 3D Flower Picture, and Papercut Note Cards (stylish Scandi-style bird motifs) are all winners and do-able as handcuts. (Not as keen on the Cutaway Clock.)

Sometimes the how-tos are a bit sketchy. Example: Fans & Windmills. “Attach to a stick” is a bit vague for the nitty gritty of the project – the bit most novice crafters would want a detailed assist on. (How do you attach the papery construction to the stick, yet allow it to rotate freely???)

Other projects include a Rolled Paper Bowl – magazine paper coils – a clever take on recycling (sure to appeal to paper bead enthusiasts). If you are OK on repurposing books, then the Book Sculpture is a simplified take on the book-folding trend - the pages are cut to shape, rather than folded. 

The on-page step-by-steps are mostly fine. Projects are accompanied by how-to photos or detailed illustrations as needed. Templates are back of book – lots of photcopier enlarging to do.

So – a likable mixed bag of papery projects. Might make a fun gift for a newbie.

Pointy Pleated Ornaments

These printable diamond-shaped ornaments are great fun to make. Once you get the knack of folding the V-folds at the centre, you'll be turning them out in quantity.

Here are your free designs:
PointyPleatedOrnaments.pdf 
PointyPleatedOrnaments.studio3 

Pointy Pleated Ornaments

1 Print the ornaments on 160gsm photocopier card.

2 Score the fold lines - vertical pleats (toughs and peaks), the zigzag centre line.

3 Cut out the ornaments. You need two of each. If cutting by hand, punch out the holes with a 1/16" circle handpunch (or carefully pierce with a needle). 

4 Join two strips to make one continuous strip. Match the join and stick it with d/s tape or PVA tacky glue.

5 Pre-crease the pleats. Use a bone folder for the vertical pleats. Use your fingers to prime the zigzags. 

6 Fold the pleats. The pleats reverse at the zigzags. Pop the Vs. You'll soon get the hang of it. 

7 Join the ends of the pleated strip to make a continuous loop.

8 Make a hanging loop from ribbon, knotted at the bottom. Add a pony bead at the knot - this ensures that the loop will stay in place within the ornament. 

8 Using a tapestry needle, draw craft thread through the holes at top and bottom. Draw them up and tie them. Catch in the hanging loop before tightening the top.

9 Add a tassel to the bottom of the ornament. This looks attractive and simultaneously weights the ornaments.

No need to stick to the size given. Petite ornaments are pretty, too.
 

Confetti Rose Cupcake Box

I am a maker, not a baker – so when I watch GBBO (wasn’t  Candice’s pub gingerbread house fab?) , my mind  turns to designing cake boxes (and snacking, of course). So, today I have a “smart” cupcake box for you. Concept – hydraulic lift. Package an iced cupcake in the box. How to remove it without icing apocalypse? Poke your finger through the hole in the base and elevate the free-standing base layer – and the cupcake. 

BTW, have you noticed how many of the GBBO contestants have transferable design skills? This year, there’s a garden designer and an aerospace engineer. In the past, there have been clothing designers. Makes sense. Creativity doesn’t stay in boxes! :)

Here is your free cupcake box: 

ConfettiRoseCupcakeBox.pdf

ConfettiRoseCupcakeBox.studio3

Confetti Rose Cupcake Box

1 Print the template on to 160gsm photocopier card.

2 Score the fold lines before cutting out the pieces.

3 Cut out the pieces (digi-cut or by hand). The blue hexagon is your cutting guide for cutting out the cellophane window. You can buy a roll of clear cellophane (it is a florist’s supply) or simply cut up a cello card packaging envelope.

4 I use d/s tape for  box assembly. First stick the cello window on to underside of lid. Next, bottom tabs. Finally, the side tab.

5 Next, drop the base liner face down into the box.

6 The front tab is longer than the others. Pierce two holes and tie on the gift tag through theses. You need 20cm (8in) of craft thread to tie on the tag and tie a mini-bow.  Place the cupcake (or muffin) in the box and tuck the side lid tabs inside, front tab outside. A sticky fixer adheres the front tab.

This is my first project on my lovely new Silhouette Cameo 3 digital cutting machine. (I never had Silhouette Cameo 2, so it was time for an upgrade.) Cameo honeymoon.  I am loving the self-adjusting blade and the two carriages. It also has a higher clearance, so you can cut thicker materials – looking forward to experimenting with that. :)