Papercraft Honor

Arts & Crafts

Requirements

1. Define papercraft or paper modeling.

   Answer: Papercraft (also called paper modeling) is the art of creating three-dimensional models from printed paper, using templates that are cut out, folded along the indicated lines and glued at the tabs to form objects such as animals, buildings, characters, vehicles, scenes and toys. — Papercraft has educational applications (geometry, anatomy, geography models), collectible toys (superheroes, characters) and architecture (scale models); the Cubeecraft site (launched in 2007) popularized the cube style of characters in a simplified cubic form — a worldwide reference of the genre.

2. List at least 5 types of papercraft.

   Answer: Five types of papercraft: 1) Origami — the Japanese art of folding without cuts or glue, from a single sheet (traditionally square), such as the tsuru (crane). 2) Kirigami — a combination of folding and cutting the paper, used in pop-ups and decorations. 3) Pepakura — 3D models assembled from printed templates that are cut out, folded and glued (animals, characters, helmets, vehicles). 4) Cubeecraft — characters in the form of simplified cubes/blocks, assembled with tabs and without glue in most versions. 5) Quilling (paper filigree) — narrow strips of paper rolled and shaped to form decorative designs. (Others: card modeling and snapology.) — Classic origami has records dating back to the 6th century in Japan, but the term was only coined in 1880; quilling is a technique popular during the Renaissance among European nuns for religious decoration; papier-mâché has a French origin from the 17th century — a wide diversity within worldwide papercraft.

3. What are the materials needed to make paper models?

   Answer: Materials needed to make paper models: 1) Paper/cardstock (weight 90-250g according to the size of the model — copy paper, sketch or matte cardstock); 2) A printer (inkjet or laser, in high quality) for the colored templates; 3) Small scissors and/or a craft knife with a cutting mat, to cut out outlines and details; 4) A metal ruler, for straight cuts and to mark/score the folds; 5) Glue (white PVA, glue stick or instant glue) to join the tabs; 6) A pointed object without a cutting edge (dry tip, closed craft knife or non-cutting side) to score the fold lines; 7) Tweezers, to hold and glue small pieces; 8) A pencil for marking and, optionally, varnish/fixative spray for the finish. — Scoring before folding is an essential technique — done with a toothpick or a craft knife without cutting deep into the fold line, it allows precise and clean folds; good papercrafters invest in a self-healing cutting mat that lasts for years; good-quality white glue avoids marks on the finish.

4. What are the most suitable paper weights for printing/drawing the models? Why should glossy (couché) or photographic paper not be used?

   Answer: Recommended paper weights according to the size of the model: 90-120g (common copy paper) for small models and fine details; 150-180g for medium models; 180-250g (cardstock or firm matte paper) for large models that require structure. Glossy (couché) paper and photographic paper should NOT be used because: 1) they have a smooth, coated (laminated) surface, on which white/PVA glue does not adhere well, making the tabs come loose; 2) the coating and rigidity make the paper crack, split or whiten at the fold/crease lines, instead of folding cleanly; 3) the gloss reflects light and washes out the color, harming the finish; and 4) they absorb the ink of pens/markers poorly during touch-ups. Prefer matte papers, which fold, glue and paint better. — Matte couché paper can be used in specific cases where more firmness is wanted, but glossy couché and traditional photographic paper always harm folds and gluing; copy paper 90-120g is the most used by Brazilian amateurs for its cost-benefit balance and availability.

5. What are the best types of printer/printing style for the models to have high quality?

   Answer: The best types: (1) Color laser printer — professional quality, vibrant colors, moisture-resistant ink, low cost per page, ideal for intensive use. (2) Photo-quality inkjet printer (Epson EcoTank, Canon Pixma G-series) — resolution up to 5760×1440 dpi, excellent colors, great for fine details. — Laser printers tend to leave a more professional finish due to electrostatic printing (dry toner ink); inkjet gives more vibrant colors, but the ink can smear with water-based glue; always test on one page before printing the complete model, adjusting color and quality settings.

6. Define the following terms:
   • Tabs or flaps
   • Fold lines
   • Lamination

   Answer: Definition of the terms: 1) Tabs (flaps) — small flaps (rectangles or trapezoids) on the edges of the pieces, folded inward and where glue is applied to join two faces. 2) Template (mold/guide) — the flat printed drawing with the pieces, cut and fold lines that guides the assembly. 3) Cut line — a continuous/solid line that indicates where to cut out the piece. 4) Fold line (crease) — a dashed or dotted line that indicates where to fold; usually 'valley' (fold inward) or 'mountain' (fold outward). 5) Score (crease) — running a dry tip over the fold line so that the paper folds precisely and without tearing. — The convention dashed=valley and dotted=mountain comes from Japanese origami and is universal in papercraft; hot lamination uses films of 75-125 microns pressed with heat; cold lamination uses transparent adhesives — a more expensive but durable option.

7. Build a biblical character in the form of cubes, making your own design.

   Answer: You must create from scratch (without using a ready-made template from the internet) a biblical character in a cubist format — Cubeecraft style, in which the body, head and limbs are simplified cubes or rectangles. Suggestions: David with a sling, Noah with the ark, Moses with a staff, Daniel in the den, Mary, Joseph with a colored coat, Jesus, Peter with a fishing net. — The Cubeecraft style (created by Christopher Beaumont in 2007) is the best-known cubist format — a cubic torso, a large square head, arms and legs as rectangles; it inspires papercrafters around the world to make personalized versions. The exercise trains design + execution in a single artistic piece.

8. Build 2 of the following models:
   • Means of transport (car, airplane, ship, etc.)
   • Building (house, building, bridge, etc.)
   • Animal
   • Person or character
   • Musical instruments

   Answer: You must build 2 different models from the categories listed. Suggestions: (1) Means of transportation: a Beetle car, a commercial airplane, a caravel, a pirate ship, a rocket; (2) Building: a simple house, the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, a bridge, a medieval castle; (3) Animal: a cat, a dragon, a panda, a shark, a dinosaur. — Canon Creative Park is the largest free repository of papercraft (more than 700 models), Pepakura Designer is the professional software for converting 3D models into paper templates; the average time for an intermediate model: 4-8 hours. Choosing 2 different categories trains distinct techniques (curves vs. right angles).

9. Build a biblical scene or a scene for a story with a moral message (it can be your own creation or acquired from magazines or the internet). Use the models to present a devotional to your unit or Sabbath school class.

   Answer: You must build a papercraft scene (a three-dimensional diorama) representing a biblical or morally themed story, and use it to present a devotional. Suggested scenes: Noah's Ark with a pair of animals; the Tabernacle in the wilderness; Daniel in the lions' den; Jonah and the whale; the Good Samaritan on the road. — The diorama is a classic technique that combines papercraft + storytelling — used in education because it reinforces memory through tactile visualization; the standard Adventist devotional is 5-10 minutes: reading the biblical text, commentary/application, prayer. Physical scenes engage children and adults, especially in children's Sabbath school classes.