This month I'll be teaching you how to make a simple craft. The fun of this one is truly in using it rather than in making it, in my opinion. All you're going to need is a piece of paper - regular printer paper or ruled paper will work, though I recommend a single piece of newspaper as I find it gives you the best results. I encourage you to experiment with all kinds of paper, though! The one thing I will advise you to stay away from is cardstock or construction paper - for this craft you want thin, rectangular paper. Trust me. Now let's end this schoolyear off with a bang, shall we ;)?
Take your paper and lay it out flat.
Take your paper and lay it out flat.
Take the top of your page and fold it down.
Then, unfold that and fold the paper from one side to the other.
Unfold the page again.
Now, fold all of the corners so that they meet the middle horizontal line.
Now, fold all of the corners so that they meet the middle horizontal line.
Now, fold over the horizontal line again.
Fold the edges together (folding towards yourself, i.e. DON'T LIFT THE PAPER OFF THE TABLE) to form a diamond/square.
Pick up the paper and fold it back on itself so that the tips you just folded are sticking out at you.
You're done!
"What? Finished? What in the HOL did I just make?"
Well, let me show you! Pick up your little triangle by the tip. Make sure you are grasping it by the end that opens to reveal the flaps, and that you aren't pinching the shorter inner flap.
"What? Finished? What in the HOL did I just make?"
Well, let me show you! Pick up your little triangle by the tip. Make sure you are grasping it by the end that opens to reveal the flaps, and that you aren't pinching the shorter inner flap.
Also make sure that the tip of your triangle is facing away from you when you hold it.
Now, swish your hand downwards quickly and don't let go of the paper. It might take a try or two, and you may only need to flick your wrist, but you should see a flap fly out of your craft and you'll hear a snapping sound. If you're lucky, you may have done it just right, in which case that snap will actually be a loud BANG!
This is called a paper banger! I highly recommend experimenting with how fast you flick it, whether you prefer to swing it wildly or only flick your wrist, and especially experiment with the type of paper you use to make it. I found newspaper made the best noise for me, but the frustrating part is that after flicking it about 15-20 times (which may sound like a lot but once you're on the journey for the perfect snap, it really isn't!) the end tears off and I have to make another. Snapping it in different rooms also helps sometimes - my dining room is a wide open space and so I get a nice echo in there if the snap is loud enough!
Happy HOLidays ;)!
(for those of you who maybe can't seem to get the snapping sound, try turning your triangle around. You want only ONE flap coming out when you snap it, not both!)
This is called a paper banger! I highly recommend experimenting with how fast you flick it, whether you prefer to swing it wildly or only flick your wrist, and especially experiment with the type of paper you use to make it. I found newspaper made the best noise for me, but the frustrating part is that after flicking it about 15-20 times (which may sound like a lot but once you're on the journey for the perfect snap, it really isn't!) the end tears off and I have to make another. Snapping it in different rooms also helps sometimes - my dining room is a wide open space and so I get a nice echo in there if the snap is loud enough!
Happy HOLidays ;)!
(for those of you who maybe can't seem to get the snapping sound, try turning your triangle around. You want only ONE flap coming out when you snap it, not both!)