Junk Mail Origami
by Duy and Tramy Nguyen, published by Sterling Publishing
Like us, you probably recycle hundreds of pounds of junk mail a year. Mailbox-to-bin, it just keeps coming, even after you have opted-out and taken your name off of every list possible. STOP! Now there is a use for all of those pretty glossy paper advertisements and offers that are too good to refuse! Thanks to Duy and Tramy Nguyen, you too, will want to start putting your junk mail to good use!
Junk Mail Origami lets you turn run-of-the-mill junk mail into works of art; elephants, sting-rays, seahorses, aliens, and many others. The well-illustrated diagrams classic to origami instructions are impeccable and the advice at the beginning of the book ensure that, even a novice, with a little practice, can master the Japanese art of paper folding. The diagrams are simple and easy-to-ready and, like most origami books, there are few words once you get into the project instructions.
To test the instructions, we thought the elephant from page 56 would be fun to try! After two attempts, the first ones being a rehersal for the final draft (after all, it is just junk mail!), we became smitten! How fun would it be to make a parade of junk mail elephants?! Or a mobile-type decoration for a party?! Name tags?! Gift tags?! Greeting cards?! Suddenly we had more uses than junk-mail! Not bad for a little book that lies flat for ease and uses trash for art! We made several elephants! Some from shiny magazine paper, others from a heavier newsprint. You will want to practice your project folding first--it is ok, even if the project doesn't work right the first time...it is only junk mail! Based on a standard size for mass mailings, multiple sizes are given at the front of the book so you can cut your own mail down to the correct size. Each project has a photograph; but we were more amused by how our's differed from the photo--each folded elephant had a character all of his own!
A clever book, Junk Mail Origami, is perfect for anyone who would likes to do something with all of the paper that (oh so very quickly) accumulates. How wonderful to teach a classroom of children folding techniques, at the same time using up a seemingly endless resource; a great way to discuss recycling. Duy and Tramy Nguyen show their amazing creativity, by teaching anyone who crafts on a budget, or who is looking for recycle craft projects, how to use plain old junk mail in a fresh, new way. Junk Mail Origami certainly embodies the idea of "something from nothing"! We think you might agree. From garbage to art form, a little time and a few folds; what have you got to loose? --Junk mail...
No longer garbage, but a train of junk mail circus elephants!
Another adorable elephant embellishes a "Don't Forget!" card!
