Author: LaserSister

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 10: Leafy Sprig

papercut leafy sprig 508 with scalpel - watermarked - LaserSister - KayVincent

Leafy Sprig Papercut #508

“Leafy Sprig” papercut is from an extended papercutting project that I’ve been doing. Basically I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books, but at the moment I’ve accelerated the process by trying to adapt/cut 100 designs in 100 days.

Today’s design is number #508 in the book.

Closer up:

Funny how the really tiny ones look so chunky and lumpy when they’re magnified. Never mind – to the naked eye this one looks fine.

I don’t know where the designs come from in the book, but I suspect that this particular design comes from the same original reference source that the recent Bouquet design came from. They are very similar:

Now that I think about it, with the Bouquet design I was considering combining it with other similar-looking motifs to make a bigger design. This “Leafy Sprig” design would be perfect for that.

Again, it would go quite nicely in a Mother’s Day or birthday card, with the design done as a filigree papercutting, plus a personalised calligraphy message.

Any comments or suggestions? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 9: Triangular Sprig

Triangular Sprig #127

This “Triangular Sprig” design is from Day 9 of my Covid19 Lockdown papercutting project.

…which is part of an even bigger papercutting project that I’ve been doing for the last couple of years. I’m trying to adapt 100 designs for papercutting, from the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books. Then I’ll cut them with scissors and/or scalpel over 100 days.

This design is number #127 in the book.

Closer up:

I’m really on a roll with this papercutting thing – I don’t think I’ve accidentally ripped any for ages! And either I’m getting much better at papercutting, or I’m getting better at forgiving myself for all of the tiny little errors that happen when you hand-cut paper designs. (Or maybe I’m getting better at both.)

It reminds me of a similar design that I cut/posted fairly recently, of a triangular flower and leaf sprig. And that one in turn reminded me of 1960s Chinese papercuts, that a Wikipedia page calls “chuāng huā (窗花), window flowers or window paper-cuts.”

Because it’s symmetrical, I’m thinking about creating a sort of Chinese and Mexican mash-up/fusion design, where I turn it into a ‘papel picado’ motif.

Any comments? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 8: Bouquet

“Bouquet” papercut: #506

This “Bouquet” papercutting is yet another design from the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books.

It continues the papercutting project that I’ve been doing. (Basically I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the book, but at the moment I’ve got the added challenge of trying to adapt/cut 100 designs in 100 days.)

This week’s design is number #506 in the book.

Closer up:

This was yet another really enjoyable papercut because of the challenge/difficulty element, combined with the overall look and the small size. It took just less than an hour to cut, and involved lots of tiny tiny shapes and curves. There’s one particular line that jumps out at me as being a bit wiggly wobbly, but I actually don’t mind it.

And because it’s another Art Nouveau-type design, that just immediately appeals to me anyway.

I can see this design being useful just by itself, for a Mother’s Day or birthday card, with its cute little bouquet of flowers and leaves. Or on a more ambitious scale, being joined by other similar designs so that they all form a great big filigree card full of flowers and leaves.

Any comments, suggestions or ideas? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 7: Roses

“Roses” papercut: #509

This “Roses” design is from the continuing papercutting project, where I’m trying to work my way through all of the designs in the “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book by Dover Books.)

Today’s design is number #509 in the book.

Closer up:

I really enjoyed adapting and cutting this design. Because I used a new scalpel blade and was paying attention, I think it turned out quite well. I especially liked cutting the little veins in the leaves. I’m not quite as keen on the design of the actual flowers themselves, but I still liked adapting and cutting them.

I’m definitely planning on using this design motif in a future project. I can see them as the border for a bigger design, maybe. Ooh, or it could be part of a “Beauty and the Beast” design that I’ve been thinking about creating. (One of these days I’d like to create a series of papercutting designs based on fairytales.)

I can’t even remember what I was watching or listening to while I cut this one, I was so engrossed in it. I was probably listening to a writing-related podcast.

Any comments on the design, or have you tried to cut any of the decorative ornaments from the same book? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 6: Berries and Leaves

Berries and Leaves Papercut #511

I’ve called today’s project “Berries and Leaves” papercut, for obvious reasons. It’s Day 6 of my Lockdown Project (which is a continuation of the ongoing papercutting project that I’ve been doing, for the last couple of years), but day 27(ish) of the actual UK lockdown.

The “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” book doesn’t have titles for any of the designs (which is why I’ve come up with my own names for them) but in the book it’s number #511:

Closer up:

This was a really challenging piece to cut. The tiny berries were particularly difficult, because they were too small to cut with scissors, but cutting curves with a scalpel was tricky:

This design ticks a lot of boxes for me – I like the Art Nouveau style and the mostly-symmetrical pattern, and the overall difficulty/challenge level of the cutting itself. I can definitely see myself using it in a ‘real’ project one day – even if it’s just part of a birthday card.

I was watching The Tick on Amazon Prime while I cut this one out. Why did they only make two seasons? Whyyyyyy? It was funny and clever, and watching it made a good antidote to the Coronavirus weirdness out in the ‘real’ world. Oh well, when everyone else runs out of stuff to watch on Netflix and Amazon maybe they’ll give the Tick a try and realise how good it was.

Any comments about the design or the cutting? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 5: Cornucopia

Cornucopia #519

This “Cornucopia” design is from my extended papercutting project, where I’m trying to adapt all 922 images from the book “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments“, to make them into papercutting designs, and then cut them out by hand. This one is design #519 in the book.

Closer up:

This is another one that I really like – even up close:

There are only a few shaky lines, and the rest seem fairly competently executed – even the really thin ones. And the outside edges don’t look too ‘lumpy’.

As with so many of these designs though, I’m not sure whether I’ll ever find a ‘real’ project to use it in. Especially since the current Covid19 lockdown period doesn’t really make me think of overflowing cornucopias or abundance at the moment…

While I was cutting it I was still listening to Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. Ugh. Thank goodness it was an audiobook borrowed free via the library, instead of using credits or actual money – that would have made it even more disappointing to listen to.

Any comments about the design or the cutting? (or indeed, Mansfield Park?) You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 3: Art Nouveau Design Papercut

Art Nouveau Design #530

This ‘Art Nouveau Design’ papercut is part of my ongoing papercutting project, where I’m adapting designs from the book “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” to turn them into papercutting designs. This one is design #530 from the book.

Closer up:

I love this one! For a start the design is right up my street; it reminds me of William Morris and Arts & Crafts Movement designs:

But for this one in particular the thin lines turned out really well. I don’t think I accidentally ripped any of them, for a change, and even close up they seem OK.

This is a design that I can definitely see myself using in a ‘real’ project, one day.

While I was cutting I was listening to Tim Ferriss’s “4-Hour Work Week” audiobook. The world has changed a lot since it was released in 2008! Off the top of my head I can think of three things that have become extinct since then: faxes, Blackberries, and MySpace. The advice was still interesting and useful, but hopefully the companion website keeps readers/listeners up to date with new developments.

Any comments or advice about the ‘Art Nouveau design papercut’ or the cutting? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Lockdown Papercutting Project Day 2: Oranges and Ribbon

Oranges and ribbon #651

Day 2 of the continuing papercutting project, where I’m adapting designs from the book “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments” so they can be turned into papercuts via scissors and/or scalpel. (And so that my sanity will remain intact during the Covid-19 lockdown, because I find papercutting to be very relaxing and therapeutic.) This is design #651 from the book, and I’ve called it “Oranges and Ribbon” papercutting.

Closer up:

Maybe they’re not oranges? But I don’t think they’re tomatoes, because the leaves look more citrus-y than tomato-y. And I didn’t know how else to describe the swirly thing, so that’s why I just called it a ribbon. I like that the papercutting is sort-of-but-not-exactly symmetrical.

To me the design looks half Art Nouveau and half Art Deco (ribbon and oranges, respectively). Close up some of the lines do look a bit ‘lumpy’ because I didn’t go back and tidy them up, but that was because I was fairly satisfied with it to begin with. Unlike yesterday’s design at least the lines are nice and thick, so I wasn’t afraid of stretching the paper and accidentally ripping it as I went along. To be honest I don’t think I’d make any changes if I had to cut it again.

I’m not sure I will ever be able to find a real-life project where I’ll be able to incorporate this design (unless I end up sending someone a card one day that says something like “Orange you glad it’s your birthday?”) but in the meantime I enjoyed cutting this one.

Any comments about the design or the cutting? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Papercutting project (continued): triangular flower and leaf sprig

Triangular flower and leaf sprig 722

My ongoing papercutting project continues, where I’m trying to adapt all 922 images from the book “922 Decorative Vector Ornaments“, to make them into papercutting designs, and then cut them out by hand. This one is design #722 in the book, and I’ve called it “triangular flower and leaf sprig”.

You might think that if I’ve got to #722 out of 922 designs that I might ‘only’ have 200 designs to go before I finish the project. But I’m not cutting them in any particular order. Maybe I should check how many I have cut, so far. I don’t even know if I’m halfway yet!

(Some of the links in this article might be ‘affiliate links’. If you’d like to know more, please check out the small print page…)

Closer up:

This design reminds me of 1960s Chinese papercuts. This Wikipedia page calls the style “chuāng huā (窗花), window flowers or window paper-cuts.”

I like the way the elements of this triangular flower and leaf sprig join together. I’ve tried to make the joins between the pieces flow into each other and look fairly natural.

And the actual cutting of the piece is fairly ‘clean’ as well, with only a few lumps and bumps in it when you look at it up close.

While I was cutting it I was listening to “Blood’s Pride”, by Evie Manieri:

Any comments about the design or the cutting? You can chip in via the comments page, or Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

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STEM PhD Research Project

jumping jack spider STEM project

Hi! I have recently started a PhD* course, and am hoping to carry out a STEM research project. My intended area of study is along the lines of “Encouraging more children – especially girls – to participate in STE(A)M subjects” (i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths…but via arts and creative media).

At the time of writing (March 2020) it looks like my PhD research project about STEM might be very relevant in the coming weeks. There are lots of children at home due to the Corona Virus school closures, and I suspect that they (and their parents) will be looking for tutorials and projects to keep their minds and hands active during the ‘lockdown’ period.

Over the next couple of years I’m hoping to:

  • Research and share a load of free STEM resources – especially for primary school teachers.
  • Gather information from UK primary school teachers about how they deliver the subject of Design & Technology.
  • Study existing links between primary schools and local ‘Maker Movement’ groups, museums, coding clubs etc…
  • Research and report ‘best practice’ models of delivering STE(A)M content via the current UK National Curriculum.

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Your message has been sent

How can we help each other?

If you would be interested in being part of my study (and receiving /sharing information on STE(A)M delivery within primary schools – or even just to have a rant about STE(A)M and D&T in the UK National Curriculum) then please do get in touch via the brief form below, or via my Contact page:

I’m still putting together resources, but in the meantime, I recommend checking out websites such as RobIves.com (or my own PolymerKay.com for STEM and STEAM tutorials.

Thanks!

Kay

*It’s officially an EdD course (Doctorate in Educational Studies), but nobody has heard of those, so it’s easier to call it a PhD. I’ll still be “Dr Kay” at the end of it 🙂