General Instructions

Welcome

Welcome to the Paper Galaxy !

With the free printable patterns and instructions in this website, you will be able to make fantastic three-dimensional creations using only paper, scissors, and glue.

This General Instructions sheet applies to all the projects and instructions in this website and should be read first.

Tools and Supplies

The paper craft projects in this Paper Galaxy website require only simple tools and supplies:

- Scissor

- White glue suitable for paper

The scissor should be sharp enough to cut paper easily and cleanly. Any multi-purpose glue suitable for paper is fine.

PATTERNS and PAPER

The patterns in this website are designed to be transferred onto the project paper of your choice using your computer printer. Simply open the printable pattern .pdf file (via the FREE Printable Pattern button) for your selected project and print onto your selected paper. Any paper that works with your printer is fine. This could be normal office letter paper that is white or colored. Special craft paper also works fine in most printers. Cardstock paper works fine in some printers but is too stiff for others, depends on your printer. For craft paper, you should print the pattern on the back (white) side of the craft paper. It is also fun to create your own “craft paper” with paint or ink. Paint can be added to the non-printed side either before or after printing. Ink can be added to either the printed side or the non-printed side before printing. If the paper curls a little during inking, then let the paper dry, and then put it in a heavy book to flatten before printing.

PATTERN Key

The key used for all patterns is explained here.

Black lines are cut lines. Red and green lines are folding lines. Red lines are mountain folds and green lines are valley folds.

Shaded trapezoids are glue flaps. Projects are assembled after folding by gluing one glue flap to another as explained in the instructions for each project.

Example Project #1

Here is an example of how the use the instructions in this website.

Each project will have a pattern that you will print on your selected paper. Patterns will consist of black lines, green lines, red lines, and glue flaps as explained in the pattern key above. See example below.

Instructions for Example Project #1

Step 1. Print pattern on your selected paper.

Step 2. Cut out the pattern by cutting on all black lines.

Step 3. Fold the pattern by making valley folds on all green lines including the green lines on the edge of the two glue flaps.

Step 4. Glue together the two “A” labelled glue flaps so that they are on the inside of the project.

Example Project #2

Here is another example of how to use the instructions in this website.

Instructions for Example Project #2

Step 1. Print pattern on your selected paper.

Step 2. Cut out the pattern by cutting on all black lines.

Step 3. Fold the pattern by making valley folds on all green lines and mountain folds on all red lines.

Step 4. Glue together the two “A” glue flaps, the glue together the two “B” glue flaps, so that the glue flaps are on the inside of the project.

Getting Started

Each project has instructions and a pattern. The pattern should be printed on your selected paper. The instructions can either be printed or viewed directly on your computer, tablet, or phone while you are working. The instructions are step by step and include photos of the partially complete project at various steps and a photo of the completed project. Each project is labelled with a difficulty level of beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Try a beginner or two before moving to the intermediate and advanced.

A few Tips

Here are a few tips that you may find useful.

• Remember to print the pattern on the opposite side of the paper than the side that you want to show on the outside of your project.

• Accuracy is important. Try to make folds directly on the lines. For some stiffer paper, it may be useful to start the crease for the fold using your finger nail in the valley of the fold to get it started at the right place.

• It is a good idea to trial fit pieces together before applying any glue.

• White glue for paper dries quickly. Suggest you place glue on only one glue flap at a time and use your fingers to hold it in place on the glue flap it is being attached to for a couple minutes, before moving on to the next glue flap. On some projects, a craft tweezers is useful to hold the glue flaps together while the glue dries.

• If your selected paper is shiny, craft glue may work better than normal white glue.

• For some projects, both sides of the paper will show when the project is finished; often these look most interesting if the two sides of the paper are different color.