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Oct

26

Origami Book Reviews and Giveaway

73 Comments 

Entries for this giveaway are now closed.
You can still enter our active giveaways.

Stone Bridge Press was so generous to provide me with three origami books to review, and I have one to giveaway! Origami has always intrigued me, but I never thought it could be done easily, let alone with children! These books are intended to encourage those of us who may have been timid or afraid to try, and make it easy to learn and easy to love! The first two books are Origrafix Fun (Hop, Move, Fly, Play) and Origrafix Japan ( Traditional Designs), both by studio cochae. The word Origrafix comes from the idea of Origami + Graphic Design together.  Both books have 20 projects and 60 different tear-out sheets. There are even sheets to help you create backgrounds for your creations or playing. The third book is called A Thousand Cranes, Origami Projects for Peace and Happiness. It is adapted from the book by Florence Temko and has 48 sheets of beautiful decorative paper.

OriGrafix Fun OriGrafix Japan

A Thousand Cranes: Origami Projects for Peace and Happiness

I thought the best way to do a review of these amazing ORIGRAFIX (Origami + Graphic Design) books was to have a little playdate with my girlfriends and their children. Fortunately, my friend Rachael happens to be very good at Origami, and my friend Kim happens to be a wonderful photographer (all photos in post taken by Kim)...which both make for a great Origami Book Review Playdate.

Each child picked out one paper project that they wanted to complete. The 7 year old chose ‘The Box’, the 5 year old chose ‘Drinking Cup’, and the 3 year old chose the Finger Puppets which everyone ended up eventually making.

One aspect we as ‘moms’ really liked was the fact that all of the beautiful paper had ‘folding lines’ on the back side to help the children know exactly where the folds should be. The paper is vivid, and helps you to create actual objects such as butterflies, frogs and even dolls.

Upon completing our folded art, we quickly realized how fun this activity was, and that we could see children playing with these as if they were real toys. Children not only get to play with the finished toy, but they get to create them! Here are some photos of our finished products to show you what we made. The instructions were simple, and each project in the books built upon the one before it showing you additional fold techniques.

The ‘BOX’was neat because it could actually be used to keep trinkets, change or even jewelry. The 7 year old loved her creation!

The ‘CUP’ was neat because you could tell that it was a cup! This project is perfect to go with the paper dolls and pretending to have tea.

The Finger Puppets were fun, and every child ended up making one. They each had their own individual character and the girls loved that each one was different.

OriGrafix Japan

I saved one of the Origami books for you! I would love for you to enter this giveaway for the ‘Traditional Designs JAPAN’ Origrafix Book. This book contains traditional origami projects and the paper alone will draw you in. Here’s how to enter:

1) US Residents only Please.

2) Leave a comment telling us your experience with origami.- 1 entry

3) Follow Stone Bridge Press on Facebook.- 1 entry

3) ‘Like’ this giveaway at the top of the blog post, or tweet about it and tell us about it in a comment. – 1 entry

4) Head on over to Stone Bridge Press and tell us another craft or origami book that interests you.- 1 entry.

So as you can see, there are a lot of ways to get many entries for this giveaway. I can’t recommend  enough that you try your best to win this one! Be sure to leave a valid email address so I can get in touch with you if you win!

This giveaway will close at 11:59 pm EST on Friday, November 4, 2011.

Good Luck!

 

***Winner Update***

Congratulations! We have a winner of the Origami book, ‘Traditional Designs JAPAN’ Origrafix Book!

Through Random.Org, our winner is comment #19!

 

 

Missy wrote: ‘I love origami. Looks like fun.’ Congratulations Missy, I will be contacting you soon to get your mailing info! Thanks again to Stone Bridge Press for the wonderful giveaway!!

 

 

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Comments

73 Comments so far

  1. Brenda Hojonski on October 26, 2011 6:36 pm

    I would love to win this book for my son! He has really taken off with Origami and this would be a fantastic addition to his collection.

  2. Courtney on October 26, 2011 7:07 pm

    My son just can home yesterday with a book from the library on Origami. He tried so had at working with all that paper. I would love to win this book for him so that he can continue to practice he paper folding skills!! =0)

  3. Stephanie E on October 26, 2011 7:16 pm

    The only real experience I have with origami is making all the flowers for my bridal bouquet.

  4. Kim Ratajczyk on October 26, 2011 7:52 pm

    I would love the finger-knitting book. My daughter would like the 1000 cranes.

  5. Carmen on October 26, 2011 7:56 pm

    I haven’t tried origami in quite a while, but I like all kinds of paper crafts!

  6. Carmen on October 26, 2011 7:56 pm

    I think it would be neat to try finger knitting.

  7. Dennis on October 26, 2011 8:28 pm

    I have done some Origami but it didn’t look much like the one in the book so would love to win just to learn more.

  8. Dennis on October 26, 2011 8:29 pm

    I liked this post at the top.

  9. Dennis on October 26, 2011 8:31 pm

    I follow Stone Bridge Press on fb.

  10. Dennis on October 26, 2011 8:33 pm

    I went to Stone Bridge Press and looked at some books they have and the one I liked is Finger Knitting. I have tried this also and didn’t do well so I liked that they had a book on it.

  11. Ann on October 27, 2011 4:32 am

    I started doing origami when I was my daughters age. Would love to show her how, I always had so much fun with it.

  12. Shelly E on October 27, 2011 4:53 am

    I’ve loved origami for ever, the papers are so beautiful, I have tried doing origami with children I babysit and end up makeing everything for them because they thought it was too difficult. With the papers provided in this book, maybe they would be ablel to do it themselves!

  13. Donna Rinckel on October 27, 2011 5:24 am

    This looks like such fun. The books showed up for me but the pictures of your play date didn’t. :( I’d love to learn more oragami and use it with the Girl Scouts I work with.

  14. Donna Rinckel on October 27, 2011 5:25 am

    I’d also love to see the Finger Knitting books at Stonebridge. I think that would be great fun to teach Girl Scouts and fun too! Thanks for the chance at winning the origami book.

  15. DeAnn on October 27, 2011 6:31 am

    This would be the perfect gift for my granddaughter with learning disabilities. She could totally do this!

  16. Peggy R on October 27, 2011 7:12 am

    I am in love with Asian crafts, as well as their lifestyle. It was very hard to decide. I chose the Kirigami, which looks like it would be very pretty, as well as useful when perfected, and the Cherry Blossoms book, because I have always been fascinated with the Kimonos, as well as their materials.

  17. Nicole on October 27, 2011 7:13 am

    Our only previous experience with origami are the Kumon folding workbooks. I’d love to try this with my daughter.

  18. Desta on October 27, 2011 7:30 am

    Origami attempts used to end up with crumbled pieces of paper until I got a very easy to decipher book at the library where I actually made a octagon box with a lid! I then forgot what the book was called so this would be great to win!

  19. Missy K. on October 27, 2011 8:24 am

    I love origami. Looks like fun.

  20. Linda Yan on October 27, 2011 8:47 am

    I had a Japanese friend in elementary school who taught me how to make an origami crane. That’s all I know, but I would love to learn more! Thanks for doing this giveaway!

  21. Linda Yan on October 27, 2011 8:48 am

    I follow Stone Bridge Press on facebook

  22. Linda Yan on October 27, 2011 8:49 am

    I tweeted this giveaway!
    http://twitter.com/#!/aquaprincess888/status/129585439978958848

  23. Linda Yan on October 27, 2011 8:51 am

    The finger knitting books sound so fascinating! I would love to try one of them :) My email is yanswim888@gmail.com

  24. MARY MAC on October 27, 2011 8:52 am

    I have only tried small pieces, bue would love to see what this book has to offer.

  25. Becky on October 27, 2011 9:46 am

    Have some experience working with origami making paper cranes for Japan, would love to try out some others with students!

  26. Briana on October 27, 2011 10:04 am

    In highschool one of the exchange students showed me a little… Thats about it.

  27. Holly Young on October 27, 2011 10:33 am

    Oh I’ve loved origami ever since I was young and knew what it was! I have continued using and learning all kinds of origami throughout my life and am especially intrigued by origami with dollar bills. I recently started a new job and showed my boss’s kids some simple origami things and they love it! This book would be awesome to do with them. Thanks for the chance to win!

  28. Kay M on October 27, 2011 10:47 am

    I love origami! My grandkids love it too! It’s like magic from paper when I fold up an animal for them.

  29. Kay M on October 27, 2011 10:51 am

    Followed Stone Bridge Press on FB!

  30. Kay M on October 27, 2011 10:53 am

    Liked the post, and tweeted…
    https://twitter.com/#!/klcmaher/status/129605481470758912

  31. Sandy B on October 27, 2011 11:11 am

    I love origami – it’s such a zen experience, perfect that it comes from Asia, I think. There are some amazing things out there that are made in origami!

  32. Suzanne on October 27, 2011 12:21 pm

    I have made cranes before, inspired by a trip to Japan. I would love to introduce this beautiful craft to my son.

  33. gina sandoval on October 27, 2011 1:46 pm

    my four year old loves to do origami, they dont always turn out perfect but we have fun!

  34. Melanie on October 27, 2011 4:47 pm

    I have made origami boxes for gift boxes before. I would love to get my kids involved.

  35. Melanie on October 27, 2011 4:50 pm

    Finger knitting would be nice since I never get a chance to break out needles.

  36. Melanie on October 27, 2011 4:51 pm

    Like the post

  37. Val T. on October 27, 2011 5:04 pm

    I’d like to learn origami myself and then teach my younger brother. Thank you!

  38. HawaiianLibrarian on October 27, 2011 5:34 pm

    Fabulous book that would be great to try out w/ our keiki (children) at the library. Mahalo for the giveaway.

  39. Jane T on October 27, 2011 7:28 pm

    When our doctor’s wife was dying of cancer my classroom children wanted to make 1000 paper cranes for her. We spent a day folding birds and before we could get them to her, she died. I took as many of them as I could and made a wreath full of cranes. After the funeral and since the family were friends of mine, I took the wreath to them. They loved it and put it up on the wall immediately.

  40. Jane T on October 27, 2011 7:31 pm

    Kirigami 7
    This is a book I would love to see.

  41. Kelly on October 27, 2011 8:07 pm

    I would love to win this, I think my kids would be amazed with what one piece of paper does!

  42. Kim Ratajczyk on October 28, 2011 4:09 am

    1. my experience with origami: I attempted an origami owl at a “Harry Potter” screening and party at a local college. The instructor was my then 15 yr old daughter who loves origami and left 3 boxes of it stored at home when she left for college this year.

  43. kristenstephens on October 28, 2011 9:57 am

    What an amazing story! Thank you for sharing how beautiful origami can be.

  44. Barbara on October 28, 2011 10:39 am

    That Origami is so cute!

  45. Kim Ratajczyk on October 28, 2011 6:35 pm

    I am liking Stone bridge on face book

  46. Kim Ratajczyk on October 28, 2011 7:13 pm

    I don’t tweet and I think I failed with the liking at the top of page… couldn’t find the like button.
    But.. I found your post on this on FB, liked it there and shared it also.

  47. Christina on October 28, 2011 8:31 pm

    I love origami. I got a book in Europe and it was not very good so this one looks great!

  48. Emily C on October 29, 2011 7:04 am

    I love Origami. I got a book a few years ago, but i have trouble finding the replacement paper.

  49. ChrisTea on October 29, 2011 12:12 pm

    I’ve always been fascinated by Origami and would love to try this myself! Thanks for the chance.

  50. Isabelle on October 30, 2011 9:01 am

    I have always loved origami. I have many sets and origami paper from Japan. It is excellent! My grandfather also lived in Japan and knows many special designs!

  51. Isabelle on October 30, 2011 9:01 am

    I follow stone bridge on facebook!

  52. Isabelle on October 30, 2011 9:02 am

    I tweeted this blog post!

  53. Isabelle on October 30, 2011 9:06 am

    the “A Thousand Cranes: Origami Projects for Peace and Happiness” book really interests me. I love making cranes and this book looks excellent!

  54. Sarah on October 30, 2011 9:16 am

    I have done a little origami. I made folded hearts for my workmates, cranes from money and rings for my 2 sons when they were smaller. It would be fun to dust off my skills again.
    sarah

  55. Sara Shalom on October 30, 2011 10:10 am

    My 8 year old daughter is *really* into oragami, so I get to see new creations on a very reular basis.

  56. Danielle F. on October 30, 2011 9:19 pm

    I *love* origmai! When I get super stressed, I like to sit down with a pattern I found online and fold for a while. It helps me to focus.

  57. taysha riggs on November 1, 2011 1:08 pm

    My husband does origami as a hobby and makes me the cutest things. I love my ring holder. This book would be for him

  58. Tammy @ Godly Homemakers on November 1, 2011 5:57 pm

    I use to make origami as a child. When DH and I were engaged I’d make little hearts and leave notes in them for him to find.

  59. Tammy @ Godly Homemakers on November 1, 2011 5:57 pm

    Liked Stone Bride Press on Facebook.

  60. Tammy @ Godly Homemakers on November 1, 2011 6:00 pm

    Also liked this blog on facebook.

  61. Tammy @ Godly Homemakers on November 1, 2011 6:00 pm

    The book on finger knitting would be fun too!

  62. Kristen on November 1, 2011 7:20 pm

    Origami is such an interesting craft. I love seeing how a piece of paper gets folded into a beautiful object. I have some basic knowledge of origami from my mom teaching me but I would love to win these books so I can learn some more!

  63. Kristen on November 1, 2011 7:23 pm

    Another book that interests me is the Green Tea Living Book.

  64. Melissa on November 1, 2011 8:11 pm

    I liked this page!

  65. Melissa on November 1, 2011 8:12 pm

    my little sister and I are 9 years apart in age. We LOVE to do origami together :) it usually ends in long talks and great bonding.

  66. Patrizia on November 2, 2011 2:31 am

    One of the best gift I received for Christmas was an origami heart made with 1 dollar bill. I loved it.

  67. Sandy on November 2, 2011 9:38 am

    My daughter really enjoys origami. She has taugght me some designs and i really enjoy it too! Thanks for a great giveaway!

  68. Christina on November 3, 2011 11:19 am

    I started origami when I was a child. My mom taught me some designs and gave me a bunch of books. Now I show my kids :-)

  69. Christina on November 3, 2011 11:21 am

    I liked this giveaway on facebook!

  70. Christina on November 3, 2011 11:23 am

    I wouldn’t mind getting the book on fingerknitting from stone bridge press.

  71. Christina on November 3, 2011 11:23 am

    I liked stone bridge press on facebook!

  72. Origami Book Giveaway Winner! · Lesson Plans | CraftGossip.com on November 5, 2011 11:01 am

    [...] The giveaway and review for the Stone Bridge Press Origami books  was so much fun to do here on Craft Gossip. Many of you suggested the Hand Knitting book as one you might be interested in reading. Perhaps this will be the next book to review and giveaway!? So without further ado, here is the winner: [...]

  73. Sharon on November 6, 2011 5:34 am

    I love origami – and teaching my grand children – they love it too. Always ask to do it when they visit.

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