Welcome to Origami

Different Types Of Origami Paper

Origami is a fun hobby that only requires one thing besides skill and that is paper. With a single sheet of paper, you can make all kinds of beautiful and complex creations. Different types of projects require different types of paper. Simple creations such as cranes and paper airplanes can be made with normal copy paper with a weight of 19 to 24 pounds. Copy paper is ideal for beginners since it is easy to work with and fairly inexpensive.

More advanced designs require heavier paper with a weight of 25 pounds per 500 sheets. This heavier paper is needed when making wet folds. Wet folding is a technique which lets the creator make rounded pieces or wok. When the paper is wet it can be sculpted so that when the creation dries it takes on a rounded form and is quite sturdy.

You can actually buy special paper made especially for origami too. This paper is called kami which happens to be the Japanese word meaning paper. Kami comes in a wide variety of sizes and are usually prepackaged in bundles. Kami comes in many colors and designs too. Often, one side is white and the other side is colored, or the two sides have different colors.

Some complex origami designs utilize foil paper, usually foil backed paper. This type of paper is very strong and is perfect for intricate designs. Another type of foil origami paper is known as tissue foil. Tissue foils are glued to aluminum foil to make a single piece of origami paper. The strongest type of origami paper is called Washi by the Japanese. It is made from wood fiber so it is stronger than paper that is just made from wood pulp.

Having the correct type of paper for origami is just as important as having the right type of canvas for a painter. Origami is delicate work and time consuming. It involves tiny work and precise folds so having the proper paper to work with is vital. Buying origami paper is easy thanks to the internet. By shopping online, you will be able to buy the sturdy stock and choose from a wide variety of colors and designs. Beginners may find a selection of origami paper at a local craft or stationery store.

If you are just learning how to make origami creations then you will be able to use easily found paper such as copy paper. You can even use colored copy paper to make your designs more festive. Once you are ready to try your hand at the more advanced techniques such as wet folding, you will have to find sturdier paper to use. There is a huge market for beautifully colored and patterned origami paper so you will have no problem finding what you need, but you might have to shop online to find it.

Japan Stocks Expected To Open Lower (Nasdaq)

(RTTNews) - A lower open is expected for Japan stocks on Friday, coming off sharp losses overnight on Wall Street. U.S. markets reacted negatively to weak data on retail sales and unemployment.

Japan Hot Stocks-Komatsu, Shin-Etsu, Hosiden, Fast Retailing (Reuters via Yahoo! Malaysia News)

TOKYO, Sept 3 (Reuters) - The benchmark Nikkei average <.N225> rose 0.7 percent and the broader TOPIX <.TOPX> was up 0.5 percent as of 0552 GMT on Wednesday.

Tokyo Stocks Fall Back on Global Economic Worries (Japan Corporate News)

Tokyo, Sept 4, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Stocks retreated on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Thursday, weighed down by growing caution about the course of the global economy.

Japan Stocks Drop to 5-Month Low, Led by Glassmakers, Shippers (Bloomberg.com)

Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Japan's stocks fell to a five-month low, led by glassmakers and shipping lines, after slumping orders for television screens prompted U.S.-based Corning Inc. to cut its forecast, and cargo rates for commodities plunged.

Tokyo Stocks Turn Down in Morning on Global Economic Concerns (Japan Corporate News)

Tokyo, Sept 4, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Stocks fell back on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Thursday morning, weighed down by concerns about a global economic slowdown.