19 April,2021 12:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representative image. Pic/iStock
Do you remember making paper planes in school? We might not have continued to engage in arts and crafts with the same vigour, however, there is no denying that there is much joy to be derived from a creative hobby. Beneficial for mental health across all ages, creative hobbies not only relieve stress but also contribute to long-term personal growth. With lockdown restrictions being re-imposed, many of us have taken to exploring new hobbies while being cooped up inside. We have rounded up a list of websites that are excellent resources for anyone who wishes to learn about a range of paper crafts, from origami to card making.
Origami station
The Spruce Crafts has over thousands of detailed articles and blog posts on number of crafts as well as hobbies. The website offers plenty of how-to articles on origami, embroidery, knitting, and much more. Due to the material requirement list and step-by-step instructions given, the process becomes easy-to-follow. Learn the basics and practice making a napkin swan or a paper heart to start with. Their in-depth articles cater not just to beginners, but also to those who are advanced.
Paper making
Skillshare is a website that helps visitors to learn new skills from experts in a variety of topics. The website's simple video courses are broken down into lessons and projects which makes it easier to track progress while pursuing a new hobby. The Basic Papermaking from Recycled Materials course offered is an ideal activity for the entire family. The 25-minute lessons are a fun way to introduce the concept of recycling to kids.
Card class
Craftsy is a one-stop website for anything creative, especially for kids. The Create Stunning Birthday Cards class has four video short lessons that teach kids to make varied kinds of birthday cards, from penny slider to shaker box. Other interesting classes offered on paper crafts by Craftsy include paper flower making and flying paper airplanes. A number of advanced-level online classes can be found on the website as well.
Paper quilling
Founded by an art therapist in-training, Heart Handmade offers in-depth blogs on crafts that are good for overall mental health. With hundreds of resources on journaling, calligraphy, and more, the website's objective is to let people experience the positive impact of creativity on mental health. The step-by-step blog posts on paper quilling are easy-to-follow a great way to familiarise with the technique.
Pop up
Domestika also offers courses on a range of creative areas, from animation to illustration taught by experts and professionals. For those who find pop-up cards and books exciting, the website's Pop-Up Book Creation course including 17 video lessons and eight exercises is perfect for beginners who want to learn from scratch. From paper engineering to production, the 3-hour course covers it all.