Paper Egg Tutorial - 1

Hi everyone,
I have taken a series of photos of each stage in making a 3D paper egg and I will try to explain the process so that the images make sense. Please let me know if it is too hard to understand and I will attempt to make a little video showing the process and upload it here. I took the photos at night so I apologise for their colouration! I definitely need to up-skill in the technology sphere!!

To start an egg you need to select thin paper as it is easier to cut through at the end. I used an old dictionary so something similar is good to work with or even tissue paper sheets.You will also need a ruler, stanley knife, glue stick, needle and thread or thin twine, a piece of card or thick paper to cut out an oval shape stencil and an awl or sharp thick needle to pierce through the glued sheets of paper at the end. A cutting mat is also useful.

 You will need at least 30 - 35 sheets depending on how fluted you     want the final egg to be. One dictionary page can be cut in half for   the size egg I made. (see image) I used 32 sheets glued together and the block was big enough to cut out two egg templates that could be joined together to make one egg or perhaps two simpler eggs. Keeping it to 30-35 sheets makes it manageable to cut through for the egg shape so that the two halves can then be put together to form one full egg. If your paper is very thin, like tissue paper, you could glue more layers together and it will still be easy to cut through.

          

On a plain sheet of paper begin by drawing around the paper you are making the egg from. This gives you a marker for placement. Then mark the template with a line down the middle and just in from the edge (approximately a centimetre) on either side. These are my red marks in the photo below. Then make a line in the middle of either side - see my green marks on the image three below. All these markers indicate where you will run the glue down.

Now the process of gluing the sheets of paper begins. Start by running a glue line down the two red outside marks and down the centre line and lay a sheet of paper directly on top smoothing over the glued lines. Next glue down the two green marker lines and place another piece of paper on top making sure it is stuck to the one below. Continue this process alternating the green and then red glue lines until all sheets of paper glued together.

When all the sheets are together, cut a half oval shape out of folded card or paper. This is the template of the egg shape. You can check that it is a pleasing oval shape by opening it out.  It should be as long as the glued block of paper so that when the half egg shape is cut out the end glued lines are not right on the edge. (See image)

Next line the template along the edge of the glued paper block and draw around the shape. Note - I was able to fit two template shapes onto my paper block.

Using a sharp stanley knife carefully cut around the drawn template shape(s).

If you are joining the two cut shapes together for a fuller egg check which glue lines you need to make by looking at the last ones on each half then press the two halves together. If you have used a thinner paper and do not need to glue the two sides together you are up to the next step.

Now you are ready to pierce two holes just in from the corner on each side. You can see how the sharp point has gone through to the other side on the right and the spot for the left hole is marked with a dot. Make sure these holes are clear all the way through and hold the paper together tightly so it doesn't move or slip while you pierce it.

The next step is to thread a needle with cotton and thread it through each ends and tying it off loosely leaving about a little finger thickness loop from the hole. The thread loop needs to be loose enough to allow the paper to open out to form the egg. If it is too tight the egg wont have enough room to curl around to form the 3D shape.

Now you are ready to reveal the egg! Take both sides and open it out. I usually tuck the cotton ends into the egg before I glue both sides together but if you wish to hang it you can use the ends of the knot to do this.

This last image shows both sides being pulled together after the last lines of glue have been applied. Check which lines will continue the pattern before closing the egg - and there you have it!!






Do let me know if you are able to follow these instructions or if you need any further help. Have fun making your eggs and of course this technique also looks wonderful if you change the shape - circle, tree, bell, diamond!

Good luck. xx