paper craftsman’s lamp

**Definition and Concept**
– Papercraft lamp is a kind of lamp that uses paper as the main production material. It combines the plasticity of paper with the softness of light to create a lighting tool or decorative fixture with unique artistic beauty and practical value through skillful design and handcrafting techniques.
– **Material aspects**
– **Paper**: This is the most critical material. Various types of paper can be used, such as rice paper, which is soft, light and thin, with excellent light transmittance, enabling the light to come through more softly and evenly; there is also colored cardboard, which is rich in color and hard, making it easy to create components with a sense of three-dimensionality and structure, like the shell frame of the lamp; parchment paper is also a good choice, which has an antique texture and a certain degree of toughness, suitable for making retro-style papercraft lamps .
– **Light source**: usually use LED light beads or small candles. LED light beads are safe, energy-saving, moderate brightness, and you can choose different color temperatures to create an atmosphere, such as warm white to create a warm feeling, cold white to create a bright effect. Small candles are more retro and romantic atmosphere, but pay attention to the use of safety to avoid fire hazards.
– **glue or glue stick**: used for sticking between the paper, like white latex has good adhesion, can firmly stick the paper together, and dry more transparent, will not affect the beauty of the paper; glue stick is easy to use and fast, suitable for simple sticking operation.
– **Tools
– **Scissors**: Used to cut paper so that it conforms to the designed shape and size. There are ordinary hand scissors, as well as finer artisan scissors, the latter of which can be used to cut intricate patterns and details.
– **Carving Knife**: A carving knife comes in handy when it is necessary to carve out a fine pattern or design on paper. It can produce lines and shapes that are finer than those cut by scissors.
– **Basic Structure Making**.
– **Skeleton making**: For papier-mâché lamps that require a certain shape and strength, you need to make a skeleton first. For example, bend wire into the desired shape, such as a circle, square, or other geometric shape, to serve as a support frame for the lampshade. A similar frame can also be constructed from bamboo sticks, and then the lampshade can be molded by gluing paper to the skeleton.
– **Folding Tips**: For some simple papercraft lamps, you can make them by folding the paper. For example, fold the square paper along the diagonal line or the line connecting the midpoints of the opposite sides, and then form the shape of the lampshade by other folding methods. This type of folding can create lampshades in shapes such as trigonometric and quadrangular.
– **Decorative Techniques**
– **Application of paper-cutting art**: The art of paper-cutting can be used on paper to add beauty. For example, in the lampshade surface cut out a variety of traditional paper-cutting patterns, such as flowers, birds, fish and insects, characters and stories. These patterns in the light of the light, will produce exquisite light and shadow effects, increasing the artistic value of the lamps and lanterns.
– **Painting and Graffiti**: Painting or graffiti on the surface of paper with pigments is also a form of decoration. Abstract patterns, landscapes, cartoon images, etc. can be drawn to give papier-mâché lamps more personality. For example, painting cute animal patterns on papier-mâché lamps in children’s rooms creates a lively atmosphere.
– **Multi-layer paper stacking**: By stacking multiple layers of paper with different colors or patterns, you can create a rich visual effect. For example, a layer of semi-transparent paper with a pattern and a layer of solid-colored paper are superimposed, and the pattern can be seen faintly under the light, which is very beautiful.
– **Wide range of uses**
– **Home lighting and decoration**: in the living room as a wall lamp decoration, in the bedroom as a bedside lamp to create a cozy atmosphere, in the dining room as a chandelier to add a romantic atmosphere of dining, etc.. It can provide soft light and reduce the stimulation of strong light to the eyes, and at the same time can be used as artwork to decorate the home environment.
– **Events and festivals decoration**: At the wedding site, papier-mâché lamps can be used as decorative lamps hanging in the venue to create a romantic and dreamy atmosphere; during festivals such as Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, etc., make papier-mâché lamps with traditional festive elements and hang them indoors and outdoors to add festive and joyful atmosphere.
– **Commercial place decoration**: In bookstores, coffee shops, flower stores and other commercial places, papier-mâché lamps can be used to create a unique atmosphere and attract customers. For example, bookstores can use papier-mâché lamps with book motifs or literary quotes to complement the environment.