Papercraft covers any craft that builds objects from paper. That includes card making, paper sculpture, quilling, paper mache, and printed cut-and-fold models. The common thread is paper itself: cheap, light, easy to cut, and surprisingly strong when folded or layered.

Printed papercraft models, sometimes called pepakura, start as digital 3D files unfolded into flat nets. You print the net, cut along solid lines, score along dashed lines, and glue the tabs. The result can be a helmet, a robot, a building, or a life-sized animal head. Quilling takes thin strips of paper and coils them into decorative shapes. Paper mache builds up layers of paper and paste over a form, then dries hard.

Basic papercraft supplies

• Cardstock in 160–250 gsm for structural parts
• Craft knife and fresh blades for clean edges
• Bone folder for sharp creases
• PVA glue or double-sided tape for assembly
• Cutting mat to protect the table and blade

Humidity is the enemy. Damp paper swells, warps, and refuses to hold a fold. Store finished pieces away from open windows and radiators.