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Post Five: Upcycled Book-Page Rosette Ornaments

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Upcycled Book-Page Rosette Ornaments Having some materials left over from my last project, and with the holidays coming soon, I wanted to use what I had to create something seasonal and practical. I found a simple template for paper rosette that allowed for a variety of ways that the paper could be folded, shaped and the structure was sturdy enough to work for handmade ornaments. Supplies Used: Old book pages Holiday scrapbook paper Cardstock circles  Twine  Scissors  Glue gun Circle punch Step 1: Cutting and Folding the Paper I began by cutting my paper into even strips. Most of mine were about two inches wide, which created a medium-sized ornament. Each strip was accordion folded into small, even pleats. I used both book pages and scrapbook sheets to see how each material behaved when folded. The book pages were more flexible and gave a vintage look, while the cardstock held sharper, cleaner folds. Step 2: Forming the Rosette Shape Once the strips were folded, I ...
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Post Four: Book Vase and Paper Roses

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Book Vase and Paper Roses                                                           After making my mini zine, I wanted to try something that blended creativity, recycling, and storytelling. This led me to create a book vase with handmade paper roses, using old book pages to form a literary-themed floral arrangement. This project explored paper as an artistic and expressive medium giving books a second life by transforming words and stories into something visually poetic.  Supplies Used Hardcover book Hot glue gun and glue sticks Paper trimmer or craft knife Pencil and ruler Circular template (cup or lid) Scissors Ribbon (optional) Faux greenery or filler flowers Step 1: Preparing the Book I started by opening the book in the center and then measuring and marking where the middle of the book is. Using the ut...
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Post Three: Zines

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October 28, 2025 After experimenting with paper weaving and quilling, I wanted to explore something a bit more personal and expressive, which led me to zine-making. Zines (short for "magazines" are small, homemade booklets that combine mix of text and images in creative ways. They can take many forms including personal diaries, art collections, or even mini how-to guides. Typically, each zine is crafted from a single sheet of paper, folded to create connected pages. Zines are an accessible form of art and storytelling that offer a simple but powerful way to express ideas, share experiences and experiment creatively. They can be distributed for free, sold at a low cost, or traded with others, which makes them an inclusive medium for communication and creativity.  I decided to make an eight-page mini zine titled Makerspace Moments, capturing snippets of time I have spent in the space, and reflections about the creative process. Supplies Used: sheet of paper scissors  gluestick ...
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Post Two: Paper Quilling

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October 11, 2025 Last week, I began this series with paper weaving, which is based on structure and repetition. This week, I wanted to explore something, a bit different, less rigid, and more flexible. This led me to quilling, a paper art I was first introduced to in kindergarten, when we made small tress for our parents during the winter months. I recently came that project while helping my parents clean out their basement, and it has held up surprisingly well after all of these years. Quilling, also called paper filigree is a craft that transforms thin strips of paper into intricate designs through rolling shaping and gluing. What fascinates me about this method is that it is both methodical but freeform all at once. Each coil is very precise, but together, they form compositions that feel truly magical, a balance between control and creativity. In the makerspace context, quilling fits perfectly with accessible creativity by taking everyday materials and using them in unexpected ways...
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Introduction

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A makerspace is a creative space where creativity and curiosity come together through hands-on projects. It's a setting designed for people to experiment, design, and build using shared materials and tools.  I will explore how creativity can take shape through low-tech making using paper, cardboard, yarn, and other everyday supplies. By focusing on simple, hands-on projects, this blog will look at how basic materials can inspire focus, problem-solving, and thoughtful design. Often, great ideas start with a few basic tools and the willingness to create. 
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Post One: Paper Weaving

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Paper Weaving Paper weaving is one of the simplest ways to introduce hands-on creativity in a makerspace. Using only paper, scissors (or a paper cutter) and glue/tape, creators can explore color, pattern, and structure while learning the basic design structures. The process is fairly straight forward, weaving strips of paper over and under to form a grid, but it is surprisingly engaging. The activity encourages focus and problem-solving as makers weave strips of paper into grids. Choices such as spacing, colors, and texture make each piece unique. The process is simple but effective, promoting observation, coordination, and patience. In the makerspace setting, paper weaving is low-tech and transforms simple materials into something personal. It is approachable for beginners but still rewarding for those that want to experiment with texture or form. You can start to see as the project takes form, how design choices can add personality, and the structure becomes a story-telling piece thr...
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