The Page is currently offline due to encountering an error. Please report this Error if it is still offline in view hours.The folding party idea was born out of a goal set by our daughter, Isabelle. At our nonprofit organization, Paper for Water, we sell volunteer-made paper ornaments and donate 100% of the proceeds to building water wells in third-world countries. With only four months until Christmas in 2012, Isabelle told us she wanted Paper for Water to raise $50,000! At that time we had raised only $10,000. Responding as logically minded adults, we got out a piece of paper and showed her that we would have to fold 37,000 pieces of paper and that she would probably have to quit school to reach that goal. We were thinking she just needed a more realistic goal. We had a handful of volunteers at the time, but with my daughter’s big goal, we needed a bigger volunteer pool. By week's end we already had six new volunteers and we decided to try inviting some friends and relative strangers over to our house (with their children) to teach them how to fold paper and to assemble ornaments.

What was originally scheduled to last one hour lasted almost three. Isabelle and Katherine taught everyone how to fold. The kids laughed and folded while the adults talked and got to know each other. The kids took several breaks to go outside and jump on the trampoline, but then came back in and folded some more. The folding party was such a success that we have had dozens since. baby rocking chair reviewsWe have taken the folding party on the road and have taught in church youth groups, art museum classrooms, corporate offices, schools on this continent and in India, Girl Scout troop conference grounds and anywhere people have been willing to congregate and learn a new craft or to hone their skills.tall desk chair ikea It has become apparent to us why these “folding parties” are so popular. patio lounge chair with umbrella

Humans are by nature social creatures. At a “folding party” you cannot be on your phone and fold at the same time. To fold an ornament, you have to concentrate on the paper in front of you. With a bunch of people around the same table, conversation just occurs spontaneously. There is no pressure to lead or to keep things going. There are moments of silence while people work and concentrate and then there are moments of lively banter.cane hanging chair online shopping It is a great way to bond and learn about people and enjoy conversation with them. folding chairs on sale in torontoThe parties led to a huge increase in volunteers. chair seat cushions targetIn fact, by the end of 2012 with the help of a matching donor and great volunteers, Paper for Water raised more than $100,000 for clean water.buy chair wellington

So what makes a successful folding party? Don't worry about having the right snacks or the right drinks. The reality is that having food and liquid at the table increases the chances that a spill can damage your work. Grab some coffee or tea to drink before or after but keep your table fairly clear. Have lots of great colored paper and make sure that at least one person in the group has successfully made what your group is planning to make and is willing and able to teach patiently.nail salon chairs uk See below for step-by-step instructions for making an origami heart. high chair cover placematAttach it to cardstock for a great Valentine’s Day card. And thank you, Francis Ow, for letting us share your clever design. Do you want to show your love this Valentine’s Day by helping those in need? Consider folding some origami for Paper for Water.

We would love to have you as a volunteer!Jeffrey Coolidge/The Image Bank/Getty Images Origami cranes are a symbol of honor and loyalty. As detailed on About Wedding Traditions, they are often used as decorations at Japanese weddings. If you're getting married someplace other than a church, you could string together several long strands of cranes to hang from the ceiling to make a stunning backdrop for your wedding vows. Origami cranes would also make lovely wedding favors. You could decorate a table with them at your reception, then have each guest take a crane when they... Kusudama flowers are a great decoration for weddings. You can make individual flowers for your tables or combine them to make large kusudama balls that you can then hang from the ceiling. If you're on a very tight budget for your wedding, this is a thrifty alternative to using real flowers for your decorations. If you don't have the time or the patience to make a large number of kusudama flowers, there are several people on Etsy who will make them for you.

Graceline Paper Studio is one... Valterson Carvalho /EyeEm/Getty Images A bouquet of origami lilies is a lovely alternative to fresh flowers. The arrangement gives your wedding a unique look and can be enjoyed for many years to come. Hearts are a popular motif in many wedding decor schemes. If you are planning to make your own wedding invitations, programs, or thank you cards, accent them with origami hearts. The hearts can also be strung together with ribbon to make a decorative garland. If you are the bookish type, hearts folded from the pages of old books can provide a wonderful decorative accent for your wedding. Put tiny silk flowers or rhinestones in the middle of each heart to provide a "pop" of color. Origami boxes are a pretty way to present wedding favors, such as wrapped chocolate hearts or tiny scented soaps, to your guests. Origami boxes are one of the easiest models to fold. Friends and family members are often eager to help plan for a couple's wedding.

Even if your loved ones don't currently practice paper folding, there's no better time for them to learn! Have a party where you serve snacks and show everyone how to fold the models of your choice, then send them home with... Kristine Ann Ruiz/Moment/Getty Images Jars filled with origami lucky stars make for pretty decorations for your reception area. If you're having trouble finding paper that matches your wedding colors, this would be a good model to make using silver, gold, or bronze metallic origami paper. Many couples make a display of photos of themselves together to put by the guest book or next to the wedding cake. There are many lovely origami picture frame designs to choose from, but this origami double diamond frame is a great option if you want to display pictures of you and your spouse at different ages. Folded napkin with flower at a resort in Mexico. Pam McLean/Digital Vision/Getty Images Folded cloth napkins add an elegant touch to any meal, making them an excellent choice for your wedding decor.