ARC 101 - BEGINNER SET
AN INTRODUCTION TO CUT & FOLD PAPER ART
If you’re a parent like me, chances are at some point your kid—or one of their teachers—has asked you to come into class to talk about your work or host an activity. I’ve done it a few times with moderate success. Let’s just say I wasn’t exactly organized enough and quickly realized that keeping the attention of 20 excited kids is much easier said than done. Huge respect to teachers and educators!
Those experiences got me thinking about what materials I could bring to make the next time more engaging and less stressful.
That’s how this set came to life. I designed it to work in group workshops for people of all ages and skill levels. You can also use it at home—on your own or with a group. It’s flexible: you can tackle parts individually based on personal interests, then bring everything together into a shared project.
This set is part of my Cut & Fold Architecture series. The designs are simple, and the assembly is straightforward. Cutting can be done with scissors, so it’s suitable for kids of any age. And the best part? Each model only needs one or two dots of glue to put together.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS SET
10 ARCHITECTURAL PAPER MODELS
CUT & FOLD & GLUE
Assembly instructions in PDF format for each individual model
Template files in PDF format for printing at home, which can be cut with scissors.
Template files in DXF vector format for use with cutting machines (Cricut, Cameo, etc.) or laser cutters
10 BRICK MODELS
Building instructions in PDF format for each individual model
The brick models aren’t exactly the same as the paper models. I’ve adapted them to simplify assembly and make them modular.
This way, you can mix and match them just like the paper models. I’ve also included building instructions and a parts list in PDF format to guide you.
SQUARED GRID TEMPLATES
Along with the regular templates, I’ve included versions featuring a squared grid—the same grid the models were designed on. These are included for a few reasons:
-The grid provides helpful reference lines to align folds when gluing pieces together.
-They’re fun to color in a pixel-art style.
-They show how the pieces were designed and can serve as inspiration for creating your own designs. Blank grids are also included for this purpose.
BUILD THE MODELS
This is the hands-on craft part, requiring a bit of precision and dexterity.
The models are numbered by difficulty level. While all are very approachable, the earlier models are designed to be the easiest. Each print layout includes both small and large versions. For younger children, I recommend using the larger prints, as they’re simpler to cut and assemble.
If you’d like to skip the creasing step, you can use paper instead of cardstock. While the models won’t have as much structure, this can be a great alternative for younger kids.
ADDING DETAILS AND COLORS
2D artists can personalize their models by adding details and colors, either before or after folding the templates. Use the plain templates to go freestyle or the squared ones if you prefer a pixel-art style.
BE CREATIVE: MAKE YOUR OWN DESIGNS
Feeling creative? Try designing your own models using one of the blank templates included in the set.
COMBINE THEM
After assembling a few models, you can combine them to create more complex shapes. Here are some examples to inspire you.
MIX THE PAPER AND THE BRICKS
If you print the PDF templates at their original size (without resizing), they’ll match the scale of standard building bricks, allowing you to mix and combine them seamlessly.
