Origami and papercrafts are among the most popular of contemporary craft pursuits. This authoritative encyclopedia is the first book to cover all aspects of papercraft, demonstrating paper's extraordinary versatility as a creative medium. From the "dry" crafts of origami and paper sculpture to the "wet" ones of papier mache and papermaking, all the main techniques are visually demonstrated. The result is an essential, practical reference for all enthusiasts, with complete coverage of the skills this absorbing art requires. An introductory section explains the nature of different kinds of paper, the varied uses to which they can be put, and the key techniques of creasing, cut-scoring and indenting. Then, topic by topic, all the major papercraft techniques are covered individually, starting with origami and progressing to pop-ups, paper sculpture, papier mache, and the exciting possibilities of lesser-known techniques such as decoupage and paper weaving. In addition to the step-by-step demonstrations of the techniques, actual projects are featured to help put principles into practice, while an inspirational gallery of finished work by leading international paper craftsman and women shows what can be achieved, with examples ranging from the functional to the abstract.