This week with the lovely Refugee Action clients we made handmade cards.

Before we made the cards we experimented with paper cutting. Using pre-prepared templates, participants were able to choose the designs they wanted to use.

After a quick introduction to using the scalpels the participants got stuck into cutting out flowers and other shapes which they layered with different sizes and colours. This process is very effective at creating depth in the designs and more interesting patterns.

Following intense making of a number of cards and a break with some lovely homemade Syrian treats, the Shelanu members introduced another paper technique.

A few years ago Shelanu took part in a project Craft on the Radio, an AHRC funded Connected Communities Programme research project. It was about recording local stories about craft and making that reside within places, people and the everyday. A practical exchange took place around paper as a focus; Kiki from Shelanu demonstrated traditional Chinese origami folding and Elsie from Young at Heart demonstrated Iris – a traditional English paper folding technique. Members used this technique to teach the group another process for working with both recycled and new papers.

The participants experimented with the recycled envelope patterns, as well as origami paper and some shape stamps.

Everyone made several cards and were looking forward to giving them to friends.

“Today was exciting day, I enjoyed today’s workshop. It was lovely day.”

“Exciting day, we learn new things and special. Thanks to everyone.”

“Thank you for you and for your organisation for this workshop, we learn many things to decorate the room and make present for friends. I am very happy.”