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Last updated 24/2/2026

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'How to Make Things Out of Paper' is a translation into English, published in 1961 by Sterling Publishing Co Inc in New York, of Walter Sperling's 1955 book 'Papier-Spiele'. It is a book of paperfolding, cardboard modelling and papercraft designs. Many of the paperfolding designs are enhanced using papercraft elements.

A full copy of the work can be accessed online here.

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Analysis

The Magic Envelope - The Cut Puzzle Purse

Two such envelopes are pasted back to back to create a version of The Buddha Papers

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The Popping Bellows (a type of banger)

These bellows are inflated through a small hole pierced in the back

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The Flying Wing - The Dove

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The Swallow - The Swallow

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The Twin-Engined Plane - a version of The Swallow

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The Swan - a seated version of The Flapping Bird

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The Drinking Cup - The Paper Cup

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The Magic Cornucopia - The Magic Purse

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The Chicken

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The Dragon's Head - The (Cut) Paper Snapper

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The Cap

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The Steamboat - The Battleship (cut)

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The Box - The cut version of The Blintz Box

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A Long Paper Box - Fold, Slit and Fold Boxes

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A Japanese Folding Box - Cardboard Modelling - Boxes

This design is called 'an example of something they (ie the Japanese) might make'

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The Magazine-Cover Kite - The Whizzer

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The Goose

From an irregular paper shape.

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A Purse - The Wallet

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The Canary - The Cocotte / Pajarita

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The Billy Goat - The Wild Man of Borneo

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The Magic Beak - The Salt Cellar

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The Duck

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The Pentagonal Knot

Flattened with a blow of the fist

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The Popping Cone - The Paper Banger

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The Snake - The Witch's Ladder

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Standing Figures - A variety of Fold, Cut and Fold Animals

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The Afghan Bands

Presented as two separate simple effects

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Crawling Through a Playing Card - How to Climb Through a Playing Card

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The Decorative Bird - Creatures with Pleated Wings

Both wings and body are made from pleated paper.

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The Big Folded Bird - Creatures with Pleated Wings

Both wings and body are made from pleated paper.

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Open Paper Stars

Decorations from Bird Bases

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Christmas Angels - Creatures with Pleated Wings

Papercraft design with pleated wings

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Chain of little paper children - The Chain of Dolls

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A Die - Folded Paper Cubes

Made using the cardboard modelling technique but without needing glue.

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A Pyramid - Folded Paper Pyramids

Made using the cardboard modelling technique but without needing glue.

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The House - Cardboard Modelling

Made using the cardboard modelling technique but without needing glue.

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Flower Balls - The Fold and Slit Cage

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The Noisemaker

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The Dancing Spiral - a double Spiral Snake

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Wind Wheel - The Wind Wheel

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Wind Ball - The Slit and Assemble Sphere

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Pinwheels - variants of The Cut and Fold Windmill

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The Japanese Puzzle Fan

Jacob's Ladder with fans attached for additional effect.

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