Book Folding: The art of transforming books into paper sculptures

What if I told you that you can turn a book into a work of art, without cutting or pasting, just by folding its pages?

That's book folding : a manual technique that transforms the everyday into the extraordinary. But it's not just about aesthetics. It's about creativity, active meditation, play, and transformation. It's a form of expression accessible to everyone.

And the best part is... you don't need any experience or tools. Just an old book, your hands, time, and a desire to create.

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🧠 What exactly is Book Folding?

Book folding involves transforming a book into a three-dimensional sculpture by simply folding its pages in a pattern. As you fold, you can carve out words, symbols, or whole figures that gradually reveal themselves as a story—like a second story the book is telling you. More than a technique, it is a creative process that combines precision and patience.

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🧬 A little bit of history (and a lot of intuition)

Book folding doesn't have a millennia-long history like origami. It's rather an emerging art, born in the creative corners of the internet by book lovers.

There's no exact date for its origin; it became popular thanks to DIY artist blogs in Europe and the United States, who began sharing their designs on forums and social media. And although it hasn't become a widespread art form, more and more people are discovering it and turning their attention to it.

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✨ Why make art by folding books?

Because it does you good, in many ways.

It's a way to awaken your creativity. It allows you to break away from routine, from a stressful day, and from hyperconnectivity to give yourself space and reconnect with your inner artist.

You don't need to know how to draw or paint to feel like an artist. All you need is a page in front of you, and the will to fold it.

Furthermore, the result is so beautiful that many people turn it into a special gift, a decorative piece, and an object full of meaning.

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🛠 How do you do it?

There are several ways to create a figure in a book. Each has its own complexity, but they all share the same essence: folding the pages of a book .

1. Measure & Fold The most traditional technique. It consists of measuring two points per page (top and bottom) with a ruler , and then folding it towards the inside of the book at those points. Templates with very precise measurements are required (each sheet has different values). Advantage: you can create any design. Challenge: It has some limitations with very detailed designs, and requires accuracy and patience.

2. Cut & Fold Here, in addition to folding, cuts are made in the pages to generate more complex figures with finer details. It is used in advanced sculptures. Advantage: allows for surprising details and effects. Challenge: Requires tools (scalpel or box cutter), precision, experience, and greater attention to detail. May take longer.

3. Pre-marked folding (the one we use in BookArt) This technique is based on a simple principle: What if the book came with the markings already ready? Instead of measuring or cutting, each sheet is printed exactly where you need to fold it . You just follow the guide. Fold, breathe, enjoy... and at the end: a three-dimensional shape made by your hands appears. Advantage: Anyone can do it You don't need experience The result is precise and surprising

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🧘♀️ The creative process step by step

1. You choose your favorite design: word, figure or symbol.
2. You set up your creative space: light a candle, put on your favorite music, and make some tea or coffee.
3. You start carefully folding each page... and you can't stop.
4. Your mind quiets, your hands flow, and time disappears.
5. On the last page, you realize: I did this! And you did it right.

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🌿 Art as a bridge

My name is Diego E. Valencia, and I'm the creator of BookArt. For years, I felt like creativity was something I should put aside to pursue a more secure career (like engineering). But one day, I discovered book folding while watching a film reel, and something inside me ignited. I united my two passions: books and art.

This is how BookArt was born: pre-marked books so that anyone—yes, anyone—can create art with their hands, without fear of making mistakes.

You don't have to measure. You don't have to be "good at art." You just have to take a moment for yourself. To create. To surprise yourself.

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✨ Ready to start your first design?

Visit our products section at www.bookart.com.co and choose the design that speaks to you the most; it could be a word or a shape. Receive it. Fold it. Create it. Transform it. Because art can also begin with a folded sheet of paper.