Lovely Play & Recreation

Enjoy the sights of autumn using just scissors! A collection of easy paper-cutting ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Papercutting to enjoy as autumn deepens.

Many people may be surprised, thinking, “Can you really make such lovely pieces with just scissors?” In fact, classic autumn plants—like cosmos, red spider lilies, and maple leaves—can be turned into elegant papercuts with nothing more than a single pair of scissors.

Here, we’ll share an easy method, from folding tips to cutting pointers.

Display them in your room to bring in the season, or give them as gifts to someone special.

Savor a calming, handmade moment!

Enjoy autumn traditions with just scissors! A collection of easy-to-make papercutting ideas (1–10)

ginkgo

[Origami] The Easiest Way to Cut a Ginkgo Leaf with Diagram | Origami Ginkgo

ginkgo

Here’s a papercut craft of ginkgo leaves, which you can see scattered all over roads in autumn.

Get plenty of yellow origami paper and give it a try.

You only fold the paper four times and make a few cuts with scissors, so it should be relatively easy to do.

Have both adults and kids help out and make lots of ginkgo leaves together.

If you scatter the finished papercuts on the floor, you’ll feel like you’re walking down a path lined with ginkgo trees.

Try making enough ginkgo leaves to cover the entire floor!

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Chinese bellflower

[Papercutting] Easy way to make bellflowers (kikyo) 🌺 An autumn flower you can easily create using just scissors [Carefully explained with voice guidance] / Let's start papercutting!

Chinese bellflower

Let’s make a paper-cut of the balloon flower (kikyo), which has long been cherished as one of the seven flowers of autumn.

It’s a dignified and beautiful plant that blooms with star-shaped flowers in a bluish-purple hue.

The steps that involve folding while marking with a pencil may be a bit complex, but if an adult helps, it’s not too difficult to make.

Be sure to try using origami paper in blue, purple, or wisteria tones.

There are also white and pink varieties, so you could finish with a colorful kikyo as well.

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bouquet

Origami Kirie [Origami] Easy, even for beginners! How to make a bouquet. Create it in 1 minute while watching the video!

bouquet

Let’s make a bouquet that’s perfect for beginners with a simple cutting method! Bouquets are universally appealing motifs, so people of all ages can enjoy them.

Fold your favorite origami paper and sketch the parts you want to cut.

Then just cut along the sketch with scissors! Using gradient or patterned origami can change the vibe in a nice way.

If it’s your first time trying paper cutting, start with standard-size origami, and once you get used to it, try a smaller size.

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Enjoy autumn traditions using just scissors! A collection of easy-to-make paper-cutting ideas (11–20)

cat

This cat-themed paper-cutting design can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to advanced artists.

You can capture the realistic charm of cats or depict a stylized, anime-like cat! Try creating designs that make the most of a cat’s distinctive silhouette—its expressions, posture, and fur patterns.

If your design isn’t symmetrical, we recommend using a craft knife rather than scissors.

You can also adapt it for Halloween decorations, so why not give it a try?

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rabbit

Paper cutting with a rabbit and scissors

rabbit

Let’s try making a paper-cut rabbit that everyone loves.

Fold the paper in half and sketch a design while imagining a shape that will be symmetrical.

It’s also cool—and recommended—to skip the sketch and cut straight with scissors.

The exciting part is unfolding the paper to see whether it turned out like you imagined.

Once you’ve finished cutting and opened it up, it might be cute to draw the eyes or add decorations to the ears.

Try adding your own personal touches.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Spider web

[Easy] Halloween Decoration 🎃 How to Make a Spider Web [Origami] DIY How to Make a Paper Spider Web [Halloween Origami]

Spider web

Papercut designs with a spiderweb theme are a perfect idea for Halloween decorations.

All you need to do is fold the paper into a triangle and cut along the designated lines, so most of the work is cutting straight lines.

As you carefully continue cutting, a delicate pattern will emerge.

Watching it transform as if by magic might even captivate adults.

Even though it looks difficult, it’s surprisingly easy to make, so it’s recommended for first-time papercutters as well.

Definitely give it a try!

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Mickey

Origami papercut Mickey Mouse

Mickey

This is a paper-cutting artwork themed around Mickey, one of Disney’s most popular characters.

When you unfold the paper cut, lots of Mickeys appear—it’s super cute! It’s exciting to make together with your child, so why not give it a try? First, fold the origami paper, place the template drawing on top, and secure it with clips.

Cut along the sketch using a craft knife or scissors.

Be careful not to cut the parts where the paper needs to stay connected.

It’s also fun to use origami in various colors!

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