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 the autumn season with just scissors! A collection of easy-to-make paper-cutting ideas (21–30)

Quickly create autumn leaves!

Autumn origami kirie [Origami]: Quickly make a maple leaf in just 1 minute! Great for beginners at paper cutting. Create it while watching the video.

Quickly create autumn leaves!

The way a big maple leaf and a small maple leaf are connected looks so cute! Here’s an idea for making autumn leaves in a snap.

What comes to mind when you think of autumn traditions? You might imagine insect chirps, moon viewing, and colorful fall foliage.

This time, why not make maple leaves using scissors and origami? You’ll need red or orange origami paper, scissors, and a pen.

Fold the origami in advance with the colored side facing inward.

Then sketch your outline with a pen and cut it out with scissors, and you’ll have a connected maple leaf motif ready to go!

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Heart petal

[Papercutting] How to Make Heart Petals ♡ A careful tutorial on 6-folds too ♪ Beginners can make it easily with just scissors [with audio commentary] / Let’s start kirie (paper cutting)!

Heart petal

Heart motifs are cute and popular.

Among them, this chain-pattern heart petal design is especially lovely, so please try making it once.

This heart motif starts by folding an origami sheet into six equal sections.

Lightly mark the center of the paper after folding it in half into a triangle.

Next, mark the halfway point along what used to be one edge of the origami, then mark half of that, and half again.

Fold along the line that passes through the center and the three-quarters position of the halfway mark, and fold the opposite side the same way.

Once folded, draw a heart shape and cut it out to finish.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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In conclusion

Autumn paper cutouts made with simple scissors and origami.

From acorns and maple leaves to grapes and even cluster amaryllis, you can capture the beauty of the seasons in the palm of your hand.

It may look difficult, but there’s a surprisingly accessible, deep world to enjoy.

From children to adults, take your time moving your hands together and spend a warm, relaxing time.