Until one day, my family was out shopping – it was my wife’s birthday. My son and I were looking for interesting things to give. I stopped at a scrapbooking place to make a birthday card from scratch for my wife. Nothing is better than a homemade card! During this process, I discovered scrapbooking cutting dies and my brain broke with excitement. I made the birthday card and left with a bunch of new ideas on how to start making my 3D origami paper again! I contacted the die-making company and they explained the design process to me. Typically, creating these models involves cutting paper into rectangular shapes and folding each piece individually without embossed lines, a time-consuming process. However, 3D origami cutting dies simplify this task. These innovative tools allow crafters to cut paper to the exact size needed, with pre-stamped fold lines for easy and accurate folding. By eliminating the need to measure, cut, and mark the paper manually, these dies save time and effort, enabling users to dive right into the creative process. These dies enhance creativity, allowing for more intricate and varied designs. 

Soon after the first cutting die was designed and submitted for approval. A couple of weeks later we received our first set of 1/32 regular design 3D origami cutting dies. We had 18 of them. The scrapbooking cutting dies revolutionized our process, allowing us to continue offering unique 3D origami kits and supplies. To celebrate the new dies, we decided to make a 3D origami tiger. The tiger was designed to promote the cutting dies and be the flagship promotion item. The tiger took 3 months to build and consists of more than 20,000 3D origami papers. 

To make things more interesting and to give our customers more ability, we designed a larger size cutting die 1/16, and smaller sizes like 1/64 and even smaller 1/128. This new size was very interesting because now objects can be created larger and smaller by design. This was another first in the industry, giving us the ability to offer a variety of cutting die sizes for more sales! Times change and things change. We started offering cutting dies to our customers and started to slowly reduce our sales for kits and paper. Giving our customers the chance to cut their own paper for their origami art.

Our goal was to contribute more to the 3D origami art community. We conceptualized and designed the artisan cutting dies, introducing 12 new designs such as 1/32 round, 1/32 long round, and 1/32 swagger fur. 

This year, inspired by living in South Korea, we decided to create a 3D Origami Korean Blue Dragon using these new dies. This project showcases the capabilities of our artisan dies, pushing the boundaries of creativity in 3D origami. The cutting dies used were 1/32 regular, 1/64 regular, 1/32 swagger fur, 1/32, short point, 1/32 long point, 1/32 long fur, 1/32 short round, 1/128 regular, 1/32 long fur, and 1/64 short round. After 15 years, my fascination with 3D origami remains strong. We now offer a selection of 32 different cutting dies. I constantly challenge myself with this question, "What kind of cutting dies can we make next?”

3d Origami Dream Bank

Phone: 010-4294-9155

Email: origamidreambank@yahoo.com

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/3Dorigamidreambank

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ALANSKY10

About the Author

Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Mark Pechuls lives in the Pyeongtaek area. Currently, he is a federal service employee, an origami artist, and a designer for origami dies.