One of the first creative things you learned to do as a child was to cut out paper shapes with a pair of blunt-end scissors. The scissors came with a warning: "Careful or you'll cut your finger instead of the paper!" Then later, when you graduated to using a sharper "grown up" pair, you realized those scissors came with re-emphasized instructive warnings. "Watch how you point those things, you'll poke somebody!" And the ever-popular: "Hey, don't run with those in your hand! Don't you know better than that?!" Who knew, creativity could be so dangerous?
Papermaking was, and is, a craft in itself. Papyrus, a variety of reeds, silk and cotton have all been used in the process. Papyrus was used for a writing medium by the Egyptians. It has long been understood though, that the grinding-pulp/flattening/drying process involved with making "paper" originated in China around 105 AD. However, new discoveries in China have been reported that calls for an earlier date that would possibly be between 206 BC and the 25 AD.
The idea for scissors might have originated at nearly the same time as the lever, since scissors use a lever action. Single-piece scissors have been found in Egypt as far back as 1500 BC. However, the double-bladed kind were apparently invented much later in Italy around 100 AD, with Leonardo Di Vinci being noted as the inventor. People have been using both paper and scissors to play with designing techniques ever since. The art of paper-cutting originated in China sometime between 202 BC - 220 AD. There are various names for this craft.
Chien-chih (jian-jeh)
Excellent explanations of the types of Chinese paper cutting.
Wycinanki (vee-chin-non-kee) means "scissors cutting" and is a Polish style of decorating for those who couldn't afford the more expensive tapestries, curtains and other items found in wealthier homes. Two articles - "A.B.C.s of Polish Papercutting" and "Sharing Wycinanki With Kids" "Wycinanki and the Jewish Papercut" - by Madalyn Joyce, give brief descriptions and history.
Incire is paper-cut cards with decorative borders and layered designs and pictures. The popular "Pergamano" is a type of Incire. This page has three sample templates and an assortment of supplies for card making.
Scherenschnitte is the German art of paper cutting. The first silhouette in Germany was made around 1631. Peggy's Page Scherenschnitte gives complete instructions for making a design that could be used for note cards, decoupage, or framing.
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