| The increase in health awareness and organic living | | | | instrument, snowflakes, dragons, spirals, and even |
| has helped spark the resurgence of tea drinking | | | | soccer balls. Most tea bag papers available in the |
| across the globe. In the United States alone, tea | | | | market are printed in 90-100 grams per square |
| sales almost tripled from less than two billion | | | | meter paper. |
| dollars in 1990 to over six billion dollars in 2005, | | | | Uses of miniature kaleidoscopic origami |
| according to the Tea Association of the United | | | | Tea bag folding was traditionally used to decorate |
| States. | | | | birthday cards. Now, you can use this colorful and |
| At present, you will surely find a variety of | | | | wonderful paper craft as decorations of greeting |
| tealeaves, such as oolong, rose, vanilla, jasmine, | | | | cards for all occasions. Some people utilize tea bag |
| mint, and even fruit teas, including lychee, lemon | | | | folding to decorate photo frames, wall frames, |
| and mango, in local supermarkets and coffee | | | | wall clocks, and even scrapbooks. With just a bit |
| shops. Even tea bags have evolved from the | | | | of imagination and creativity, you can make use |
| common rectangular shape to the new circular or | | | | of tea bag folding to decorate almost anything |
| pyramid-shaped tea bag that is infused with long | | | | and everything. |
| tealeaves instead of dust, which are | | | | Moreover, tea bag folding can be considered as a |
| indistinguishable tealeaf particles. | | | | relaxing hobby. If you feel that you are on the |
| Along with the rise in the popularity of tea drinking | | | | edge, stressed out because of too much work, |
| over the years is the emergence of tea bag | | | | try creating tea bag folding designs, and you will |
| folding. Tiny van der Plaas, a woman from Holland, | | | | definitely loosen up a bit. |
| was the one who created this tea bag envelope | | | | Tea bag folding materials |
| inspired paper craft. She came up with the idea of | | | | The most important material of this craft is tea |
| tea bag folding, which is commonly known as | | | | bag envelope - if you want to be traditional - or |
| Miniature Kaleidoscopic Origami, when she started | | | | colorful paper. For a more intricate effect, you |
| to fold up a fruit tea bag envelope while thinking | | | | might want to choose paper with geometric |
| of a novel way of creating a birthday card for | | | | designs and elaborate patterns. |
| her sister. | | | | Other essential materials of tea bag folding are |
| Tea bag folding basics | | | | cutting mat, scissors, ruler (preferable metal |
| Tea bag folding can be compared to origami, a | | | | edged), knife or cutter, and paper adhesive. |
| popular Japanese paper craft, in the sense that | | | | Popular tea bag folding designs |
| both hobbies make use of paper to create | | | | For people who are interested in starting a |
| various designs. However, tea bag folding | | | | miniature kaleidoscopic origami, you can find a lot |
| creations are usually just used to decorate cards | | | | of materials and reference over the Internet. |
| and are made using small matching paper squares. | | | | There are also some scrapbooking stores that |
| In contrast, the Japanese origami cannot only be | | | | carry tea bag folding materials and books that |
| used as decorations for cards and gifts, but also | | | | could help you learn this paper art. If you are on a |
| to produce paper replicas of different animals, | | | | tight budget, you can even just print tea bag |
| flowers, and almost anything under the sun. | | | | folding designs that are available on the Net. |
| In the past, only tea bag envelopes were used | | | | If you are a neophyte tea bag folding practitioner, |
| for this paper craft technique. As more and more | | | | you might want to start creating tea bag |
| people all over the world learn of this paper folding | | | | rosettes. This is a colorful flower-shaped design |
| art, however, paper manufacturers have started | | | | that can be used to decorate gifts, cards, and |
| to produce specialty papers exclusively for | | | | even bookmarks. Another beautiful tea bag folding |
| miniature kaleidoscopic origami. Tea bag folding | | | | design that has caught the hearts of many is the |
| aficionados all across the globe have also | | | | starburst design. You can use glitters so that your |
| modernized this paper craft art by coming up | | | | paper star design will look more brilliant and |
| with more magnificent and intricate geometric | | | | vibrant. |
| designs and innovative and unique materials. | | | | Tea bag folding is an easy and inexpensive hobby |
| Kaleidoscope papers come in various colors and | | | | you can take on. Once you have started tea bag |
| designs, such as flowers, stars, musical | | | | folding, you will surely get instantly hooked. |