Paper sculpture
    How-to
         Paper, tools and materials
         Process
              Making 2D image
              Separating layers
              Shaping
              Assembling
              Displaying

Paper

There are so many kinds of paper. Play with them, and learn their characteristics. Cut, crumple, wet, burn, tear, etc. Give the paper a job that suits its characteristics. I usually recommend people to use paper with high cotton (rag) content for cleaner cuts. If you need your art work to last very long time, you may want to use archival paper. However, don't limit yourself with expensive high quality archival paper. Use everyday paper goods to explore your creativity. They will last long enough to enjoy. 'Paper mosaics' by 18th century British artist Mary Delany are still being exhibited 3 centuries later.

Tools and materials

X-Acto knife - Used for cutting paper. The sharper the blade, the cleaner the cut. David Wisniewski
                           (1953 - 2002), the paper sculpture illustrator, used almost 1,000 blades to create each
                           book according to an article from Children's Literature. Have a plenty of blades at hand.
Stylus - A pen shaped tool with ball tips. Used for embossing. Can get into hard to reach areas.
Spoon tip wooden burnisher - Originally a clay modeling tool. Used for embossing on paper.
                                                           Creates  smoother edges than a stylus.
Awl - Traditionally a binder's tool. Makes scoring lines on paper. Also, used for curling and puncturing.
Cutting mat - Protects your work surface from knife strokes.
Adhesives - Used for assembling layers as well as for displaying the final work. Available in many
                        different forms and characteristics. Research and choose the right one for your need.