DIY: Make a Slice-form Pop-Up

Tutorial | Maddie Bjorksten

Sliceform is a technique often used by paper engineers for making sculptures out of paper. The slices can be arranged in acute and obtuse angles as well as right angles and are flexible enough to even be folded flat. For some beautiful examples of this form, check out the sliceforms and paper sculptures of John Sharp, Tatiana Stolyarova, Hiroko Momoi and Sheung Yee Shing.

Hiroko Momoi | Image from the Paper Art Gallery

Make your own Slice Form:

This globe has slots in the top and the bottom which slide together at ninety degrees to each other in order to create an interlocking 3-dimensional form. Pattern pieces are available for download at the bottom of this post!

1. Separate into base (A, B, G), full piece (D), and globe (C, E, F).

2. Time to assemble! Slide piece B onto the centre slit in the base of piece D.

3. Slide pieces A onto the remaining base slits of piece D, one on either side of the centre.

4. Now, take pieces G and slot them from the bottom up into the assembled piece D. You’ll need to line everything up, so it sits together.

5. You’ve finished the base! Now its time to start the globe. Start with piece F, sliding it from the top into the centre slit of piece D.

6. Now, take pieces E and slide them onto either side of the centre slit of piece D, from the top down.

7. Finally, slide pieces C parallel to the pieces you have already slotted in, joining them all together as you did on the base.

8. Your slice form is complete! This technique can be translated into a huge number of ideas. 

What do you think? Would you like more pop-up content? Let us know below!

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