Cubeecraft: Geeked-out cutouts!

I've always liked paper folding, and have been following arts like Origami ever since the early school days. I know--it's not a guy thing, but I was interested in it from the mathematical standpoint. Or so I explained. Even the simple act of flying paper airplanes was complicated with extended pursuits of trying to hone them for prolonged flight, or funky acrobatics!

Then a couple of days ago, I came across this ultra-cool site, and was bitten by the paper folding bug once again. The author of this site has pretty much nailed down the art of creating some of the coolest paper characters I've seen. And what characters! Classics like Mario (of the Super Brothers fame), Darth Vader, Sonic the Hedgehog, Spiderman, Superman... heck, there's even Kratos (from God of War), Pinky (from Pinky and the Brain), and Obama! If you're particularly skilled in digital illustration, you can also download a blank cutout template and try your hand at creating your own character!

Creating one of these characters is relatively simple--head over to the Cubeecraft Web site, download a cutout template, print it at 150dpi on an A4 cardstock paper (thick paper begets a longer-lasting character), and use a pair of scissors and a blade to carefully cut out the shapes. Each character is composed of five or more 'sections' that must be folded and assembled into the final character. Best of all, the sections have a glue-less design so the process is relatively clean (discounting the cutout shrapnel, of course).

The FAQ explains the assembly clearly, but know that you'll require at least an hour to complete each character. Your mileage may vary depending on your dexterity in wielding cutting instruments, and your patience through this exercise--creating some of those slits and tabs can be quite painstaking.

But if done correctly, the end results are guaranteed to leave you stoked and addicted. Gotta... build... one... more... Cubee...!