Paper Cuts by Kat Reilly

Paper Craft and Other Creations

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An Homage to a “Bash Brother”

My soccer team has a habit of using quotes from “The Mighty Ducks” as motivation. After one Sunday game, I sat down and watched all three movies from the franchise. Halfway through the first movie, I grabbed a few sheets of card stock and began piecing together this small tribute to my favorite Duck, Fulton Reed.

Not only a “Bash Brother,” Fulton’s the misunderstood loner who finds a family within the Ducks. With a nuclear slap shot, he also serves as the Ducks’ secret weapon in the more dramatic games. His initial inability to skate allows for comic relief and makes the character relatable. Through Fulton, we learn that if we remove an obstacle, we can realize a pursuit we would have otherwise dismissed.

I try to remember this lesson whenever I come across something I want to pursue. Too often, we become discouraged because we don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle needed to complete the task. When this happens, it’s important to just jump in. All you need is confidence that you’ll figure it out and improve along the way.

And if that means learning to skate, well then it’s time to head to the mall...

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Behold, the great “Alphonso.” 

As many little paper crafts do, Alphonso started out as a heap of leftover shreds from a slew of other projects. And, like any decent thespian, he changed form throughout the process (see the bunny on the bottom-right--eek!)  I love that paper crafting has gradually taught me to literally break ideas down into colored shapes. The angular, geometric style of Alphonso perhaps best illustrates my learning of this.  I was proud to send Alphonso to live with paper artist extraordinaire, Léo Kadota (@paper_nuggets). Léo had a brilliant idea of doing an art-swap, through which I received a lovely miniature paper cut piece of his.

Connecting with fellow paper artists like Léo has been among the great joys of making my hobby public. The support of the community has been wonderful. I hope I can pay it forward! 

[thepaperkat-blog]

Mothers’ & Fathers’ Day Cards 2015

A pair of cards I recently made for my Dad and Mom. I wanted each to reflect aspects of their personalities that I appreciate most. 

Dad, like me, is a craftsman at heart. He’s very detail oriented, and he loves polished things that are adorned with final flourishes. (He also chews his pencils while working, hence the battered pencil atop his card.) 

Mom, on the other hand, is the more tranquil of the pair. She welcomes any chance to relax and is a quintessential “beach bum.” She certainly appreciates the simple things in life, which I tried to complement with a flatter, geometric style. 

[thepaperkat-blog]

A “Thank You” Card for My Parents

At the beginning of this year, my parents generously came to L.A. to help me move apartments. Though it was an exhausting week, they made my second Californian apartment feel like my first home here.

As I look around my place now, I can spot their touches everywhere, from a brightly colored rug to the brand new air vents that made all the difference. 

These small, delightful details do build up into something wonderful--and I’ve learned that through the creation of this piece. The layering of color, patterns and shapes merged into something I didn’t expect, and for that, I love it all the more.