WHAT IS CHIGIRI-E?
"Chigiri" means to tear or shred, and "e" means picture in Japanese. Chigiri-e is a Japanese-style paper collage created using hand-dyed Washi paper to create realistic or abstract images, frameable art, cards, and an endless number of modern-day crafts. The fibers of the Washi allow for ideal layering and soft textures that look similar to a watercolor or oil painting.
What is Chigiri-e?
A short video showing the 3 simple steps to Chigiri-e
Washi is a traditionally-made paper that dates back to the eighth century, and is often still made by hand today. Making Washi is a long process: kozo (mulberry), bamboo, hemp, rice, or wheat plant bark is soaked in clear river water, boiled to thicken, then beaten and filtered through a gridiron and dried in sheets in sunlight for a natural, soft finish. The beauty of Washi papers are treasured throughout Japan, and they are still used today for everything from interior design to traditional arts, letter writing, and books. Washi has been recognized by UNESCO as being a part of Japan's Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Want to know more about Chigiri-e?
You'll find all the information - from full details about each of the six motifs to how washi is made - in this guide!
Click on the button below to start downloading a Free PDF version of our guide.
DOWNLOAD FREE eGUIDE
The Complete Chigiri-e Course Package
Our course includes 6 beautiful motifs, all the tools necessary, lifetime access to tutorials, and the ability to speak to our on-demand instructor via messaging.
Chigiri-e Project Kits
Our Chigiri-e Project Kits are individual motifs with various styles. They are perfect for both beginners and advanced Chigiri-e users. Each Project Kit includes Washi paper necessary for creating the motif, printed instructions, and lifetime access to our online learning center where you can learn techniques. Each motif is either a greeting card or art board size.
*tools are NOT included with our Project Kits, sold separately
Japanese Daisy
$32.00
Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Advance The Japanese Daisy has been loved since ancient times for its refinement and scent, brightening Japan's autumn. Use your...
View full product details
Noshi
$24.00
Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Beginner A kind of ceremonial folded origami attached to celebratory offerings and gifts, to express and express good tidings....
View full product details
Nandina
$24.00
Card Size: 4 x 6 inches Level: Intermediate Nandina is full of berries! By using different shades of red for each berry, you can create a much greater sense...
View full product details
Your First Chigiri-e
$5.00
Includes everything you need to create your first Candle motif! - Washi- Yamato glue- instruction sheet- card (art board)- template- wood stick to mark the...
View full product details
Violet
$24.00
An Advanced Arts and Crafts Project Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Advanced A pretty, incredibly fragile-looking little flower. Flowering from March to around May, violets swaying...
View full product details
Balloon Flowers (Large)
$32.00
Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Intermediate Balloon flowers earned their name from their balloon-like buds as depicted in this Chigiri-e motif. They open to...
View full product details
Hibiscus
$24.00
Card Size: 4 x 6 inches Level: Beginners This beautiful state flower of Hawaii will bring Summer to your home as a decoration or for that special someone. This...
View full product details
Aster
$24.00
Card Size: 4 x 6 inches Level: Intermediate Aster is a pretty wildflower that brings delightful color on the roadside and gardens in the late summer and autumn. It...
View full product details
Japanese Globe Flowers
$32.00
An Asian Arts and Crafts Project Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Intermediate Pretty yellow flowers that grow on the side of ravines. The slender flower-decked...
View full product details
Balloon Flowers (small)
$24.00
Traditional Japanese Arts and Crafts Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Intermediate The contrast between the purple petals and the yellow center of the flower look...
View full product details
Camellia
$24.00
Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Intermediate In the world of the Japanese tea ceremony, the camellia is known as the queen of tea house flowers. Gracing...
View full product details
Anemone
$32.00
An Advanced Chigiri-e Challenge Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Advanced A gorgeous but gentle blossom. In the Greek legend, the anemone was the flower...
View full product details
Autumn flowers
$32.00
A Colorful Washi Paper Project Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Intermediate Flowers that brighten the autumn fields are gathered here on a splendid golden...
View full product details
Bellflowers
$24.00
Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Intermediate The large pale purple bell-shaped flowers bloom in early summer. Their downward droop is strikingly graceful and it is...
View full product details
Bunch of Japanese daisies
$24.00
Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Advanced Gift this beautiful bouquet on a celebratory occasion such as a wedding. The combination of yellow and pink...
View full product details
Bush clovers
$32.00
Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Advanced Bush clovers swaying in the moonlight are a sight which exemplifies the wabi-sabi (quiet and subdued refinement) aesthetic...
View full product details
Carnation
$24.00
Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Advance The carnation is characterized by its many frilled petals. Use the fibers in the washi to capture the same...
View full product details
Cherries
$24.00
Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Beginner Tear the yellow and red-dyed washi in exactly the right places to create a wonderful 3D effect to your...
View full product details
Cherry blossoms
$24.00
Card Size: 4.7 x 5.3 inchesLevel: Advanced Japan's favorite flower. Cherry blossoms bloom from March through April, which is when graduation and entrance ceremonies are...
View full product details
Chicks
$24.00
A Perfect First Step Into Chigiri-e Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Beginner These baby chicks waddling along on a green carpet bright with flowers...
View full product details
Clematis
$24.00
A Washi Paper Japanese Arts and Crafts Project Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Intermediate The six purple petals of the clematis bloom boldly. Draw...
View full product details
Color Your Heart Out!
$24.00
A Beginner Chigiri-e Creation Kit Card Size(L): 5.1 x 8.3 inchesLevel: Beginner Create a one-of-a-kind gift using this fun Japanese paper craft kit!Trace & tear...
View full product details
Convolvulus
$24.00
Traditional Japanese Washi Paper Crafts Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Intermediate In the corners of fields strongly scented with the smell of grass under...
View full product details
Crane couple
$32.00
A Traditional Japanese Art Kit Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Intermediate This piece depicts a pair of courting cranes on a snowy field against...
View full product details
Double cherry blossoms
$32.00
Japanese Washi Paper Project Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Intermediate The cherry is the ultimate symbol of spring in Japan. Different varieties bloom at...
View full product details
Gladiolus
$24.00
A Colorful Washi Paper Project Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Intermediate Gladiolus blooms from the end of July through August and this piece is created...
View full product details
Grapes
$32.00
Traditional Arts and Crafts Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Intermediate The delicious-looking bunch of richly fruiting grapes conveys their wonderful weightiness with the way...
View full product details
Iris
$32.00
A Chigiri-e Project with Washi Paper Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Intermediate In June and July, overcast skies cover the whole country. This is...
View full product details
Japanese Thistle
$24.00
Traditional Japanese Thistle Art Project Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Advanced Distinguished by its narrow thread-like petals and leaves that spread out like wings, the...
View full product details
Japanese White Daisy
$32.00
A traditional Japanese art Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Intermediate In Japan, the Japanese daisy is considered an essential element in places for ancestral prayer....
View full product details
Love in a Cup
$24.00
A Chigiri-e Project Perfect For Beginners Card Size(L): 5.1 x 8.3 inchesLevel: Beginner You can never get a cup large enough to contain your love!...
View full product details
Maiko-san (apprentice geisha)
$32.00
Creating beautiful Japanese arts and crafts Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Intermediate On the evening of August 16 in the middle of summer, giant...
View full product details
Mom and Puppy Shibas
$24.00
A perfect chigiri-e beginner project Card Size(L): 5.1 x 8.3 inchesLevel: Beginner Do you have a great mom? Then make her smile with this charming...
View full product details
Peony
$24.00
A traditional Japanese paper craft Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Intermediate This flower is so stunning that it has traditionally been used as a metaphor...
View full product details
Plum Tree
$24.00
Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Beginner When Japanese people spot a plum tree in bloom, they know that spring isn't far away. The modest...
View full product details
Plum and Bush Warbler
$32.00
Challenge Yourself With This Traditional Japanese Washi Paper Art Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Advanced Since ancient times, the Japanese have regarded plum blossoms...
View full product details
Poppies
$32.00
A beautiful traditional Japanese arts and crafts project Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Intermediate In Japan, these big blooms light up summer meadows. The...
View full product details
Red Turnip
$24.00
An Intermediate Chigiri-e Project Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inches Level: Intermediate two huge leaves and the bright red of the mature turnip almost...
View full product details
Roses
$24.00
An Intermediate Arts and Crafts Project Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inches Level: Intermediate Three huge, deep red roses have bloomed. Every petal makes this piece...
View full product details
Sunflower
$32.00
An Advanced Arts and Crafts Project Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Advanced Featuring vivid yellow petals that shine like the sun, the sunflower is...
View full product details
Sweet Pea
$24.00
Card Size: 4 x 6 inches Level: Beginner Because its petals look like a butterfly about to fly away, the sweet pea symbolizes departure and new journey. The uneven pink...
View full product details
Teddy Bear
$32.00
An Excellent Beginner Arts and Crafts Project Board Size: 9.5 x 10.6 inchesLevel: Beginner Lounging there with its eyes closed, is this teddy bear having an...
View full product details
Three petite flowers + Frame
$45.00
Traditional Japanese Arts and Crafts Card Size: 3.0 x 3.0 inches eachLevel: Intermediate Express the splendor of spring with these three beautiful flowers: rose, corn poppy, and sweet...
View full product details
Yacht
$24.00
An Intermediate Arts and Crafts Project Card Size: 4.0 x 5.9 inchesLevel: Intermediate This yacht sailing in the ocean against a bright summer sky brings...
View full product details
Chigiri-e Starter Tools
$26.00
This set of starter tools that you can use to begin making your own Japanese creations includes:Glue / Brush / Water Brush Pen / Teaspoon...
View full product details
Let's Carve Pumpkins!
$24.00
A Traditional Washi Paper Craft With A Modern Twist Card Size(L): 5.1 x 8.3 inchesLevel: Intermediate Let's carve the pumpkins! What are your carving ideas this...
View full product details
Halloween Bundle
$29.00 $48.00
Two Halloween motifs in this bundle kit! A 40% saving when you buy this Halloween bundle. $48 → $29Ghosts Are Made For Scaring!Card Size(L): 5.1 x...
View full product details
Ghosts Are Made For Scaring!
$24.00
A Spooky Arts and Crafts Project with A Traditional Japanese Twist! Card Size(L): 5.1 x 8.3 inchesLevel: Beginner On a spooky full-moon night, the bats...
View full product details
Autumn Leaves
$24.00
An Intermediate Japanese Paper Craft Card Size(L): 5.1 x 8.3 inchesLevel: Intermediate There's nothing more beautiful than watching the leaves in your garden gradually change from...
View full product details
Anything But Scary Scarecrow
$24.00
A Festive, Cheerful Chigiri-e Kit Card Size(L): 5.1 x 8.3 inchesLevel: Intermediate A scarecrow stuffed with straw stands on a garden bed. Sewn together from old...
View full product detailsThinking Outside the Box
Both our Course and Project Kits is included with enough Washi paper to create the motifs at least twice (depending on motif). Our Washi paper can be created on most materials including paper, glass, aluminum, etc. Let your creativity run free and see what you can create.
