Paper and cardboard are amazing things, with which you can make unimaginable stuff. Since they are of various types, papers and cardboard can also be used in millions of ways.

When it comes to crafting, I am always stunned by the variety of crafts that I can make, from paper flowers to paper drawers and amazing gigantic tree structures, we have been making a variety of crafts.

Today, I am giving a little twist to the usual crafts I share here, and showing you how to make a little warrior stuff — a Japanese chokuto sword! These swords are small and their blades are covered. Let’s make one today, and unleash the warrior inside you.

Things you need:

1. A-4-sized paper of any colour for the blade of the sword.

2. Piece of any coloured paper

3. Double tape

4. Scotch tape

5. Scissors or paper cutter

6. Patterned paper (A-4 size)

Directions:

1. Fold the plain A-4-sized paper in half, and then cut it into two pieces. Take one piece and roll it from the corner to make a thin reed, and secure it with a scotch tape as shown in pictures 2 and 3.

2. Take the remaining piece of paper and fold it in half lengthwise. Then, fold it in half lengthwise again. You will now have a one-inch-wide strip, as shown in pictures 4 and 5.

3. Secure the fold by applying double-sided tape in the middle of the fold, as shown in picture 6.

4. Turn the strip over and apply double-sided tape in the middle. Fold it in half again to secure it, as shown in picture 7.

5. Cut the top in either double edge or single edge, picture 8.

6. Insert the reed from the bottom of the blade and cover it with any coloured piece of paper to give it a handle look, as depicted in pictures 9 and 10.

7. Making the hilt with a cross-guard on the handle is optional, but it gives the sword a complete look. For this, you will need a four-inch long and 2.5-inch-wide piece of paper. Fold the upper and lower corners, as shown in picture 11.

8. Fold the straight middle part inward, then two-fold it, cut a centimetre in the middle. This is where you will insert your sword, picture 12.

9. Bring the right and the left side of this two-folded paper downwards, see picture 13.

10. Now open the fold from the top, and press the creases downwards to form the shape of a pointed cross-guard, as shown in pictures 14 and 15.

11. Insert the sword into the cross-guard, picture 16.

12. Making a cover for your sword is very easy. Measure the blade by covering it with any patterned paper, and then cut it out. Fold and secure it with Scotch tape, as shown in pictures 17 and 18.

Your chokuto sword is ready, challenge your friend or sibling to play sword fights!

The writer can be contacted at ithecraftman@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 17th, 2024