The terms “spun paper” and “spun cotton” are often used interchangeably.
However, this is actually a misnomer: what are often referred to as “spun cotton shapes” are technically “spun paper shapes.”
We are also guilty of having used the term “Spun Cotton Shapes” in the past (and you can still find this term throughout our website). From now on, we will be using the term “Spun Paper Shapes.”
All Spunnys shapes are made with 100% FSC-certified paper (from trees).
Where does the term “Spun Cotton” come from?
Spun Paper Shapes originated in Germany. In German, spun paper balls are called “Watte Kugeln.” However, Watte often translates to “cotton” in English. So the term “spun cotton” may have resulted from an approximate translation.
That said, real spun cotton shapes do exist — they are typically artists’ creations, usually made of cotton wrapped around a metal frame.
Spun paper shapes: main qualities
Spun Paper Shapes are three-dimensional (3D) craft blanks used mainly for DIY craft projects and hobbies such as crepe paper flowers and decorations.
They are wonderful craft materials with many great qualities:
- The shapes are made of paper and are 100% plastic-free
- They are ready to paint and easy to decorate
- They are lightweight
- Glue adheres to them very strongly because of their fibrous texture
Examples of existing shapes
Spun paper shapes come in many shapes and sizes. The most popular shapes are balls, because they are versatile, but many other forms also exist, such as: mushrooms, teardrops, miniature fruits and veggies, eggs, bells, rolls, cones, and more.
How to work with Spun Paper Shapes
There are many ways you can work with them:
You can paint them
Simply use a paintbrush and some acrylic paint. It’s as easy as painting on a piece of paper.
You can use glue
Glue adheres very well to them. You can embellish the shapes with small pieces of fabric, colored paper, golden trims (Dresden), ribbon, lace, mousseline, crepe paper, chenille stems, and much more.
You can even use glitter on spun paper shapes
People often use spun paper shapes to make glittered Christmas ornaments. To learn how to apply glitter, you can check out our video tutorial: how to make glittered lemon ornaments.
How the shapes are manufactured
Soft paper is rolled tightly into a mold until the desired shape is achieved. The raw shapes are then covered with a starchy solution and oven-dried. The final product has a smooth surface that is easy to paint and decorate.
DIY Craft project examples
Here are a few projects we thought would help demonstrate the wide array of possibilities. There are many creative ways to use spun paper shapes.
For more DIY project ideas, feel free to check out our tutorial section.
We hope you enjoyed learning about spun paper shapes! At Spunnys, we are all about spun paper and creativity — so don’t hesitate to ask any questions. It’s always a pleasure to help.
Happy crafting!.
