How to Build a Paper Beam

Written By
HB
Helana Bell
Published: Jul 31, 2011
Updated: Feb 23, 2021
2 minute read

Paper crafts are great uses of the imagination. What if you wanted to build a paper beam that would support a brick? It would seem outlandish, right? Without trial and error it won’t get accomplished, but there's one thing you can do to make the project at least functional -- and that’s establish a launch site.

Things You'll Need:

Things You Will Need

  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • A4 Paper
  • Get a piece of paper. Any kind will do, as long as it's relatively standard in size.

    Fold the paper several times into a “V” shape. You need this shape because it's going to support something on top of it.

    Create more V-shaped pieces of paper, using Step 2. This might seem complex at first, but the pleated shape works well in due time. If you’re having trouble making a true V, make a rectangle and put two edges together.

    Glue the corner edge, making two pieces of folded paper into what looks like a W from the bird’s-eye view.

    Repeat the process in Step 4 several times until you have a row of these ready to go.

    Cut pieces of paper to place on either side of the interior. This closes off the view of the Vs that are glued together and forms a full beam of sorts.

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