Iris folding is a paper craft technique that involves folding strips of coloured paper in such a way to form a design. The centre of the design forms an iris. It’s a little bit like paint-by-numbers except you use folded bits of paper instead of paint!

Start with a numbered pattern or template. You can use any type of paper from wrapping paper to wallpaper. Add your chosen paper to the template following the numbers and the pattern. Simple! Frame it and hang it on your wall, send it as a greeting card or even pop a photograph in the iris and turn it into photo frame!

A group of service users from Woodleigh Community Care have been enjoying iris folding in LifewithArt’s Charity Art Centre in Leeds. The group, with learning disabilities and complex needs and behaviours, got some amazing results and had a wonderful time doing it!

“Iris folding was first introduced to me by LwA tutor Lisa Peasey and it’s a wonderful activity for our service users. You have to follow the numbers in order so it’s a fun way of practicing numeracy. It’s also all about choices; the choice of template and the choice of colours, which colours blend and which colours contrast, does the artist want to cover the iris or do they want to leave it open? The end result is individual to the artist and they can feel proud of what they have created.” Edyn Culverwell, LwA north-west art co-ordinator