Malaysian mother of a child with autism turns to paper-cutting to destress

"I have an indoor garden in my home and that inspires me to steer towards green themes for my paper-cutting projects, " says Nadrah. Photos: Nadrah Radzi

Homemaker Nadrah Radzi has two children with special needs – her eldest son Mikail Sya’rawi, nine, is diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and her six-year-old daughter Haniin Uraifi has dyslexia.

Nadrah always has her hands full, seeing to her kids’ homeschooling activities, medical appointments, therapy sessions and dealing with Mikail’s meltdowns.

To unwind and de-stress, Nadrah turns to her art: paper-cutting.

She’s been working on this craft for over three years, and it has helped keep her from experiencing a burnout.

“Being a full-time mother has its ups and downs, and that coupled with having a child on the spectrum is a heavy load. Somehow, creating detailed paper-cutting art helps me de-stress. While this intricate craft is time-consuming, it helps me manage my emotions, ” said Nadrah, 40, who lives in Shah Alam.

To keep her children occupied during the lockdown, Nadrah is teaching Mikail and Haniin the art of paper-cutting.

Her art has also helped during the lockdown period when, like all Malaysians, she’s been confined at home for two weeks.

Nadrah’s advice for getting through this period is to explore new (or old) hobbies.

“The stay at home period can take a toll on us all. It is crucial to find a hobby that catches your interest.

Nadrah hopes that by getting Mikail to use the tools for paper-cutting his motor skills will improve.

“The best thing about the Internet is there are many social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram where people can learn new things with just a few clicks of the mouse.

"There are also many video tutorials on YouTube that teach you new skills and techniques, like paper cutting, ” said Nadrah.

During the lockdown, Mikail and Haniin are learning paper-cutting from their mother.

“I engage my kids with craft activities to keep them busy during the stay at home period. They love paper-cutting so much that I have to keep reminding them not to waste paper. They like the idea of how a plain piece of paper can transform into intricate artwork with cuttings.

“Cutting tools (trimmer, scissors and craft knife) help children to build their fine motor skills, like grasping. Some children on the spectrum have motor difficulties so it is important to provide them with training to improve their skills, ” explained Nadrah, who gave up her job as an art teacher to care for her special needs children.

Handmade with passion

Nadrah’s creations are layered paper cuttings with some 3D artwork. Her works focus on nature – leaves, flowers and animals – because of her love for Mother Earth. She shares photos of her commissioned works on its_a_paper_thing on Instagram.

“I love all natural things. I have an indoor garden in my home, which inspires me to steer towards green themes for my paper cutting projects.

“For added inspiration, I turn to photographs, movie stills and images on the Internet. For specific commissioned works like family portrait artwork, I’d usually add green elements like plant life and animals based on the customer’s preference.

"These tiny minute details add more colour and bring out the best in commissioned projects, ” said Nadrah, who also creates postcards with miniature paper cuttings.

Nadrah turns to paper-cutting as a stress reliever.

Her meticulous work reflects the effort Nadrah puts into her original works of art. Her ability to match colours and attention to detail results in imaginative paper cuttings of flora and fauna.

Her handmade creations involve hundreds of minute cuttings. Depending on the complexity of each work, it can take between two hours to several weeks to complete a commissioned piece.

Nadrah is no newbie to arts and crafts, as she comes from a home of creative talents. Her father is a professional photographer, while her late mother was the creative director of a Petaling Jaya-based advertising agency.

Growing up, she watched her parents create mock ups of campaign proposals and and banners using arts and craft paraphernalia.

Intricately paper-cut miniature planted pots require patience and time.

“When I was in Year Five, my parents were involved in creating an advertisement for a paint brand where layers of paper-cutting turned into a big beautiful piece of art. I still remember how detailed and precise each layer was. I fell in love with paper-cutting then.

“The best part about growing up in a creative home was learning new skills and art techniques beyond textbooks.

“In college, I enrolled in animation, and art design courses, which further developed my artistic skills.”

Nadrah can craft simple paper-cutting creations with just three trusty tools – a paper-cutting knife, a cutting mat, and a pencil.

“These basic tools are sufficient for beginners. For more detailing like folds and twirls, I use fondant making tools. I use a perforation cutter to make paper creases.

“The humble satay stick is one of the best tools for paper twirling. I’ve recently invested in a cutter machine that can cut the time I spend cutting repetitive designs, ” shared Nadrah who, prior to the pandemic, used to hold paper-cutting workshops.

The real deal: Yes, lots of effort and fine precision went into cutting the paper version of monstera friedrichsthalii.

Safety, first and foremost

It is important to practise good knife carving techniques to prevent injuries because, even when working with paper, there are hazards involved.

One needs total concentration when working with sharp tools, Nadrah cautioned.

“Paper cuts, knife wounds, painful skin burns from hot glue guns are common work hazards. Some tools – especially sculpting blades – are dangerous and can cause serious injuries. It is important to keep your full attention on the task at hand to prevent accidents from happening. Read the safety manual of the tools and ensure retractable blades are locked when unused.”

Paper-cutting is a meticulous craft, and at times crafters accidentally cut larger incisions that can ruin or derail a project.

Paper-cutting is a meticulous craft, and at times crafters – especially those who work on things free-hand – accidentally cut larger incisions that can ruin or derail a project. To avoid such mishaps, Nadrah creates a mockup drawing of her paper cutting using recycled paper.

“Once I am happy with the mock up, that’s when I start to create the real piece. If I do make a mistake in cutting, I’d attempt to fix it. If there’s extra cuttings, I’d save it for the next commissioned work.”

Since she can’t go out during the lockdown, Nadrah is spending more time online learning new crafting techniques as well as researching on children with special needs.

“Social media is a great place to learn new hobbies – ranging from DIY, cooking to sewing. We live in the digital era where our daily lifestyle relies so much on technology.

“I also surf many online platforms to research autism, ADHD and look for home education material for my kids. I turn to Instagram to share my journey as a mother of a son with ADHD with the hope of creating awareness on autism, ” she concluded.

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