Tearing Paper

Tearing paper is something that some of us paper crafters avoid doing. We want to make our projects as perfect as possible and despair over a misplaced score line, an uneven meeting of edges, paper cut too short or too thin.

It can be so refreshing and stress relieving to think about actually ripping your project instead! Lol!

I'm talking about a controlled ripping here. What you are aiming for is an interesting, uneven edge for your layers.

Here's how I use this technique:

• First, choose the paper you want to use as a layer. If you choose double sided paper, make sure the side you want to show on your project is facing you
• Now grip the edge of one side of the paper, and carefully tear the edge toward you. This way you will have an exposed white edge as the middle layer of the paper is left exposed
• Continue to treat each of the edges of your paper until you have the effect you want

Some people use a water dipped paint brush or an aqua pen to draw along the edge they want to tear before ripping it. This can help to make the edges a little straighter or controlled.

Sometimes I use a tearing ruler to rip along the edges of longer pieces of paper, such as a 12" x 12" scrapbook page. These rulers already have an interesting and uneven edge and using them as a guide for your ripping action can create a wonderfully designed effect.

I left the torn edges of my layers white in the handmade greeting card shown above.

Something else you can do once the white layer is exposed is to sponge or ink it in a colour that contrasts or compliments your project. Or curl the thin edges with a wooden skewer or paper piercing tool shaft. You can make your paper look quite old and worn by continuing to work the edges this way.

Try using torn-edged layers to make your 3-d paper flowers sometimes, too.

Are you ready to try it? Go release some stress and start tearing paper! Lol!

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