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Tearing Paper

Written and Created by PaperCraftCentral Susan


Tearing paper is something that some of us paper crafters tend to avoid doing. Some of us 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!


tearing paper

Tearing Paper in Papercrafting


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.
  • You can also use Co'ordinations cardstock, as it has a coloured centre layer and this makes an interesting rip
  • 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 (or coloured if using Co'ordinations or most Stampin' Up! Basic White cardstock as it is coloured all the way through) edge as the middle layer of the paper is left exposed
  • Continue to tear each of the edges of your paper until you have the effect you want

More torn paper tips:

  • Some people use a water dipped paint brush or a water painter 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 but you can ink them in a similar or different colour. This is known as a distressing technique.
  • 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.
  • You can add many layers of torn paper to a project for a textured and free-form effect.
  • Sometimes I tear all the way around a stamped image instead of cutting it out neatly.
  • I made a torn paper mat for my crayon resist card.
  • Torn paper is great to use as a mask when you want a ragged inked edge on a project, such as in this reflections card.


Are you ready to try it? Go release some stress and start tearing paper, or ripping some paper purposefully today! Lol!


tearing paper

If you liked this technique, you might like to try stamping with bleach or CASEing a card next.



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