| Scrapbook Techniques - Paper Tearing | | | | To tear strong paper, wet the paper with a small |
| Ripping and peeling paper is a fun way to add | | | | paint brush or cotton swab. Once the water |
| warm, hand crafted accents to you pages. | | | | soaks in, gently tear the paper. When the paper |
| Almost any paper scrap can be turned into a cute | | | | dries, you will not be able to see the water |
| accent. Mastering a few tearing techniques will | | | | marks. Using water will make it easier to tear |
| turn your "regular" pages into "wow" pages. You | | | | shapes such as circles and hearts. |
| can create beautiful boarders, backgrounds and | | | | To tear intricate shapes, sketch your design first. |
| shapes by tearing paper. Here a few versatile and | | | | Brush with water to weaken the lines. To make it |
| whimsy ways to decorate your layouts. | | | | a little easier, use a scoring blade or stylus and |
| Practice with scrap paper to get the feel of how | | | | firmly push against your cardstock to weaken it. |
| different papers well tear. Once you get the feel | | | | Tear you paper along the lines. |
| for it, you will become a pro and enjoy doing this | | | | Remember that different papers result in |
| technique over and over again. | | | | different looks. Heavy cardstocks are usually died |
| To make a basic tear, hold the paper in your | | | | and the color will stay the same with the tear. |
| non-dominant hand. Tear with your index finger | | | | Patterned paper typically has a white core or light |
| and thumb, going gently and slowly for you a | | | | colored edges vellum is so shear that the edges |
| straight tear or rapidly for a modern look. If your | | | | are not visual. Try adding chalk to the edges to |
| paper is jagged, you may be tearing against the | | | | give extra dimension. By trying these few |
| grain. Rotate the paper about 90 degrees and try | | | | techniques you will be amazed at the different |
| again. | | | | looks you will add to your pages. |