It's OK to tear your paper!
By Susan Larson
Tearing paper -- it sounds like a reckless, wasteful thing to do, but the results are anything but.
Why tear your paper? For one thing, it softens the edges when layering different papers together. Torn paper also adds interest, texture and a little dimension to your page. The look can range anywhere from subtle elegance to devil-may-care sportiness.
All kinds of papers can be torn and to different effects: cardstock, patterned paper, vellum and for the wispiest effect, mulberry paper. Tearing paper is probably the easiest technique to try, and though there is no right or wrong way to do it, there are several tips to keep in mind to make it easier.
All paper has a grain to it. Therefore, like cutting fabric, one direction is usually easier to tear than another. Experiment on different weights of scratch paper to get a feel for tearing. A fluid motion, neither quick nor slow, but steady is best. You can control the direction of your tear simply by placing one hand on the paper to hold it down and then tearing the paper AWAY from your body with the other. This will give the most spontaneous look.
For a more even tear, use a ruler. For a wispier look, you can use a paintbrush to paint water along the line you wish to tear. This works especially well on mulberry paper where the fibers in the paper are sometimes difficult to tear. Tear circles by using a water glass or cereal bowl as your guide. Look around your house for other no-cost shape templates to use.
Where can you use torn paper accents? Borders, photo mats and journaling blocks are all excellent starting points. Many objects can be represented in a torn look: torn hearts, fruits, stars and many ordinary objects will look extraordinary. Torn paper is also especially effective in portraying landscapes such as mountains and water, as well as clouds.
Aging or crinkling your paper before tearing it adds yet another fabulous dimension. These interesting edges can be accented with chalk or colored pencils to give an aged or burnt look. This looks good when trying to represent an old scroll or "wanted" sign. Chalking also helps blend your papers together and to hide the white torn edge if you wish.
A few other suggestions:
* Give a twist to color-blocking by using torn blocks.
* Divide a page in half or in quarters with a torn paper strips and squares.
* Tear out a hole of any size in the center of your paper to reveal the cardstock or a photo beneath.
* Roll the torn edge like a little scroll to add even more dimension.
* Tear 12-inch strips and weave them together for an interesting page background.
* Tear the edges of your photos to continue the theme.
Torn paper gives your page an interesting handmade look. Using this method ensures that people know you have created the elements yourself -- by hand. So don't be afraid to go on a tearing spree!