How to Make Hand-torn Paper
Hand-torn paper lends an impressionistic, yet rustic look to your crafts or artwork. Whether you choose a mosaic that uses hundreds of tiny scraps of torn paper, a work that uses large scraps torn in large pieces to resemble components in the design or a combination of the two, you will not run out of possibilities for your torn paper crafts. Learn some ways to tear paper to add that impressionistic, homespun look to your next project.
Instructions
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Tear different colored papers into pieces as small as a dime to make a collage that resembles a mosaic. Draw out your design first, then lay the pieces over the design to see how the finished piece will look. Glue them to your medium and apply a coat of shellac to finish the work.
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Rip large pieces of paper to represent components of your design. For a scene that features a tree beneath a blue sky with a sun and some clouds you can rip long strips of brown paper for the tree trunk and branches. Rounded but asymmetrical pieces of white paper can represent the clouds, while smaller irregularly shaped green pieces represent the leaves. A torn circle of yellow or orange can become a shining sun.
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Rip with patterns for more accurate shapes. Hold down a glass over a piece of paper and tear away the paper that protrudes from under the glass to make a torn circle. Hold part of a sheet of paper at the edge of a desktop with the palm of your hand, then tear down on the part of the paper that hangs over the edge to make a straight tear. A book or a brick held down over a paper helps you tear a rectangle.
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Ball up the paper to give it a wrinkled look or crease it to make seams in it. Experiment with different folds to give the torn scraps different textures.
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Tips & Warnings
Experiment with different kinds of paper, from tissue paper to newsprint to construction paper to see what kind of effect they bring to your torn paper art.
