Paper Woven Bookmarks

Paper Woven Bookmarks

On the surface of it, this process looks cool and you need to just cut strips, weave them, and stick them on. But if you want neatness, you have to be slow. And steady. And not lose hope when things go wrong. Most of all, do not expect perfect pieces everytime. Sometimes you may have to trim and chop till the pieces fit into a pattern.

What you need

  •     Advertising leaflets inserted in newspapers. Or old magazines.
  •     Card stock or coloured cardboard, knife, scissors, glue and a thin plastic ruler.

How do you start?

Cut strips from the ads or magazines, ideally in accented colours. Sometimes you may get the same page in a family of colours. And that works well for a good pattern in weaving.

Once you cut off strips from the cardstock or coloured cardboard, you need to draw margins on the longer sides of the piece, leaving a 0.5 cms gap or one fourth of an inch. Cut slits between these two margins, about one third of an inch apart, lesser or more depending on your choice. This takes time, because when you make the slits, you need to make sure that the thinnish and glossy paper pass through without tearing. Ideally choose thick cardstock. Once you are finished with the slits, choose your strips from the pre-cut stash. Check for their width. They must fit well into the width of the slits.

The next step is simple.

Weave

You will have left over strips protruding from either or both ends of the cardboard or paper. Trim them enough to stick them up near the last slit on either ends.

Once you are done with the gluing and trimming, make sure you erase the pencil marks that you made for the margins on the longer sides of the cardstock pieces. Try laminating your creations or use a Mod Podge coat but make sure the paper strips are not too thin.

Pictures courtesy: Radhika M B

Project courtesy http://www.imprintshandmade.com

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