It’s not unusual to end up with a pile of paper strips after creating a layout. Weaving can be a fun way to use up those scraps while also creating an interesting background for your next layout.
Gather up some strips of paper and let’s weave a layout using some of your leftover supplies.
Supplies
Strips of cardstock, ribbon, vellum or other material of your choice (approximately 6 strips about an inch in width)
One sheet 12×12 cardstock
Patterned paper
Scrapbook embellishments
Stapler
Brads
Photo(s)
Step One Let’s start our background by adhering the strips to the 12×12 cardstock sheet. You will want to staple the ends of the strip to the edges of the paper. Brads can be substituted for the staples. DO NOT add adhesive to the middle of the strips. You want to be able to weave paper or other items in and out of the strips. I used plastic bands from a shipping box for my strips. You can easily use paper, vellum, ribbon or any other material of your choosing.
Step Two Cut a strip of patterned paper about 4 or 5 inches wide and 12 inches long. Weave in over and under the strips. If you need to, add a little adhesive to the back of the patterned paper so that it will stay in place. Do not add adhesive to the strips.
Step Three Choose a second sheet of pattern paper and cut thinner strips. The strips do not have to be 12x 12 in length. Varied sizes will provide visual interest. Weave these strips in and out of the design. If necessary, use small bits of adhesive to keep the thin patterned paper strips in place. Adding brads to each end will provide a more finished look while also holding the strips in place.
Step Four Add your photo and other embellishments. Layer them over the strips or tuck them underneath.
Tips for Making a Cohesive Woven Layout
Working from a kit makes selecting your product for the layout much easier. While this is a wonderful technique for using up scrap from kits clubs , you can also make your own scrap kits. Often the supplies laying out on the desk were recently used and go well together. Make your kit from those leftover scraps.
Begin working with a tone on tone background. I used clear/white strips of plastic over a white 12×12 sheet of cardstock. Using a solid color over another solid color will make the layout seem less busy.
Pay attention to the size or type of pattern that you want to use. I used a large print background for the larger woven strip. I could have also used a large floral print. A smaller print worked best for the thinner strips of paper.
Woven backgrounds create fabulously textured and layered backgrounds. This layout was created in a 12×12 size. The same technique could also be used for smaller size cards or mattes. If you would like to create smaller sizes backgrounds, consider using smaller size strips of paper.
Greetings by Christy Strickler Supplies Cardstock: Colorbok; Patterned Paper: Studio Calico, Basic Grey; Letters: American Crafts; Jewels: My Mind’s Eye, Hero Arts; Frames, Brads: Basic Grey; Cork: Studio Calico; Pen: Sharpie; Other: Staples, packing strips; this article and layout originally appeared in Scrapbook News and Review Magazine
Additional Resources
Weaving with Washi
an article from Get It Scrapped
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