I was reading a number of tips and tricks for Scrapbooking and card making and found one that I thought was really interesting and somewhat unique.
Did you know that you can create a 3-dimensional look by weaving your photos. Yes, I did say weaving, you know just like you used to do in kindergarten with the strips of coloered paper. OK, maybe not exactly like but in general, the same type of concept.
Here are the materials and/or tools you need to use this technique:
- Two copies of the photo or image.
- Paper cutter, scissors or Exacto knife.
- Ruler and straightedge.
- Chalk or soft lead pencil for marking
Here are the steps to create a weaved photo:
Start with 2 copies of the same picture. You will will be cutting each picture into strips. One will be cut into horizontal strips and the other will be cut into vertical strips.
- On the backside of the first photo, draw evenly spaced vertical lines.
- Cut along these lines.
- On the other photograph draw evenly spaced horizontal lines.
- Cut along these lines.
- Then weave alternating horizontal and vertical strips and put the image or photo back together.
Start your weaving from the center of the image or photo and work outwards. This will keep the shape of the image or photo’s integrity intact.
I typically ensure that my photos are as close to exactly the same size as possible. I mark off where I am going to cut on the backside of each copy using a soft leaded pencil and I barely leave a mark. I like to use evenly (and even measured) distances between the lines that I draw. Sometimes, I am not so exact and just use the markings on my paper cutter.
After cutting the photos into the strips I weave the horizontal strips with the vertical strips to complete my creation. I tap the strips into place using my fingernail. Once all the pieces are in, I flip over my weaving and tighten the strips by tapping them all again from top to bottom and then from left to right. I do occasionally have to adjust a strip or two to make the image look right.
If your edges don’t quite line up exactly after weaving your photo, trim each side using a paper cutter to get a crisp and clean look.
Once I have the weaved image, I glue it down on some sort of matting. This also helps to keep the weaving from coming undone. Be sure to adhere the strips that come out from the top side too if you have only glued down backside around the edges.
Another technique that I found unique is to print your image on two different colors of paper. It give the image a dramatic effect once they are weaved together.
This process is awesome on scrapbook pages and handmade cards. Placing your weaved image or photo onto an artsy styled background can present an abstract appearance. Placing it onto a solid background creates a clean and simple image or photo that is already naturally highlighted by the technique itself.
