My Instagram had been stuck around the same number of followers for 3-4 years with little to no engagement. This year, I decided to post more consistently, which led to this reel (below) that I shared on 19 February. It somehow pushed a little more than usual and got quite the engagement, which led to some questions about how I tear the Mia Place Cards so perfectly flat and straight.
I have only tried my technique on my handmade papers and a select few. As it took many hours of refining ways of tearing, I ask you to be patient with yourself. You may need to practice a few times, and even when you get perfect tears, you will end up with a few that just are not going to be perfect. Remember, handmade papers are made from unevenly distributed fibres, which means tearing will break apart those fibres, resulting in uneven, not-so-pretty-looking ones.
By the way, if you haven't read my blog on how to achieve flat handmade paper deckled edges. Make sure you do, as it'll be useful towards this topic as well.
Disclaimer: Like all my blog posts, this is only for guidance or reference. The tips shared are personal experiences with materials I use, which will, of course, differ from everyone else. Affiliated links are included in this blog.
Right! Let's achieve some beautiful tearing with these few steps...
What you need:
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Handmade Paper
I highly recommend using a seconds sheet or a scrap piece of the handmade paper you are intending to tear. This way you are not wasting perfectly good handmade papers.
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Bone Folder
This is what you will be using to score the handmade paper with. This tool is my best friend and I use it almost daily. The link above is to the "Stationer's Essentials" List on my Amazon Storefront.
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Cutting Mat
You could technically use any surface; however, I highly recommend a cutting mat so you do not damage your worktop. The link above is to the "Stationer's Essentials" List on my Amazon Storefront.
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Hair Straightener (Low Temperature)
To achieve a crisp and flat place card, you will need a straightener, ideally one with a low temperature setting. You could also use an iron if you prefer. The link above is to the "Stationer's Essentials" List on my Amazon Storefront.
CAUTION: Please do not use a straightener or iron if you are not comfortable handling a heated device. And never, never leave a device unattended.
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Heat Press Mat
Straighteners can get very hot and need a place to rest on. Make sure you have something that it can rest on without damaging your worktop. The link above is to the "Stationer's Essentials" List on my Amazon Storefront.
Here are some easy steps:
Step One – Sample One Piece Aside
Before you start tearing the handmade paper to size, have a sample ready and label it so you can continue to use it throughout. As you can see, my sample is the same size as the Menu Card.
Step Two – Align Place Card & Fold
Align the sample place card on the edge of the cutting mat. Once it's aligned, go ahead and push it downwards so it folds the handmade paper. You can continue this as many times as possible.
Step Three – Fold & Score
Now that you have finished folding, your handmade paper should look something like the image on the bottom left. Grab your bone folder and score on the side of your fold.
Step Four – Tear & Straighten
Start tearing the handmade paper from the scored edge. This will take some practice so give yourself some grace. Take your time, especially if you have never done this before. Take caution when you apply too much force; you can easily tear away from the scored line.
The final step is to straighten the place cards. In between straightening, make sure you have a heat press mat or a surface that your straightener or iron can rest on. For larger pieces, straightening the edge will do just fine. I explain more in my other blog, "How to achieve flat handmade paper deckled edges".
The Results
A little example of what it looks like before (left) and after (right)! The left shows how bendy and uneven the place card is after it's been torn. The right shows how straight it becomes after it's been straightened.
And there you go! Like anything handmade, with a little grace and patience, you'll always get the best results. Remember to take your time and be very careful when you're handling a heated device or avoid it entirely.
Do you have a video I can refer to?
Yes, there is! It is right below, do leave me a comment if you've just read the blog and had a look at the reel.
I hope this blog post was helpful. Bookmark this blog so you can always come back to it. If you are a stationer or just starting out, give this a try, and hopefully you'll find this tip helpful. Please share it with a friend or tag me on Instagram.
Much love, Keth ♡
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If you follow me on Instagram or Tiktok, you would be familiar with videos I share. Below is the Instagram reel that features a quick tip on what we covered today in this blog. Watch it a few times or get in touch if you have any questions!