WOVEN CHRISTMAS CARDS

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1 - Choose a selection of coloured papers and cut any number strips in equal width and length in different colours. The width and length of your finished piece will depend on how long and wide you make your paper strips. You can use scissors, a ruler and pencil for marking and cutting your strips or use a guillotine.

Step 2 - Lay out your strips of paper vertically in the order of colours you like, count how many strips you have laid out. Make sure the strips are side by side (no spaces in between).

Step 3 - Then to the side of your work, lay out an equal number of strips horizontally, think of how these will look crossed over the other colours.

Step 4 - To start weaving, tape down your vertical paper strips to your working surface with washi tape or scotch magic tape (needs to be any tape that can be removed without tearing your paper).

Step 5 - Now weave through your first strip of coloured paper from the horizontal pieces you laid out. For simple weaving, starting right to left, weave your first piece of paper through the strips, going under then over.

Step 6 - Then weave your second piece of paper from right to left, over then under (opposite to your first strip). You'll see a basic weaving pattern appear. Follow this pattern until you have used up all your coloured strips.

Step 7 - Create more weaving patterns by changing up how many strips you weave under then over. For example:

• Weave under 1 strip, over 2, repeat to end.
• Weave over 2 strips, under 1, repeat to end.
• Weave over 1 strip, under 1, over 2, repeat from to end.
• Repeat these 3 rows for a varied weaving effect.

Step 8 - For a very easy paper weaving project, cut out a large solid shape in coloured card, for example a heart shape. Mark out even vertical lines on the solid shape, starting approx. 1cm in from the sides and in from the top and bottom. Draw the lines approx. 1cm apart and then cut them using scissors. You can then use these strips you made in the solid shape for weaving over and under.