Making Paper Weaving Greeting Cards

Read through the tutorial before starting.

Step 1: Select Cardstock Colors

To make the card in this tutorial, you will need two colors of cardstock to weave together and another color of cardstock for the background. The colors for weaving need to contrast with each other in either brightness or color. Use light and dark papers of the same color, or two different colors that coordinate well with each other. When selecting two different colors, good choices are complementary colors or analogous colors.

Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. They naturally highly contrast with each other and exude high energy.

Analogous colors are near each other on the color wheel, have a cheerful effect, reflect color schemes found in nature, and create color harmonies that are pleasing to the eye.

The background cardstock needs to be a color that coordinates well with the woven strips. To keep things simple, when using complementary colors for the weaving strips, a lighter or darker hue of one of the colors works well. With analogous colors, use a third color found on either side of the two strip colors.

For the featured card, the colors used are considered "split analogous": that is, three colors that are one space apart on the color wheel. In this case, the colors are yellow and orange for weaving, and red for the background. Layout your colors of cardstock and select a visually pleasing combination using these color wheel concepts as a guide. Try not to overthink the color choices and let the color selections reflect what you like.

Step 2: Cut Cardstock

Cut 3" squares from each of the three colors of cardstock.

Cut five ¼" strips from each of the two weaving colors. You might also cut a few extra strips to glue around the center square as added decorations.

Step 3: Prepare to Weave

Lay out the five strips of one color vertically, spaced evenly about an eighth to a quarter inch apart, and secure with washi tape or masking tape. Place strips with any pencil marks face-down.

Tip: To reduce the tackiness of the masking tape (so it won't tear the strips when it is removed), pat it on your clothing to pick up a bit of lint.

Step 4: Weave

Weave the remaining five strips into the ones secured with masking tape. Weave the first strip over and under the vertical strips and the next strip under and over—alternating over and under and under and over for the other strips.

Adjust the strips so that they are evenly spaced and straight. Make the space between the horizontal strips the same as between the vertical strips.

Step 5: Glue

Glue the strips at the crossover points around the edges of the three untapped sides. Carefully lift each upper strip to apply a dab of glue to the lower strip. Remove the tape from the fourth side and glue each intersection point. Flip the woven square over and apply glue to the remaining intersections.

Step 5: Assemble Card

Trim the woven piece to about a 2½" square. Glue the woven piece to the background square, then glue to the card.

Decorate the card with the remaining cardstock using strips, squares and punches, or add a message with a rubber stamp.

That's it! Your card is done!

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