A sheet of material formed for bending along a bend line including a sheet of material (30) includes a plurality of dividing slits (37) and a plurality of strap slits (39) formed therethrough. The dividing slits extending substantially along a desired bend line (35) and divide the sheet of material into first and second planar regions (32, 33). The strap slits intersect the desired bend line and adjacent pairs of strap slits form a bending strap therebetween. The bending strap has a longitudinal strap axis intersecting the desired bend line. The sheet of material may be formed of composite materials. A method of forming and using the sheet of material is also disclosed.