Distressing Techniques: Part 3

People often have misconceptions about distressing techniques, associating them with heritage-style layouts, or aggressive rock layouts.  In reality, distressing can really add a lot of dimension and warmth to any layout, if done in concert with the photos and embellishments.  Distressing itself should not be the dominant feel of the page: it should serve to compliment what is already there.

·          Sanding: Sanding cardstock with roughen up the edges; sanding photos will take away a portion of the finish, and really provide an interesting finish.

·          Cutter Kit: The Cutter Kit has an edge distressing tool that works great on cardstock, photos, and patterned paper.  The great thing is that you have control over how much or how little pressure you use.

·          Get Violent: Distressing embellishments, especially metal, often calls for hammers, scissors, sanding paper, or other tools of destruction.  This is when things get really fun! J

- Tanya

Distressing Techniques: Part 2

People often have misconceptions about distressing techniques, associating them with heritage-style layouts, or aggressive rock layouts.  In reality, distressing can really add a lot of dimension and warmth to any layout, if done in concert with the photos and embellishments.  Distressing itself should not be the dominant feel of the page: it should serve to compliment what is already there.

·          Ripping: Ripped cardstock and photos provide the distressed feel, as well as provide visual interest.  Ripped paper can soften designs by being further feathered, or provide a rougher feel if curled with a fingernail or wet with water, then rumpled further.

·          Crumple: Crumpling paper can give it some added texture.  Highlight the peaks of the crumples by using a light shade of monochromatic ink.

·          Use Stamps: There are a number of stamp designs that are directly created to help with distressing (“Sanded”, for instance).  As well, silhouette stamps are create to use as part of a distressed layout, as they are not as well-defined.

·          Water it Down: Wetting ripped edges, spritzing cardstock before crumpling it, and dragging an Aqua Painter across stamped words provides some interesting textures and images.

- Tanya

Distressing Techniques: Part 1

People often have misconceptions about distressing techniques, associating them with heritage-style layouts, or aggressive rock layouts.  In reality, distressing can really add a lot of dimension and warmth to any layout, if done in concert with the photos and embellishments.  Distressing itself should not be the dominant feel of the page: it should serve to compliment what is already there.

·          Ink it: Using ink along the edges of photos and cardstock will not only define those edges, but also tone down the stiff and straight feeling of those edges.

·          Chalk it: Chalking the edges will also work on cardstock, but the powdery nature of the chalk (or pastels) does not do so well on photos.

·          Use Dark Tones: One of the easiest ways to distress things is to use brown or black inks and chalk, which is likely what everyone has seen the most, which is likely where the heritage and rock misconceptions stem.  Using these dark tones really makes a statement, but don’t feel limited to the two colours, as you can also…

·          Use Monochromatic Tones: Using red on red, blue on blue, or green on green will give you the distressed look and feel, while still maintaining the colour scheme and theme of your layout.  If you still feel that using the same colour is too heavy, try…

·          White or Vanilla Craft Ink: These colours form the basis of the “French kitchen” feel.  Painted furniture is banged up, and then highlighted using white paint.  Due to the nature of the craft ink (pigment-based), it also gives a smeared look, distressing and softening all in one.

- Tanya