| Distressing is a popular trend now in scrapbooking. | | | | a white edge shown through. Experiment and find |
| Whether you like shabby chic or want to go for a | | | | what you like best. If you find your cardstock difficult to |
| more aged/weathered/heritage style, distressing your | | | | tear, try wetting lightly with a paint brush or Qtip first. |
| papers will give you the look you desire. Here are five | | | | You can further age the torn edges with ink or chalk. |
| fun ways to add distressing to your scrapbook pages. | | | | Roll the edges for a fun look as well. |
| 1. Distress by wadding/crumpling your paper. Simply | | | | Scrape or use a wire brush to achieve a distressed |
| wad up your paper into a ball. You may want to | | | | look. |
| experiment with how much or tightly you wad your | | | | 4. Scrape the edges of your cardstock carefully until |
| paper. Now unfold your paper and flatten with your | | | | you reach the desired look. Check for specialty |
| hands. (You may need to wad again if you haven't | | | | scrapers made just for paper. A wire brush can be |
| achieved the results you were hoping for). Besides | | | | gently brushed over your paper to weather it. Try |
| using your hands to flatten out your paper, you may | | | | random brush strokes, or lines and even plaids. Have |
| choose to use a brayer or even a warm iron. | | | | fun experimenting. |
| 2. Achieve a weathered look by sanding with a fine | | | | 5. Now that you have wadded, crumpled and sanded, |
| sandpaper, emery board or sanding block (I found | | | | add some color back to your paper. You can use |
| some sanding blocks for nails at the dollar store). | | | | chalks, ink, metallic rub-ons or stains. Using your |
| Gently sand your cardstock/paper where you want it | | | | fingertips, Qtips, sponges, tissue or whatever else you |
| distressed. Continue to sand and alter the surface until | | | | want apply using a circular motion until the desired |
| you reach your desired look. You can sand the edges | | | | result is reached. You can also apply ink directly to |
| or gently sand the entire surface for a more | | | | your paper. My favorite technique is to ink the edges |
| weathered look. Another method is to fold your paper | | | | by directly brushing ink pad to edge of paper. Stains |
| and sand on the fold. When you reopen the paper it | | | | made especially for scrapbooking can easily be found |
| leaves a prominent line as in an old document. Do you | | | | now including walnut ink, stains, washes, etc. You can |
| have some older papers or stickers lying around with | | | | also use items found around the house such as |
| a nice slick and shiny surface? Take these outdated | | | | coffee, tea and Kool-Aid. |
| products, sand them to remove the shine and give | | | | Are you ready to try a distressed look in your next |
| them a whole new look. | | | | scrapbook layout? Crumple, wad, sand, tear, roll, |
| 3. Easily tear or roll your paper for a vintage look. | | | | scrape, ink, chalk and stain to your hearts content. |
| Tearing away from you or towards you provide | | | | Which technique will you try first? Have fun distressing |
| different results. Cardstock with a white core will have | | | | your next layout! |