Distressing Techinques Tutorial by Denise

Hello!

Today I have a little something other than a card to share with you. As part of my DT work with the Pixie Cottage, I have a quick tutorial to share about distressing techniques and the different looks you can achieve by doing each one. Now I know some of you are afraid to rip beautiful papers, but trust me, it's fun and easy and creates a great accent or bit of texture on your creation. So don't be scared, let's have some fun tearing it up!

Before distressing, I stamped my image and colored with Copics on each of these samples and I've used the new stamp Hannah on Stepping Stones by Sandra Hammer. I've stamped her in Memento Ink on each of my samples and colored her the same so that you can see just how the distressing effects the image. 

Tearing

The first distressing technique I'll show you is plain old edge tearing with your fingers. No tools necessary for this one.

For this look, I hold my two pieces of paper together and starting at the top, holding the paper between by thumb and index finger in my left hand while tearing with my thumb and index finger with my right hand, slowly tear down the paper towards yourself. Then once you have your papers torn, slide them apart and glue them together with the edges somewhat matching up. Then trim the backing card stock around the image if necessary.

*Tip to remember: always go slowly, never just rip quick or you won't be able to control where the tearing will go.

Sponging

Next, I have a sample using just some ink and a sponge.

This technique is by far the easiest, but if you aren't careful with your ink it can be the messiest too! I've used Distressed Ink in Antique Linen, but you can use any ink pad and sponge you have in your stash. I stamped my sponge on the ink pad and then carefully sponged the edges of my image paper all the way around the image on all sides of the paper. I did a bit more sponging at each corner. Then I mounted my image piece to a card stock layer.

Scissors

I think this next technique is my favorite to do and use. It creates a great texture with the papers and spices up the project a bit.

For this look, I open the scissors all the way and while carefully using the inner edge of the scissor blade, I scuff up the edges. You can do this by gently and slowly dragging the scissor edge down the paper. I did this technique on both the image layer and card stock layer. If you have a paper edge distressing tool, you can create just about the same look as with the scissors. But if you don't have one, why buy one when scissors do the trick just fine.

*Tip: go slowly and be careful not to cut your paper or your fingers.

Sewing with some Tearing and Sponging

This last distressing technique uses a sewing machine along with a couple of the other techniques. If you don't have a sewing machine, I think you could achieve a similar look with some paper piercing and faux stitching.

First, I glue my image and card stock layers together and then sew them together with the sewing machine. I just use a simple stitch and do the edges. Then I use my thumb nail and gently go under the edging and fold it up to the stitching line. I gently and randomly tear the edge here and there and then smoosh it down with my thumb. The final touch is to add a small amount of ink sponged on the edges of the card stock layer.

Now if you don't have a sewing machine. You could do some paper piercing stitch holes along the edges and then use a white gel pen to add in the stitch lines. And using a ruler, lined up on the faux stitching edge so you don't go too far over, you can run your nail under the edging using the ruler as a guide. And finish with tearing and some sponging.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial for different ways to distress your projects. And I hope you'll give it a try too. Don't be afraid to tear it up sometimes!

Have a great day!

Happy Stamping and Distressing,