Sometimes Water does go well with Paper....

Hi Everyone!

Here is a cool ( and wet!) technique that I shared over on the Scrap-a-Doodle Doo Blog this week ~ EDGE DISTRESSING with WATER.

** If you are not a "follower" of "THE DOO" Blog - be sure to become while while you are there.  The other DT Members and I take turns posting projects, tips and scrappy info every week! **

On to the technique......

 

This is a fun way to "cut out" sections, or just to "cut" edges of your paper, giving a textured/tattered look that you can keep white, or add ink to

 ( either chalk, ink pad, or my newest favorite "must have" Ranger Distress Stains!)

This look works great on grungy projects, as well as for a shabby chic look, and it is even a great way to add or soften lines on a layout that is full of straight edges, and will add a little texture/interest.

Here is what you will need :

•A piece of scrapbook paper

•A few Q-tips

•Water

•Some kind of ink - (chalk, stain, pad - if desired)

First - decide where you want to "tear" you paper. My best suggestion here would be to follow the pattern or design of the paper. You can even draw a line with a pencil to help you "stay on track."

 

After you determine the "Where?" - next is the "How?"



Wet a Q-Tip with water and begin to follow the "line" while pressing and rubbing - no need to be too gentle here - you want that water to soak in and saturate the paper. Start out small - only about a 3" - 4" section at a time - keep wetting and rubbing.

You will begin to see the paper turn white - as the color/design is rubbed away. (You do not need to rub right through the paper.) When you see white - try to poke your finger through and tear gently along the line you've created. If it does not tear easily - add more water and continue rubbing. As soon as you have that section torn, move on to the next 3"- 4" and continue until tearing has been complete.



Here you can see how I am following along the design to make the tear, and where the black paper is turning white and almost ready to tear.

 

I wanted to make a "frame" for this layout, so I created my own line above the design. Here you can see how the top layer has been rubbed away, just before I am ready to tear it.



For added interest, after the paper has been torn, you can fold back the wet edge to give it a "framed" look too.



Here you can see the frame that was created with the textured, water distress opening.  The edges were inked with Ranger Distress Stain and really make it "POP" I think - don't you?

Here is the finished Layout.


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You can also just "open" up the paper and not fold it back too. Here is an example of that -

First I rubbed the Q-Tip around the outline of the Leopard on the COOL BoBunny Zoology Paper,

 Then I continued on, to "cut" out the center of the paper, to make a frame.

(TIP - you can then use that center piece to make mats or embellishments
ie: the 2 flowers in the layout below! )

As you can see, I inked the edges of the inside and outside of my Leopard Frame to make it POP off the page -( LOVE that Ranger Distress Stain !!) - this happens to be Spiced Marmalade. Oh - and I painted the Leopard with Ranger Distress Stain and sprayed him with Studio Calico's Mister Huey's GOLD Color Mist -one of my new FAVORITE FINDS! I think it makes him look really WILD - don't you!! ROAR!!

For more samples of Water Distressing - Click here to see all of them listed on my BLOG

Thanks for stopping by -
Now GO and GET SCRAPPY ~ CREATE SOMETHING!!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri