Make It Crafty Technique Challenge - Distress It

Over at Make It Crafty this week our technique challenge is to Distress It.  That can be anything from inking the edges of your paper, distressing with scissors or a distress tool OR getting really creative and create a whole distressed look background like Mag has explained in her tutorial.  Now most of my friends know I don't like to distress the edges of my work or heaven forbid, tear the paper!!  So this was a toughy for me.  But following Mag's wonderful tutorial on making background paper with Distress Ink reinkers, baby wipes and watercolor paper, I gave it a try, and wow.....

I love this!  I started with 140 lb. Arches cold pressed watercolor paper.  Following Mag's directions, I used Distress reinkers - Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint.  After drying the paper thoroughly, I printed Make It Crafty Aussie Outback Shack digi onto the background.  I heat set the ink then colored the image with a paint brush and Distress Vintage Photo and Peeled Paint.  I again heat set it and then using Vintage Photo Distress Ink, I darkened the edges of the scene.  The last step was to add the branches at the top and the bottom, both from Stampscapes.  Finished size is 5.5" square.

This was a fun technique to play with and I am glad I tried it.  If you need help with any of the distressing techniques, stop by the Learning Center.  And won't you play along with us for a chance to win prizes from Make It Crafty?  Be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Design Team has come up with.