Friday, March 4, 2011

Wrinkle Free and Distressed!



Welcome to Part 2 of the Get Distressed series the E-Team is presenting!  Today, the Team is showcasing the Wrinkle Free Distress Technique (tutorial courtesy of our own team member Sherry!)

Of course, Daisy has some great wrinkle free goodies to share with two lucky people!!  All you have to do is leave a comment on each team member's blog for the random chance to win some new goodies that are just hitting the store!    You will have the weekend to leave a comment and the winners will be chosen Sunday night!


and

In all honesty, this has to be just about my FAVORITE technique!  It is perfect for making custom background papers, adding a grunge look to a project or just an excuse to mix and match!!


For the LIFE OF ME, I could NOT get the "blues" to photograph with the actual "sea green" tone that the paper has in real life versus this turquoise color that is invading my photo!  You will just have to take my word on the fact that the "blues" are more green and that the ribbon matches much better in person!!

Quick Tip:  this technique does work best with Distress Inks.  Distress inks maintain their true colors when mixed with water, versus other water based inks, which become diluted. 

Of course, I have my own little twist to this technique.  Instead of swiping my ink across my craft mat in a nice row, I swipe in splotches. I start with my lightest color and then randomly smoosh the ink on my craft mat.

Yes, these are different colors than what I ended up using. This would be step one of a failed attempt at an experiment.  But it illustrates my method just the same!

Then I spritz the inks with Glimmer Mist.  You could easily use Perfect Pearl mists too.  I just happen to have more GM then PP!!


Then I smoosh my paper ( I used a 5 x 5 vanilla tag for my project today) in the beaded up ink.  I usually dry my paper and repeat the steps until I get the look I like. Using a glimmer mist or the like, gives a soft  shimmer to your project adding that little extra punch!



Then comes the fun part!! You can use the paper as it is, or make a custom design paper to match your project (and at 1/2 the cost of regular design paper!!)

I first stamped the Aged Music Sheet from Cornish Heritage farms (no longer available...sorry!) with Distress Tea Dye.  Then I overstamped the Fabulous Flourishes Distress Sage Shadow.  The edges were sponged with Vintage Photo. 

The cage is from the Alterations Die Caged Bird.  It was die cut from TenSecond Studios Dark Chocolate metal, that I "distressed" by wrinkling the metal, then lightly sanding the bumps before smoothing it out with the roller tool in the finishing set.  I cut two frames and attached them only at the top and bottom, rounding out the front frame to give it a more realistic dimension.


The bird (from the same die) and the sentiment frame were cut from Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante paper line.  I cut the bird out twice.  By chance, the paper pattern lent itself to being the birds legs perfectly!  I cut out the branch from the bird and layered it over the second die cut.  The Spellbinders Label Eleven frame is raised over the sentiment (Flights of Fancy) with dimensional tape. 

The ribbon was from idea-ology findings  Trimmings that I sponged Sage Shadow, a bit of Broken China and Vintage Photo onto.  I FINALLY got it to fray and crinkle by pulling threads (why is it, that ribbon always frays when you don't want it too, but won't do it when you need it too?!!)

The tassel was made with some fine chain that I had in my stash.  It started out silver, but I used some Alcohol Ink in Espresso to darken.  The chain and the beads (again, from my stash) were attached to the cage with  idea-ology jump rings.  The whole sha-bang was adhered to a piece of presentation foam board  with Scor Tape to give it some stability.

I hope you found the E-Team's Distress ideas inspiring and Wrinkle Free! 



58 comments:

Sandy said...

Thanks so much for the tutorial. I love the finished project and am glad that it does 'all match'. Lighting can really be a problem at times!! I really do have to get me some distress inks!! Where do you get the 'craft mat'?

bethann d said...

really cool project, perfect for a man since it isn't too girly and making guy stuff is hard for me.. love the tutorail, it is my fav tech too, at least for today.

Broni said...

I love how you made your soft, beautiful background and then overstamped in soft colors as well. And that bird cage ROCKS!! What a great project!!

Sarah said...

I love your method of making the background. Love the softer colors and the bird cage is beautiful.

Candy Meyers said...

Great idea. Thanks for doing such a good job on the tutorial. I'm going to try it today, for sure.
Candy Meyers

betjunroe said...

Starla, this is too cool! Love your tip on how to "lay" down the distress colors on the mat.

Micki said...

oooohhhh I was so focused on experiementing with all the different types of papers, that I didn't even think about laying the colors down randomly. (slapping the forehead). AWESOME....girl, love your project. So gotta get into metals more and love that cage. Sigh if only I didn't have to work....

Gorgeous and inspiring, hugs

Gail Dixon said...

Always admire your projects. You are just bubbling with creativity. I wish I had the patience for it. I think I'll stick to photography.

Melody (lacyquilter) said...

This is gorgeous, Starla. Don't you just hate when the photo gremlins play with your colors?

Noreen said...

I like how the bird cage turned out, and all your elements work great together!

Cassie_lu said...

love the art you created here and that cage looks stunning

Unknown said...

Wow!! This is tag is wonderful. I love the bird and birdcage, great touch.

Susan said...

This is fabulous. I love how you used two metal diecuts for the cage!

Gladys R. said...

Love your project. Never thought
to use shimmer mist instead of
water. Like that idea...thanks.

Kathy Eddy said...

This turned out gorgeous. I love that birdcage more and more everything time I see it used.

Bette said...

Love your project - especially the background. And the way you worked the bird cage is neat! Thanks for the tutorial!

Stef H said...

you should have a store. EVERYTHING you do is gorgeous!!!! i wish i lived closer... i'd be stealing your ideas for sure - lol.

hugs :)

Sue D said...

Very cool--I like the metal birdcage.

Annette J. said...

Great project, love your "smooshing" technique with the distressing ink pads.

Bast said...

I love it! The bird and the cage are one of my fav dies to play with. Your background is just beautiful! Thanx for the inspiration

bast830@comcast.net

Playing with Paper said...

Fabulous! I love the birdcage that is so cool!!

nonnie said...

beautiful project...thanks for sharing!

Billie A said...

Nice project love the bird cage and all the details. Great tag great colors

Erika M. said...

Love your creation and your tutorial as well!

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Great tutorial, you make it look so easy. Helps with my confidence!
Your finished project has beautiful color and love all the detail. Thanks for the fun

Karla Anderson said...

lovely, Really like the background, it is very pretty. Thanks for sharing.

Pam Perry said...

Love the idea of misting with a pearly mist instead of water! Gotta try this one! The bird cage is pure genius!

Dee in N.H. said...

That's gorgeous! I love the look you got with the cage and also that great background! Just love it!

Anonymous said...

Very pretty and love the different way you put your distress ink to paper. Will try it some time. Clever idea with the bird cage and bird. So different and beautiful Edna

Renee said...

Beautiful project.

Linda Ledbetter said...

This is sensational, Starla! I love your approach to wrinkle-free distress, and the metal birdcage looks awesome! The whole she-bang is just fabulous, right down to the last embellishment!

Karen said...

Really gorgeous. Cute birdcage and little frame around the sentiment.

jill said...

What a fun project....I love the bird cage!!!

creativearts said...

Love your project. Love the background and the birdcage is so neat!

slbt17 said...

very cool!
Sandra ltb

ArtisticInkspirations said...

Love the light colors on the background. I just got a die like this.. now will have to try something with my inks!

Vic said...

Lovely!

iamvictorias at gmail dot com

Bonnie Lynn said...

Cool!!! What a fantastic project!

Glenda said...

Some more Star Magic! Love the way you did the background. I'll have to remember that one! And as always, your metal work is awesome!

LoveSnailMail said...

Fabulous metalwork and terrific overall design. You are giving me inspiration to try something similar. Many thanks!

nise said...

Your background is beautiful! That birdcage is really neat and I like how you shared what you did with the different aspects of your project to get it looking as awesome as it does. Thank you!

Toni K said...

Gorgeous! Thanks for the tutorial!

SusanK said...

Is this stupendous work of art 4 sale? I am in love!!!!! And thanks for sharing your oops moments with us...nice to know how you overcame them.

Suzanne Bouchard said...

I like the idea of making patches of ink in the wrinkle-free tachnique. And what a great idea to make the bird cage in metal! very nice project. Thank you!

paperpapier said...

the bird cage look awesome, fab distress technique too with beautiful result.

rush said...

i love the background and the technique used to achieve it. i will certainly have to try this out!

Unknown said...

Wow...very nice....great job on the bird cage!!
Thanks for sharing!

snazzyoriginal said...

My favourite Alterations die and my absolute favourite project on the blog hop. I loved that you created your own stamped background.

savyjade said...

I love your tag. What a great tutorial. Thank you all for sharing this technique.

Jolanda said...

Thanks for your tutorial - everything about it is wonderful!

newfiecrafter(Marilyn) said...

Like how you did the BG it turned out beautiful ,That bird cage is my favorite and it's cool how you cut it out of metal and layered it . Love everything about this tag
Marilyn

Melissa Minor said...

Love this technique with PP or GM - so pretty!

embellishstudios said...

Great instructions and wonderful project!! The ten seconds studio metal cage is awesome!!

Auntie Em said...

Your project is beautiful! Great tutorial on making the background. I really like the splotchy ink patch idea.
The little bird and the cage are awesome. I love birds on projects.
Thanks for sharing! :)

Sylvia said...

Just beautiful, Starla! I love how you were not intimadated by the inks. I love making background papers on all levels not just with inks! they are not mass produced so there is only one! Project is wonderful. Have a great week!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Starla! I love your soft background, and that birdcage is my favorite. I love what you do with metal. Hugs Linda Duke

HeARTworks said...

fantastic card! I love the birdcage and all the wonderful things hanging from it! Absolutely wonderful!

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Love your card! Thanks for tutorial!!