Distressed Background and Fall Leaf :: StampsandScrapbooks.com

Yes! I'm at it again! I can't stay "clean" for very long! Today, my Distress Tool was working overtime! I love all styles of Paper Crafting but I always seem to come back to Shabby Chic/Grunge! Funky Backgrounds are a favorite! You may recognize this particular background from my Post Card Post HERE where I showed how it was done. I always try to create a few at a time so I have little treasures to find later when I'm trying to design a card. Then, you don't have to "dirty" your studio twice! One of the reasons I love Distressed/Grunge is because the cards always make me think of my Grandmother. She would have been 101 if she were alive today. I loved her stories about coming to this country with nothing but hopes and dreams and about their struggles. She NEVER complained but I know it wasn't easy. She was so proud to give her children the opportunities she didn't have. She always had the coolest things and I remember watching her unwrap old, tattered cards and photos to show them to me. I know she would have loved these so, in a way, I feel like I'm making them in her memory.

Each layer of this card was distressed first with a Distress Tool - which makes it sooooo easy! I then rubbed Chocolate Chip Ink onto the surface and sponged the edges with it as well. The Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper was perfect for this but I found the color to be a little bright so I sprayed it with a mixture of Crumb Cake Reinker and Alcohol. I keep these sprays in Stampin' Spritz bottles. They come in handy when you just need "a little something" extra to finish off your card. I then rubbed Chocolate Chip Ink over the tops of them and sponged the edges.

I inked up a background stamp – En Francais - in Chocolate Chip Ink and pressed in in random places so there would be a little bit on each element of the card. I did the same thing with a Map Stamp onto the distressed background layer. The edges were torn and sponged with Chocolate Chip Ink as well.

I really wanted a detailed leaf for this card but couldn't find one so I stamped off with Calypso Coral Ink for the background of the stamp – It was a Two-Step Stamp - and Chocolate Chip Ink for the outline of the stamp. I stamped and distressed it in the same way as the other elements.

The Victoria Crochet Trim Ribbon was sponged with Chocolate Chip Ink to "dirty it up" a little. The edges were cut using a Craft Scissor that is only used for ribbon so it says nice and sharp. I adhered it to the front of the card with Glue Dots. The leaf was adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals. For the Sentiment, I chose "Enjoy" from the Fabulous Phrases Stamp Set. (Images below) I love that word! It reminds me to Enjoy the Moment and, of course, I always hope you enjoy my cards! I punched it out using a 3/4" Circle Punch. I used a yellowed pebble over the top of it and popped it up with two Stampin' Dimensionals. The Supply List is below. Feel free to shop in my ONLINE STORE! Enjoy! 😉

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