Market Street Stamps: Distress Stains

Friday, May 4, 2012

Gettin' Trendy :: Brenda Weaver

Happy Friday, everyone! Thanks for joining me (Brenda) here on the Market Street Stamps blog.
Today I have a fun little card that uses some of the latest trends right now in the paper crafting world, water color and travel themes.

I began by stamping the Candy Stripe background on white card stock and embossed it in white embossing powder. Or you could use clear or, really, any color of embossing powder will do. Get creative!

I just can't seem to stop using the Candy Stripe background! So help me, it's my favorite one right now and my fingers just seem to reach for it almost on their own! I love it and I'm here to convince you that you need it too!! By the way- don't forget about the sale going on right now! You can get this fab stamp, and any of the other great background stamps, for only $9.50! PLUS everything else is on sale too!!

OK, where were we? Oh yes, after I stamped and embossed those pretty little stripes I added in some color with some distress stains. I love that they add just a wee smidge of color, not too bright and overwhelming, and that you can just splotch it on to your heart's content. I spritzed it with a little water to help the colors to blend together a little more to create more of a watercolor look. You can choose to do that or not, depending on the look you're going for. The stains come in a bottle with a little dauber on the tip, so you can just rub it on. I used blue and green so it looks a little like the blue and green you'd find on a globe. Perfect for using to compliment the globe stamp from the It Takes Love set I used as a focal image.

To finish it off I used a little sentiment banner from the Amy Tangerine Sketchbook collection, which has lots of great watercolor designs in it. So not only does the sentiment fit well with the focal image, but the watercolor effects compliment each other as well. Putting a little thought into the techniques you use and the designs you choose will make the end result so much more cohesive.

Thanks so much for stopping by! And don't forget about the sale! That little Candy Stripe is calling your name :)

Friday, October 28, 2011

Tutorial: Distress Stain Resist (3 ways!)

Who LOVES Distress Stains!? I DO!

Steph here today to show you how to use Distress Stains and Emboss Resist to create three VERY different looks- same technique, just very different ways to use it!

Today I'm going to show you

Distress Stain Resist, Distress Stain Resist with Perfect Pearl Mist,

and Distress Stain Resist Watercoloring.

Enjoy!

Distress Stain Resist

This is the most basic of the techniques I'm going to show you today- super easy, but creates a really pretty color pattern that you can use as a main focal element on your cards or even on scrapbook layouts! I love to sit and play around with different color stains to create beautiful patterns- so much fun!

First, I started by heat embossing the Sweet Lace background with clear embossing powder on white cardstock. Then, I chose a couple different Distress Stains and went to work! The Stains I used on this card are Crushed Olive, Scattered Straw, and Vintage Photo (full list of supplies at the bottom of the post).

Add color in any pattern you wish, mixing and blending the colors around until you have the look you want! I started with Crushed Olive, adding it in small circles where the circles in the background pattern are.

Then I went in and filled the spaces with Scattered Straw. Finally, I added bits of Vintage Photo here and there to complete the look!

When you're finished adding your Distress Stains, you can either leave it to dry or dry it with a heat tool.

And here's the final product. If you wanted a more blended look, you could mist it with some water before heat setting!

AND... here's the card I made:

Perfect for fall- I added the sentiment "Autumn Greetings" from the Autumn Greetings set on the inside!

Distress Stain Resist with Perfect Pearl Mist

This next technique is basically the same technique as the first, only the finished product is a sparkly, pretty blend of colors! For this one, I started by heat embossing the Zebra Print background with clear embossing powder on white cardstock. Then, I chose a couple different Distress Stains and went to work! The Stains I used on this card are Weathered Wood, Broken China, and Faded Jeans (full list of supplies at the bottom of the post).

Add color in any pattern you wish, mixing and blending the colors around until you cover the paper and have the look you want!

Next, spray the entire sheet with Perfect Pearls Mist. Ensure that you spray enough to achieve a nice blend of the colors and get a pretty shimmer!

Wipe the excess Perfect Pearls Mist and Stain from the embossed area with a damp towel.

Leave to dry or dry quickly with a heat tool!

And here's the card I made with this pretty, sparkly background:

Same layout for this card, but a TOTALLY different effect! This is perfect for a fun card to send to a girlfriend! I completed it by stamping the "Celebrate" sentiment from Celebrate Cake on the inside.

Distress Stain Resist Watercoloring

This final technique I'm going to show you is very different from the other two! For this one, I started by heat embossing the Woodgrain background with clear embossing powder on white cardstock. Then, I chose a couple different Distress Stains and watercolor painted them using my Aqua Painter! You can totally use a regular paint brush and water for this technique- I just happen to have an Aqua Painter, which makes this technique really easy. The Stains I used on this card are Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain (full list of supplies at the bottom of the post).

I started by applying some Distress Stain directly to my craft sheet in the three colors I chose to use.

Then, I used my Aqua Painter to pick up some Stain to paint on my embossed cardstock.

I added all three colors in stripes across the embossed paper, creating a fun, watercolored woodgrain look! I love how the stains blend together and and create this soft pattern!

Finally, either leave the paper to dry or dry it quickly with a heat tool.

And here's the card I made:

Same layout, just turned around a bit! LOVE this look and I'll definitely be using this technique again soon! On the inside I stamped the sentiment "Thank You" from the Hippie Chic set!

I hope I have inspired you to try Distress Stains and play around to discover new looks and styles! It is really fun to just get a little inky and play around!

{Distress Stain Resist} Supplies: