E-Team Special Mission: Wrinkle-Free Distress!

The eclectic Paperie E-Team is at it again, fighting crime and making art (okay, we don't really fight crime...), and today we're back for another installment of our Distress Techniques Blog Hop series. And, guess what? We're doing everyone's favorite: Wrinkle-Free Distress! Easy, fun, and a guaranteed path to papercrafting awesomeness!

I love this technique and use it all the time, and have added a couple of twists for this tutorial. 

As you may know, Tim Holtz, that Jedi Master of All Things Distress, produced a DVD a few years ago called An Altered Journey (if you don't have it, do get it. You'll thank me. No, actually, you'll thank Tim!). This DVD includes instructions on how to make Faux Batik silk scarves using stamps, embossing powder and Colorwash Spray. I adapted this technique into a mash-up with the classic Wrinkle-Free Distress instructions, and came up something I like to call Wrinkle-Free Faux Batik a la Holtz. 

Here's what you'll need: A nonstick craft sheet, plain white card stock, Distress Embossing Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, a heat tool, a sheet of plain newsprint, an iron, Distress Inks, Perfect Pearls Mist and bold foam stamps. If you wish, you can also add more detailed stamping to finish the piece. (I used Claudine Hellmuth Studio Creative Layers stamps from the "Nature" set.)

Begin by applying Distress Embossing Ink to the white cardstock with your foam stamps.

Coat the ink with clear embossing powder. Shake off the excess and melt the embossing powder with your heat tool.

Here's what you'll have so far. A whole lot of white. We need some color here!

Let's get messy and distressy! Smear your favorite colors of Distress Ink right onto your nonstick craft sheet.

(I know what you're thinking: "For the love of Gandolf, Linda, get yourself a new nonstick craft mat. That thing looks positively mangy!" And, you're right. But, it still works fine! Honest!)

Spritz Perfect Pearls Mist right on top of the ink smears until the ink forms little droplets.

Press your embossed cardstock face down into the colorful, sparkly wetness. Pick it up and press it back down in a different area until the cardstock is covered with ink.

Fold your newsprint in half and place the damp, inked cardstock inside.

Use a hot iron to melt the embossing powder off the cardstock and into the absorbent newsprint. You can tell when it's done:

Ooh, it's like a reverse shadow... or something!

You can quit there and have a perfectly lovely faux batiked card. Or, you can festoon the heck out of it with colorful inks and more stamp images. I love the Claudine Hellmuth Studio Creative Layers Stamps for this technique because the line includes detailed clear stamps that coordinate with the chunky foam stamps, so you can achieve some really fun, offset-print effects:

I added some funky flowers from the same stamp set...

My E-Teammates absolutely rocked the Wrinkle-Free Distress; please be sure to hop around check out their wondrous creations. You'll be amazed at the variety you'll see. Oh, and yes indeed: THERE WILL BE PRIZES! Daisy has two super-secret, super-SPECIAL treats to sent to two lucky hoppers! For a chance to win, just visit and leave a comment at each designer's blog. You have the entire weekend, so enjoy the journey (where have I heard that before?). Daisy will choose her winners on Monday and announce their names on her blog. 

The E-Team is: 

Daisy, our fearless leader

Broni

Latrice

Linda D

Linda L3-- That's me!

Micki

Sherry

Starla

I hope you try the Wrinkle-Free Faux Batik a la Holtz technique, and if you do, please send me a photo! In the meantime, have a most wonderful, art-y, relaxing weekend, and thanks for hopping with the E-Team!

Hugs,
Linda