How to Distress Paper - A Tutorial by Splotchy Paprika Fiedler

Before Splotchy's Tutorial, I wanted to share a sneak peek of my faux Copic project for tomorrow"s class. If you dont want Copics or can't afford them, you wont want to miss this fun blended look with products I bet you already have - you dont even have to add water! U curious yet? Ooh - and we're gonna be using fuzzy ribbon. Which, by the way, is called felt ribbon IRL. (In Real Life)

Now Splotchy wants to share his tutorial for distressing paper. Since he's new to blogging and doesn't have thumbs, he'd like to ask your pardon for being a little pithy.

Okay, first, it's really important to keep your scraps. Big animals don't always appreciate how much fun you can have with a scrap. Kitties don't even call them scraps - they call them fun sticks. So pick out a scrap you like and choose a project from the brand new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog - there's great stuff in there!

I'm particularly fond of the bat DSP because it reminds me of my sister, Madagascar.

But I chose Very Vanilla for distressing.

Next, you need to find someone to hold your scrap for you. THERE - hold it right there - don't move.

Next, you want to get just the edge of the paper wet - this makes it easier to break the fibers down.

Now you will really want to get to poking little teeny holes in it with your teeth.

You can do this part with or without paws, depending on the alertness of your distressing partner.

Mine saw something shiny every now and then and I had to remind her to hold it right. Grab her hands if you need to - the two leggers are a little slow.

Geez. PEOPLE.

Sometimes you drop something and have to stop for a second.






Try to bend the paper into a curve to give it some visual interest.





You will want to stop and look at it from a few angles and above to see how it's progressing.

Spend some time on the very corners.

It's these little details that really make a project come alive.


Continue distressing until you achieve the look you were going for or feel the need to jump straight up in the air and randomly run away.




Stop for a photo op every now and then.

But when the stamparazzi get all crazy - enough is enough - no more photos!!!

This is Splotchy P. Fiedler wishing you all a good night!!