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Distressed Sanding

By April Stakerr
Off Road Inkster
Intermediate Scramping Team Designer 

There are many ways to distress your papers, and some are easier than others.  Sanding is probably one of the easier methods.  It takes a little practice to get it just right.  You have to experiment with the various grains and applying pressure while sanding.  Overall, it is fairly easy to master and adds more interest and detail to an otherwise pretty basic layout. 

I really like the way the sanding compliments the snowy theme on this page.  It softened the colors a little and imparts a snowy feel to it.   

You can sand anything, but you will get different results based on the paper types.  Solid core papers tend to look more worn out and aged as you won’t have the white showing through, but the edges will be roughed up.  If your papers have a white core, as mine do, then you get the softened effect of the white coming through the color or pattern.  This is my preference. 

 So, go to your garage, find that secret stash of sandpaper and let’s get to work! 

Supplies:

• Eclectic Background Stamp (The Angel Company)

•  Winter Snowman Stamp Set (Retired, The Angel Company)

•   Adobe Chalk Ink Pad (The Angel Company)

•  Pink Cardstock 12” x 12” (Provo Craft)

• White Cardstock 8½” x 11” (Provo Craft)

• Softy Cardstock (SEI)

•  Sandpaper, 180 grit (Dollar Store variety)

• Fun Fur Fibers (Lionbrand)

• Page Pebbles (Making Memories)

•  Snowflake Brads (Karen Foster)

• Paper Trimmer (Fiskars)

•  Alako Bold Font (Downloaded from Internet) 

Instructions:

1.    Stamp Eclectic Background over the entire piece of Pink Cardstock. 

2.    Cut your papers to the following dimensions: 

a.    Softy:

 4½” x 6¾” Top Left Photo Mat

5½” x 4¾” Journal Block

6¼” x 4¼” Bottom Left Photo Mat 

b.    White:

4¾” x 7” Top Left Photo Mat

6¼” x 4¼” Bottom Right Photo Mat 

3.    Sand the Softy pieces along the edges being careful until you get the hang of it.  You can rip the edge of the paper if you go too fast or if your sandpaper is really coarse.  Lightly sand the entire piece of the Journal Mat and the Bottom Left Photo Mat.   Sanding in a circular motion will mimic swirling snow! 

4.    Stamp the mittens along the side of the Bottom Left Photo Mat.  Apply Page Pebbles to the snowflakes. 

5.    Type up your journaling on the computer and print it out. 

6.    Adhere mats and photos.  Wrap fibers around the bottom of the Top Left Photo Mat and secure in the back.   Wrap the fibers around your Journal mat, secure in the back. 

7.    Assemble all mats and Journal block.  Push the Snowflake brads through and secure. 

So you see how easy it is?  Give it a try on your pages, cards and anything else you paper craft!  It is a great way to tie an album together.  It also helps soften colors that might otherwise be too bold.  I found that I prefer the higher numbers of grit, but do experiment with different ones.  The coarse grits can make a bolder contrast that may appeal to you.  At the end of your project you can look exhausted and tell your family you need to soak in the tub because you were sanding all day!

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