DEPTHS OF DISTRESS

Simon Says Show some DEPTHS OF DISTRESS!  Who can think of this challenge theme without thinking of that "Duke of Distress"...Tim Holtz?  After all, he is the man who brought us Distress Inks, Distress Stains, Distress Markers ... if it's "Distress"...it's synonymous with Tim Holtz  So, my creation for this challenge is all about Tim, all about distress and all about fun!  I hope you like it!

If you've not yet seen the incredible examples of Distress, stop by Simon Says Stamp and Show!  My Design Teammates have rocked this challenge with some really creative, unique ideas!

I just recently got my Matchbook Set Movers and Shapers and I've been dying to try it.  So, I used some Tim Holtz techniques from his A Compendium of Curiosities ~ Volume II in the creation of this piece.

  

This is the larger of the two matchbooks in the set.  I cannot tell you how fun this was to make!

I started out with a plain piece of manila card stock and cut my matchbooks using my Vagabond.  That die cut machine is just THE BEST!  It make die cutting so effortless.

Next I cut two pieces from a Metal Foil Sheet to cover my manila matchbook.  Then I used Tim's new Subway and Stencil Texture Fade to emboss the foil.  That new texture fade is soooo cool!  I love it!  

Since this challenge is "THE DEPTHS OF DISTRESS"; I did not want the metal to be shiny.  I wanted it grungy and distressed.  So, I used black paint from a Pitch Black Paint Dabber and rubbed it all over the embossed metal foil.  Then I used a paper towel to remove most of the black paint, leaving behind this look....

I instantly achieved that grunge, distressed "Tim" look I wanted.  But...not done yet!  I wanted an even more distressed look; like weathered, pitted, patina metal.

So, I dabbed some Gold Paint Dabber onto a Non Stick Craft Sheet (gotta have one of those!) and lightly rubbed the gold randomly over the embossed image.  Still not done....

I repeated the process; adding highlights from a Juniper Paint Dabber to give it that patina look.  NOW...I had achieved that DEPTH OF DISTRESS that I was looking for for the exterior of my matchbook!

So, this is what my matchbook looked like before I did anything to the interior of the matchbook and before I assembled the exterior onto the manila card stock.

I am quite sure that it is not by accident that the larger matchbook cover is the perfect size for a pad of Post It Notes!  THAT TIM!!!  He's a genius!  You could make some really cool note pads either for yourself or as gifts using this Matchbook Set Die Cut! 

I wanted to finish out my interior with more distressing...so I chose not attach a note pad to this cover.  But, I can assure you....I WILL be making some really cool and unique note pads!!  If you wanted to simply add a Post It Note pad, you could do so right after inking and adding a design to the interior.

I used the Faded Layers Technique from Tim Holtz' Compendium of Curiosities Book ~ Volume II to create the background for my interior.  It's a neat technique and I really like the results.  For this background, I used two of Tim Holtz' Mini Mask Sets: the Flourish and Crown and also the Mini Mask Compass.  The Distress Ink colors I used are:  Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy and Broken China. 

After applying the inks over the mask and before removing the masks, I used the large french script stamp from Tim Holtz' Papillon stamp set and randomly stamped parts of it onto the background using Jet Black Archival lnk.  Then I stamped the small version of those wonderful butterflies of Tim's from his Attic Treasures stamp set.  The numbers across the bottom of the interior of the strike plate are from Tim's Stuff To Say stamp set. 

The five cent symbol in the center of the compass at the top of the matchbook interior is from Tim's Remnants stamp set.  After I finished all of my stamping and heat setting it, I misted the interior with water to let the inks blend and lesser define the masked edges.  Then I heat set it.

I loved the result but it looked just a bit plain.  So, to further add a distressed look, I tore a piece of corrugated paper into a long strip and distressed it with a Juniper Paint Dabber and rubbed the edges with a black cats eye ink pad.  

  

Then I found a really cool little piece of rusted metal mesh and added a piece of that on top of the corrugated strip.  SINCE I HAD NOT YET ATTACHED THE METAL EXTERIOR TO THE MANILA DIE CUT, I used my Tiny Attacher to add the distressed corrugated strip to my matchbook interior.

Next, I stamped one of Tim's sentiments from his Warehouse District stamp set onto a piece of scrap manila cardstock.  I bent it all up, distressed the edges with Brushed Corduroy and a touch of Black Soot Distress Ink at the edges and popped on top of the strip.  I then added two of Tim's Mini Gears on the top and bottom of the wire mesh piece.  I love the dimension and the distressed feeling it added to the interior.

  

So...here is the finished interior.  And now to assemble the exterior....

I first applied the adhesive backed Metal Foil strips to the top crease and the bottom strike plate.  I cut them a little larger on purpose...so that the edges would be underneath the back and front pieces of the matchbook and the cut edges would not be butting up against each other.  **Since the strike plate will be folded up, I needed to be sure that my metal strip was facing the correct direction!  Next, I added the front and back of the exterior matchbook; lining up the straight edges of the metal to the straight edges of the folded areas and overlapping the metal strips I'd already put in place.  Then trimmed away any excess.  I rubbed my fingers over all of the edges to make sure that they grabbed the manila cardstock base.

Here is the exterior of my matchbook.  I love the DEPTH OF DISTRESS!

When it is all folded properly, this is the matchbook cover.  I used one of Tim's Ornate Plates and Numerals to embellish the cover.  The Ornate Plate is covered a Juniper Paint Dabber.  The Numeral is painted with a basecoat of Paper Artsy's Sky Fresco Paint followed by a layer of their amazing effective Crackle Glaze and then followed by a coat of Haystack Fresco Paint.  Within minutes, I got this wonderfully distress and crackled "2".  I lightly inked the edges with a black cats eye ink pad and then glued it onto the Ornate Plate using Glossy Accents.  I then glued the Ornate Plate onto the cover using Glossy Accents.  All done!

I hope that I have inspired you to try the Depth of Distress challenge! Just post your entry to our blog and YOU could be the lucky winner of our random drawing for a 

... Yep ... that's right ... FIFTY DOLLAR CREDIT VOUCHER at Simon Says Stamp!


You could also be chosen as one of our TOP THREE entries!  So, good luck and don't BE DISTRESSED ... just GET to distressing!