Sep
3
Hope you enjoyed yesterday's spotlight with hot new designer Britta Swiderski's card idea using Distress Inks!
Inks! It's all part of our new Masterclass guide to Using Distress Inks, in the new issue of Papercraft inspirations, issue 91 October. Today we're lucky enough to have a bonus project and step-by-step tutorial from Britta – it's to make a scrapbook page, and includes different Distress Ink techniques. 
Britta explains, "Take all your Distress Ink techniques that you've seen in my Masterclass guide this month, and try them on a scrapbook layout. Because it's so easy to blend your own colours and create textured effects, I love incorporating inking on to my pages, and complementing my photos!
For my 'letterpress love' page, I used just four colours of Distress Ink, a couple of stamps and some water!"
"For cardmakers just venturing into the world of scrapbooking, I'll share a couple of of my top tips with you and show you how I made them work in my page. Begin by stamping a favourite stamp on to paper, cutting out your images and then moving around them with your photos until you feel comfortable with the arrangement. A favourite flower stamp is a great place to get started as it will work with so many themes of scrapbook pages. Then you can carry on stamping and make your own title with alphabet stamps. This way, instead of using stickers or rub-ons you save money and can make the title a perfect colour to match the rest of the layout," Britta adds. "I've just finished my course as a design student and one thing I loved was working with type, and printing in different fonts," says Britta. "My layout is a celebration of those memories.
"The best thing about a simple scrapbook page like this is that it's a really versatile idea, so you can swap in any kind of photos that you have, create your own title and journaling about what's special about your photos and memories, and even choose your own favourite Distress Ink colours and stamps to personalise it even more!"
First, here’s my shopping list. - White card base (I use Bazzill Basics 12x12in). Available from Stampbox. - Watercolour paper for stamping on - White card for layering - Ranger Distress Ink ink pads: 'Broken China', 'Tumbled Glass', Faded Jeans' & 'Crushed Olive'. Find the full range of Distress Inks at Creative Expressions. Call 01536 481 778 for local stockist details. - Ranger Craft Sheet Also available at Creative Expressions, as above. - Hero Arts flower stamp: Cling stamp 'Large Solid Flower' (CG248), from Sir Stampalot. Call 01733 324 007. - Alphabet stamps. I used Studio Calico 'Natalee' clear set, but any large alphabet stamps will work. - Acrylic block - Heart punch - Water spray bottle. Available from high street chemists.
Step 1. Begin by blending the edges of your layout card base, with Tumbled Glass and Broken China Distress Ink ink pads, as shown in the magazine Masterclass.
Step 2. To create a watercolour-style title, choose three different colours of Distress Ink. I used Broken China, Faded Jeans and Crushed Olive. Apply each ink in turn to your stamp and before stamping it, spritz lightly a couple of times with water. Now stamp your letter with blended inks down on to the watercolour paper, and repeat for each letter in your title.
DESIGNER TIP! Don't worry if some of the letters don't stamp crisply - you can simply re-stamp! I stamped each letter separately so I could then cut out each one and fix them in place on my scrapbook page. It means you can get a good impression for each letter, check your spelling as you go, and of course get the spacing perfect too!
Step 3. Repeat the inking and spraying technique with the flower stamp to create a couple of flower accents. I love how the inks blend across the solid petals of this design, just like the different tones in a wildflower!
Step 4. Cut out your scrapbook page elements – the title letters and flowers, and then layer up your photos on to more white card. I die-cut one of my pictures into a circle for extra interest. Ink the edges of each layered photo with Faded Jeans Distress Ink to make them really stand out. 
Step 5. Now let's make a few coordinating heart embellishments. Dab your Craft Sheet with Broken China, Faded Jeans and Crushed Olive Distress Ink ink pads. Spray the mat several times with water until small droplets of color form. Create watercolour heart accents by punching hearts out of watercolour paper and dragging them through the ink on the mat. Set them aside to dry.
Step 6. Finish off your page with a bit of assembly - play around with the arrangment of your page elements until you're happy with the positions before sticking everything down. It's just like making a card... take a little time to figure out what looks best placed where, and what overlaps neatly with other elements on your page. I love running my titles over photos, and having other things peeking out from behind - like my flowers - to give lots of depth. 
Isn't Britta's finished scrapbook page fantastic? All made from card, Distress Inks and a few stamps. Just think of the amazing projects you could make using these techniques! Hope you've been inspired by Britta's Masterclass – remember to show us what you get up to with Distress Inks, whether you make cards, scrapbook pages or other paper crafting projects! Email to papercraft@futurenet.com. Every photo we print wins a fab prize, so get crafting and share your ideas with us! Visit Britta's blog for more great card making and scrapbooking ideas, inspiration, video tutorials and more, www.brittaswiderski.com. Don't miss her special e-book all about Distress Inks called 'No-Stress Distress Inks', with loads more tips, inspiration and ideas available to buy for download at: www.brittaswiderski.com/shop.
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