TIPsy Tuesday - Distressed or Naked?

So many designer papers have vintage patterns these days.  In addition to lots of small prints, this year all kinds of papers are showing up with old dress patterns, fashion and dress pattern ads, measuring tape and other sewing notions on them.  Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl collection is one of these.  I was fortunate enough to win this collection from http://www.artfuldelight.com/ as blog candy!  (Check out her blog and website.  She has some new blog candy and great prices on her paper collections:  www.artfuldelight.blogspot.com/ )

Yet despite all the vintage prints, many of these papers have a minimum of distressed edges.  I think this is a good thing.  You can always add your own distressing.  For me, if I'm looking for paper for scrapbook pages, I like the heavy distressed look - like Basic Grey papers have.  If I'm making cards, I'd rather have very little disressing.  The paper will be cut up in small pieces and I don't want one edge heavily aged and other edges bare.  Also if you are making multiples of a card, it is much easier to cut the paper if the finish is consistent.

My favorite distressing inks are:
Ranger's Antique Linen (very light), Old Paper, Vintage Photo
Distressing inks are dye inks.

Stampin' Up!'s Classic inks are also dye inks.  They dry fast and can be applied lightly.
Good distressing colors from SU! are:
River Rock, Soft Suede, and Sahara Sand

All of these colors give papers an older appearance which is terrific for the many vintage style designs on the market now.

For the card here, I used Ranger Antique Linen and Vintage Photo to sponge on some color to the edges after cutting my paper strips from the Material Girl collection and one October Afternoon piece.

So much about paper comes down to preference.  Fortunately, there are so many wonderful paper companies we can have it all.  Thanks for visiting today!