Hello makers! For this assignment, I have created a card with a vintage spring vibe. I am using Distress Paints with some techniques showed at the last Asked & Answered Tim Holtz’s demo. One of my favourites is the distressed metallic finish – a challenging technique but when mastered, the result is breathtaking.

Let’s gather all materials (Distress acrylic paint colours, stamp sets are a personal choice). Here are the materials I used for this tag.

Step 1: On a 5 x 7" piece of watercolor cardstock, create the patina look by using a blending tool to apply your first paint colour randomly and then add more layers of cool colours. You can blow dry it between each coat but here it will not be necessary because you’re using a palette with the same shades of cool colours.

Here I skipped the touch of warm colour because I chose a lighter patina look.

Step 2: Sprinkle a few drops of water onto your wet painted background. Let it dry or with a cotton rag remove the excess water. It is important for this technique, to not let the acrylic paint dry before spraying water drops.

Step 3: Stamp a few script images onto the painted background with Distress Archival Black Soot Ink. Let it dry completely. 

Step 4: Here is the challenging part of this technique. It is important to work rapidly while applying the paint for this step. Apply the Distress Tarnished Brass paint with a large brush, covering the whole panel. 

Step 5: Quickly sprinkle a few drops of water onto the wet painted background. Use a paper towel to remove water from certain areas, it creates the patina metal textured look. These revealed spots show the first painted and stamped layer. Let it dry on its own or dry it with a heat gun. 

Step 6: For a vintage finishing touch - apply Ground Espresso Distress Ink with a blending tool onto the entire background. Sprinkle a few drops of water. Let it dry on its own or with a heat gun.

Step 7: A stamping platform is a must for this step. Stamp a flower onto your background with Black Soot Distress Archival Ink. Let it completely dry for the next step. 

Step 8: With few Distress pink paint shades, paint the flower. Let it dry.

Step 9: Stamp the flower again with same ink. Let it dry.

The next steps are for creating a frame for this artwork. This is optional. 

Step 10 (Frame): On a 5 x 7" piece of watercolor cardstock, follow the instructions in step 1 (Apply the same cool Distress Paints randomly to your panel). Let it dry. Then add a touch of pink shades with a brayer. 

Step 11: Repeat the same technique as shown at step 4, with the Distress Tarnished Brass paint. 

Step 12: Stamp script images randomly with Distress Archival Ink Black Soot, onto the background. Let it dry completely. 

Step 13: Use a rectangular die to cut an opening into the background. Glue the stamped flower background behind the frame. Add a few details for final touches (few stamping scripts added, pearl drops, ephemera, up to your inspiration at the moment).

Enjoy the beauty of Spring!