PEELED PAPER TECHNIQUE ON ATCs

This is a great - AND EASY - technique for cards, ATCs, scrapbooks, etc, etc,  taken from Claudine Helmuth's first book.

I use a CHEAP dictionary - buy one from THE WORKS or some other similar place - and tear out the pages - sacrilege, I know, but the books are outdated, linguistically (I was a French teacher in another life!) and would be thrown away if not used in this way!!!  Cut your card to size (ATC size always must be 3.5" x 2.5") and then glue a page of the small dictionary to it, using TOMBOW adhesive or GOLDEN GEL.  Trim the edges to fit the ATC.  You can just adhere the page to half or a third of the ATC if you don't want to do the whole lot.

Take strips of MASKING TAPE and adhere randomly to the paper you've just glued.  Leave for a while, for the adhesive to get a 'grip', then peel off.  The tape will pull off a layer or two of the dictionary page paper, leaving behind a light covering - great stuff! 

Now add inks - sponge, stipple or just add directly from the inkpad - smoosh the inkpad across the page, gently - more pressure where you want more colour.  I've used Distress inks (PEELED PAINT) in this sample.  You'll notice that the paper takes the ink differently where it's been torn, giving texture and shades of colour.  Heat set - or leave to dry if you're more patient than I am - then apply more masking tape - leave a while (it doesn't stick well if the paper is still wet from the ink!) and peel back.  Add more ink if required.  If you want a  REALLY distressed look (or Shabby Chic) then sand a little, with fine grade sandpaper.

Stamp your main image using a strong ink - I used Versafine Onyx Black here - the stamp is from Simple Expressions People 1 - then add embellishments.  I've used lace from the Katy's Corner Lace packs, attached with Golden Gel, then added a couple of Postage stamps (Miscellaneous pack), overstamp with the Simple Expressions Postmark stamp, then attach a button - I've attached it with ribbon, tying into a knot to secure.

Great little ATC which is quick AND easy to do!