Distressing Edges

[ShariW]

I have been on a search with no success. I would like to know if I can distress the edge of a paper without the distress tool. I also wonder if one can purchase the distress tool by itself somewhere. SU has it but it has 3 other tools that I would never use. I am making my May/June CHRISTmas cards and have decided to distress the edges of circles. Thanks for any help!

[indyemmert]

Although I am SU all the way (;0), other companies make distressing tools. You can also use a scissor blade or even your fingernail.

[Angelnorth]

I use scissors for distressing. Just hold the blades slightly apart so you have a V shape and run your paper through that. If you want the tool, Tonic make them and I think there's a Ranger one too.

[scrapbuknTI]

I was going to say what the gals said about scissor blades it works pretty well and it is cheap. I usually just freehand tear for my distress look.

[krabearkub]

SU's distressing tool is made by Tonic and I've seen them for sale at Archivers(it's red, not black). They also sell the other three tools individually from Tonic (scoring blade, cutting blade, and perforating blade).

[cbet]

Before I got my Tonic distresser at my lss, I used a needle threader/thread cutter from JoAnn's - like this.

Just slide the edge of the paper into the cutting slot and run it along the edge.
It's much harder to hold onto than the Tonic tool, but it does work.

[christinesmom2004]

I bought one by Heidi Swapp for 99 cents at a local store. I agree with what someone said earlier--the long sharp edge of scissors works really well too.

[robth]

I ordered a distressing tool made by Making Memories from Frugalities recently. It was $2.50 on sale and it works very well.

[ceramics]

I have used my bone folder to distress with - gently rub the edges of your paper back and forth with the edge of the folding tool. It works. I have the distressing tool for SU love it. But I understand that you don't want all three.
Even the side of a metal edged ruler will work to distress paper edges!

[putri]

Mine is an old Making Memories, maybe the same that robth ordered, but the Heidi Swapp one is nice.

[ShariW]

Thanks for all these great ideas. I presently have Frugalities open and am thinking about ordering the Making Memories one. But I just wonder if it would be at Michael's. Annette, it's funny you should mention the edge of a metal ruler. I've tried everything from a craft knife, scissors and something else and the ruler works the best. I have a 6" ruler so it isn't uncomfortable. The only thing about Frugalities is that it takes 2-3 weeks to get here and I am making those May/June CHRISTmas cards. Well at least I have a way to go now thanks to all of your suggestions. Thanks for blessing my day.

[pjw2855]

Depending on the distressed look that you want, why couldn't you try an emery board?

Patti

[al_silver2]

I love my Heidi swapp distresser...looks like a pink pacman and is super cheap!!

[CraftyNat]

I'm am fairly new to stamping and paper crafting but what is distressing?

Natalie

[ShariW]

What stores did you buy the Heidi from. We don't have any stamp stores around here except JoAnn's and Michael's.

[AddictedtoStamps]

CTMH has one too.

[amazingrace119]

I purchased my Heidi Swap edge distresser via ebay. Just search it, and you should be able to get it for about 2.50 tops. That price includes shipping I LOVE the way it distresses. I used scissors and fingernail, and junk mail credit cards with small v shapes cut out of them too! All work. But, the Heidi is super cute and easy to handle!

[Mis.ty]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AddictedtoStamps

CTMH has one too.

Yes, Close to My Heart has it and sells it by itself. I had bought the "ensemble" from SU and really only use the distressing tool. So, unless SU decides to sell it separately soon, I will be asking my friend to order me the one from CTMH. ;)

[Turkey1969]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraftyNat

I'm am fairly new to stamping and paper crafting but what is distressing?

Natalie

Making the edges of the cardstock rough or worn looking. Similar looks can be done by just tearing the cardstock, but distressing is usually subtler.

[CraftyNat]

Thanks Nancy Jo for responding.

Natalie

[lcmdws]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mis.ty

Yes, Close to My Heart has it and sells it by itself. I had bought the "ensemble" from SU and really only use the distressing tool. So, unless SU decides to sell it separately soon, I will be asking my friend to order me the one from CTMH. ;)

How come? Does it wear out?

[ceramics]

ShariW - You should be able to get one of the above ideas at Michaels or JoAnns for sure.

Blessings ~

[tuesdayswife]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AddictedtoStamps

CTMH has one too.

This is what I was going to suggest... For quite awhile, I just used an emery board or my fingernail or whatever seemed to work best at the time. I decided to purchase the CTMH distresser awhile ago and just recently pulled it out to try it out (I had MAJOR scrappers block for a L-O-N-G time and didn't do anything scrap related for about 4 months. :( ) Anyway, like I said, I just pulled out my CTMH distressing tool a little while ago and OMG!!!!!!!! LOVE THAT THING!!!!!!!! :mrgreen:

[kathy tucker]

I have the Heidi Swap distressor (it's about a $1) and works well unless you are trying to distress small pieces... so... I have the Tim Holtz distressor ($5) and it works great on small pieces....

[stamphappy1650]

I have the Heidi swapp distresser and I like it.

Here is a hint that may be of use if you're new to using a distressing tool. If I start at one end and drag it to the bottom of the paper, I have a tendancy to tear the paper so now I start in the middle of the cut edge of the paper, drag to the top then replace the tool back at the middle and drag to the bottom. For some reason I have more control when I only distress small sections at a time. No more torn paper.

[HeatherHolbrook]

I love the CTMH edge distresser, it's awesome! It has many different "slots" so it would take a lot of use before it ever became dull. And it's only $2.50!

[pjw2855]

Ok, I made a post yesterday to this thread suggesting a tool to use for a distressed look. Now I'm kinda curious. What kind of look/feel to the edge of your card do you describe as "distressed"? Do you mean a torn edge, fuzzy edge, deckle edge of kinda frayed rolled edge, or what? I'm just interested to know what your definition of distressed is?

Patti

[Mis.ty]

With the distressing tool you run it along the edge of the cardstock. It has pieces of razor blades in each spot. It roughens the edges of the card -- "fuzzy" I guess would be the best choice in your word list.

[pjw2855]

Mis.ty.......If you were referring to my post, what you describe to me would be a deckle edge. This can be achieved in several ways......tearing by hand, using a cutting device/trimmer with a deckle blade or using a deckle edge ruler to tear the paper against. If I want this kind of edge, I use the deckle blade on my cutter and then run my finger down it to soften the edge.

Thanks for your explanation.

Patti

[dakotasgramma]

I have been using the sharp edge of one of my acrylic blocks. It really works well and it's something i already had.

[ShariW]

Patti, the edge that I'm looking for and actually getting with my metal edge ruler is a rolled up, fuzzy edge. I actually run the edge of the ruler along the edge of the circle. However, I have to do it several times to get the depth of the roll I want. I did make a card and upload it for the CHRISTmas card challenge yesterday and here it is: CCC08-June, Blue CHRISTmas by ShariW at Splitcoaststampers
You can just barely see the rolled edge of the circle. Hope this clears up the question you have. Robth, you have turned me lose in Frugalities! I may never get off that site! Back to shopping!

[Vintage Redhead]

A good old-fashioned emory board works well, too.

ShariW: *LOVE* that gorgeous doxie on your avatar! ~ kbc

[Stamping Teacher]

I think I got my Heidi Swapp distresser from AC Moore... It was only a couple of bucks, and I love it! Before that, I used my bone folder. It worked well, too!

[Doris86]

how to distress edges to make GOOD effect? any tutorial?

[lmspengler]

I have a plastic kitchen tool that I think is used to section grapefruit. It has lots of plastic teeth, and I rub it on the edges of the cardstock. I've never found the need to purchase a special tool. Check your gadget drawers!

[drediamom]

I bought a Heidi Swapp distresser at HL. they sell them for 99cents. AND, when i got to the register it was on sale for 50%. so i got mine for 50 cents. :p I thought 99c was good, but when i got it for 50c, i was really happy.

[Betty]

I use a thread cutter I got at JoAnn's. It's what Tim Holtz used before they started selling one. The one Ranger sells looks just like my thread cutter. It works great and you can use your coupon to get it cheap.

[ShariW]

Oh, I wish we had a HL! :( Betty, is it called a thread cutter (I am sewing challenged and the world is a better place because I don't sew ). So many great ideas. I like the grapefruit idea. I think I have something similar to that in my kitchen stash!

[Serenity_Stamper]

At first, the only part of my SU! toolkit that I used was the tool for distressing. Then I learned that the "cutter" will give wavy lines (like the CM wavy cutting board) and I LOVE that effect! And the perforating tool gives a stitched effect when I use my white Signo to go from hole to hole. LOVE that effect too.

Good luck deciding! I love the technique of distressing.

(ShariW, your holiday card is lovely, by the way!)

Lela

[craftingcaren]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amazingrace119

I purchased my Heidi Swap edge distresser via ebay. Just search it, and you should be able to get it for about 2.50 tops. That price includes shipping I LOVE the way it distresses. I used scissors and fingernail, and junk mail credit cards with small v shapes cut out of them too! All work. But, the Heidi is super cute and easy to handle!

Thanks so much, just got one for $2.60.