clearly distressed...

Hello everyone!  

If you remember, last week I showed you a fun way to paint acrylic embellishments... Well, today I'm going to show you how to distress your acrylic shapes. After all, who can know too many ways to embellish embellishments, huh! =)

What you need:

Acrylic/acetate die cut

Acrylic Paint

Creative Inspirations Paint

Flat Paint brush 

Step 1: Just like last week, the first step is choosing your acrylic shape. I die cut old clam shell packaging with a die cut machine, however there are many companies that make pre-cut acrylic shapes.

 Step 2: Dip a dry flat paintbrush into some acrylic paint. You don't want much on the brush. Randomly brush on thin layers of acrylic paint onto your shape. You want to make sure to leave empty spaces.  This is distressing, so keep it light, random, and just have fun with it!

*I am using white paint for this, but you can choose whatever color best fits your project.

 Step 3: After the acrylic paint has completely dried, use a flat paintbrush to randomly paint on some CI paint. Again, you don't want to cover every square inch of your piece, just randomly spread it on. Imperfection is perfect here!

*For a subtle look, choose an acrylic paint and a CI paint that are similar in color and intensity. For a bolder look, try using a light acrylic with a dark CI or the other way around.  Tons of options!

Flip it over and you are ready to use!

*hint 1: If you want more of the color and sparkle to show, try painting on the CI paint first, then using the acrylic paint second. Keep in mind that the moisture of the acrylic paint may reactivate your first layer of CI paint changing the color of your acrylic paint. 

*hint 2: if you aren't quite sure which way you want to layer your paint or which colors to use go ahead and try it out on a sheet of acetate transparency or clam shell packaging before painting your actual embellishment.

Here is a LO I did using this technique.

I used white acrylic paint and Silver Frost CI paint. Here's a close up so you can see it better.

Because the two paints are so similar in color, and Silver Frost is so light, it is hard to see in the photos, but it really adds beautiful streaks of shine through the piece!  You see more of the silver IRL.. between the acrylic's reflective nature and the shimmer of the paint, it is hard to really capture. 

Enjoy!

~Kassi