Distress Ink is a lot of fun to play with, and there too many uses for it to explain in this section. They come in many colors like "Old Paper," "Sepia," and "Tea Dye."
You can use the distress ink directly from the pad onto the paper, rubbing it on the edges to highlight them a little, with a few swipes across the paper to carry the affect out. I even use my black ink pad the same way for drama.
For another great look, crumble your paper up tightly, wet it, and flatten it out without removing the wrinkles. Brush the ink pad across the top of the paper so it hits only the ridges of the paper, and not the crevasses. The ink should bleed into the surrounding paper, and make it look worn and old.
The last option I'm going to tell you about is using it with a brayer. Crumble your dry paper, and flatten it out, but leave the wrinkles in it. Ink up your brayer with the distress ink, and run across the paper. This is a lighter affect than that achieved with the previous method.
Tearing Paper
Paper tearing is a great and easy way to add texture to your page without much effort. Add chalk or ink to the torn edge for contrast, and you're done. Think about tearing out leaves, or other shapes, for spots of extra interest.
Chalking
Chalking can add a bit of grunge to any page, but with a softer look than walnut or distress inks. Go with colors in brown, tan, burnt orange and gray to distress your pages. Rub some on here and there about the page to simulate dirty smudges from too much time outdoors.
Page Ideas for Your Mini book
Stuck on what kind of pages you might include in your mini book about autumn? Here's a short list I've compiled. Some of these may not apply to you or your family, but try to think of the things you do each year, big or small, to celebrate the season.
A Visit to the Pumpkin Patch
Apple Picking
Block Party
Bonfire
Carving Pumpkins
Festivals
Football
Halloween
Hay Rides
Hunting
Leaf Peeping
Mums & Goldenrod
Nature's Glory
Our Harvest
Playing in the Leaves
Popcorn Balls
Preparing for Halloween
Thanksgiving
Trick - Or - Treating
Windy Weather
Now Back to your Regularly Scheduled Scrapbooking....
From this point on it's up to you! Add your favorite embellishments like brads, and eyelets, fibers, and buttons. There are so many options out there don't limit yourself to leaves and pumpkins for autumn. Why not use colors that are not traditionally used to scrapbook autumn pages, like blue or purple, for a change of pace.
