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Hi, Bee friend! It’s Bobbi Lemanski here from BobbiHartDesign.com sharing trendy distressed denim looks for your cards. I will admit, I was only going to post one maybe two cards today, but I became so obsessed with distressing my looks that I made four! I’ll be sharing a “no-stress, distressed” look you can use on your projects. My cards feature Honey Bee Stamps products – some brand-new and some tried and true. Now, let’s make them all BLUE!

Card 1: Born With Good Jeans

Distressed jeans are very popular these days and I thought it would be fun to see if I could mimic the look using paper and twine. Card 1 was designed to look like a wallet or handbag made from an old pair of blue jeans (popular in the 70s and coming back). I added a couple of pockets, belt loops, etc. to look like sections of blue jeans sewn together.

I used the following products to make this 5″ X 7″ card:

Stacking Pockets die set

Pocket Full of Love stamp and die sets

Bee Bold Alphabet die set

Thanks a Bunch stamp set (for the happy birthday phrase, only)

Holiday Traditions 6″ X 6″ pattern paper

To create the look of distressed denim:

I used a textured blue cardstock and applied Faded Jeans and Black Soot Distressed Oxide inks to the paper using my larger Blender Brushes in a very splotchy manner. Perfection not needed here! In Card 4 I used a smooth finish cardstock. This technique will work on both textures.

To create the rips, I pierced the section of the paper and cut jagged slits in the cardstock.

I applied Faber-Castell | Polychromos Color Pencil in white across the cardstock, applying more around the slits to show more fading and worn material, including lines for threads. The white really makes the faux fabric look cool. Colored pencil sits on top of all other color so it’s fun to apply and see the effects.

I added adhesive on the back side of the card front and added unraveled strings of twine across the openings, allowing some of the edges to hang outside the slits. Note: My twine was too thick, but by unraveling it, I got the right thickness of thread to make it work.

Card 2: Worn Heart – You Are Loved

For this 5″ X 7″ distressed denim card, I used the following products:

Pierced XOXO Hearts die set

You Are Loved stamp set

Cupid’s Arrow Stencil – Stenciled on the inside of the card using Faded Jeans distressed oxide ink and my smaller, Detailed Blender Brushes.

The white heart was cut from Neenah 80lb Classic Crest cardstock. To make the white heart look aged and worn, I used a warm gray colored pencil for the crease marks. I added tan cardstock under the slit in the heart to highlight it. I also added bronze rivets around the heart using Nuvo Drops in Dirty Bronze and a cute red tab from Pocket Full of Love stamp and die set.

Card 3: Feeling Blue – Here For You

The idea behind this card is a sad heart or a “blue” heart so I wanted to make the heart out of faux denim this time. This 5″ X 5″ card uses the following products:

Heartfelt Pocket die set

Bee Bold Alphabet die set

Blah, Blah, Blah stamp set (for the “I’m Here For You” phrase, only)

EGGcelent Sentiments stamp set (for the “Feeling a little” phrase, only)

Sweet On You 6″ X 6″ paper pad

Double Stitched Squares die set (for the frame)

I added Fall Festival Gems to the heart for a bit of bling and extra seaming to the circular backdrop for added interest.

Card 4: Hip Sparkle Pocket

For my last 5″ X 7″ card I used a dark, smooth cardstock to see if I could create the same look without the texture. I used the following products:

Shine On stamp and die sets

One Of A Kind stamp set (for the “Look Inside” phrase, only)

Rainbow Wishes die set

To create the seaming and frayed edge:

I used a Uni-ball White gel pen to make the seams (with a ruler) and loose threads. (Note: For a perfect stitched line, you could also stamp and emboss the seams using the Pocket Full of Love stamp set here.)

I cut a jagged edge down the frayed edges for an imperfect edge.

I cut slits into it so that I could bend the edge upward.

I added creases and wear markings using my white colored pencil to the fabric.

Shine On stamp and die sets along with Copic markers were used for the bottles of nail polish and the phrase. Rhinestones from the Fall Festival Gems create a heart and circle for added bling. The rainbow was made using the Rainbow Wishes die set. I added stitching to the edges with my white pen to make it look more like a sewn-on patch.

Notice that the middle polish bottle is actually the card tucked into the pocket. I added the words, “Look Inside” from the stamp set, One Of A Kind stamp set so that the card with a note inside does not get missed!

Whether it’s a rip, tear, frayed edge or creasing, these faux distressed looks are “no-stress distress” because you can’t really go wrong. This is an IMPERFECT perfect application for teenagers and blue jean lovers! Give it a try, but beware, it’s easy to become obsessed with distress. 🙂

You can shop all of these awesome products in the Honey Bee Stamp store using the links provided here or shop the latest Bee Mine release here! Thanks for visiting today!

Want to see more ideas and inspiration from me? Subscribe to my blog, BobbiHartDesign.com. I’ll send you updates on new posts! You can also find me on Instagram as @BobbiHartDesign and on Facebook as BobbiHartDesign.

Bobbi Hartmann Lemanski, Bobbi Hart♥ Design, Adding h♥art into every design

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4 comments

4 responses to “Obsessed with Distressed”

  1. Stampkind says:

    That’s way to hard to understand in writing. These cards are so beautiful. Any chance you can do a video? Would love to learn this process. My brain just could not follow the written instructions. LOL sorry. But man they are so cool!! I love them all!!!

    • Bobbi Lemanski says:

      Stampkind – I totally get it! I like to watch v. read, too! It’s easier to understand if you can see someone demonstrate. I will plan to do a video soon so you can see it in action! I’m glad you liked them and told me that you would like a video. That helps me a lot! Have a great day! Bobbi

  2. Oh my word, these are the coolest! Thank you so much for sharing these awesomely creative technique tips!!’

    • Bobbi Lemanski says:

      So glad you like them, Kelly. I have teenagers and all I see is torn/ripped jeans with lots of holes! I think these would be fun cards for teens, but not just for teens. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. 🙂 Bobbi

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