How to Distress the Edge of a Scrapbook With Ink

Add an artistic touch to the pages of your scrapbook.

A scrapbook is a hybrid between a family photo album, a traditional diary or journal, and a drawer filled with personal mementos. Scrapbooking is a deeply creative process, and many scrapbookers love to add touches of artistic flair to each book they complete. While some pride themselves on their neat, organized work, others revel in the messiness of the creative process, creating artificial ink blots and spills over the edges of the pages or the cover of the book. You can achieve this distressed look using a container of fountain pen ink and a paper towel.

Things You'll Need

• Fountain pen ink
• Plastic pipette
• Paper towels
• Moist sponge

Instructions

1. Squeeze the bulb of your plastic pipette and insert the long nozzle into the container of fountain pen ink. Slowly release your grip on the bulb to fill the pipette with ink.

2. Open your scrapbook to the page(s) you wish to add the distressed ink effect to. Place a paper towel over any portion of the page you do not want spattered with ink.

3. Squeeze the pipette bulb gently to deposit several drops of ink onto the edge of the page. To create an ink streak, tilt the book to allow the drop to run. To add smudges, rub the ink drops with the edge of a sponge or your finger tip.

4. Allow the ink to dry for 10 minutes before turning the page. Perform the steps on each page that requires the effect.

5. Close the book once all of the ink has dried completely. Add the distressed look to the cover of the scrapbook using the same techniques.

Tips & Warnings

• Ensure that all of the ink has dried before storing the scrapbook.

• Refer to the instructions on the fountain pen ink before use. Some inks can stain fabrics permanently.

References

• Scrapbook.com: Types of Ink and Their Properties
• Basic Scrapbooking: Scrapbooking Supplies