Finishing Hints

Here are a few tips for finishing your Stories by Me projects:

Distress it! We love to make all of our projects look like they have been around for a few years. The Jim Holtz Distress Ink and Colorbox Chalk lines are the perfect way to age your project. We offer a few of our favorites on our website, but they are available at your local craft store as well. Just remember that the ink will smear - be careful not to get fingerprints on your pictures. Let the ink dry completely before adding a finishing coating. You can't go wrong with Antique Linen - it's fabulous! If you like a darker, more aged look go with Vintage Photo. Remember these inkpads come fully loaded - use sparingly! Colorbox chalk can provide a similar vintage finished look to your project. Chalk is easy to use, dries quickly and won't smear!
Protect your Project We recommend using an acrylic sealer (matte finish) to protect the surface of your project. Be sure to shake the sealer well and apply a few thin coats of spray. Make sure you let it dry completely before handling!
Picture Tips: We recommend that you print your pictures using a LASER printer! Ink jet prints tend to smear. Don't have a laser printer at home? Send your .PDF to your local printer and let them print it for you. We like to use FedEx Office. Also, for the best quality, print your pictures in color - even if they look black and white. The finished quality will be much better.