I prepared my paper yesterday by soaking it and balling it up. I flattened it overnight between two boards for a while, while the paper was still damp, I laid textured towels between the paper and the hard surface and flattened it some more. The result was paper with a distressed, somewhat embossed surface.

Distressed seems to be the metaphor of the moment for me (see Stitched).

Although the paper became torn on one edge, I didn’t repair it. I just let it be red.

Soaked Abstract
14″x11″ 130# Vellum Mixed Media Paper