Paint Resist and Backgrounds

A while back I bought this box at a local store because I loved the pattern and the colors.  I decided to try to recreate it.  

First I tried creating a background using Pumice Stone and Weathered Wood Distress Inks.  Then I stamped the images onto it using White Picket Fence Distress Ink.  It's a very subtle look.  A little too subtle for what I wanted.

Second I stamped the image onto my tag using Antique Linen Distress Paint.  When it was dry I applied Pumice Stone and Weathered Wood Distress Inks to create a background.  Totally cool but still not quite what I was trying to achieve.

By this time I was having fun with the Distress paint and wanted to try out the technique on the  Tim Holtz set I just bought.  It's a small set with a couple of dies, an embossing folder, and a stamp set.  This time I applied the Antique Lines Distress Paint onto the raised side of the embossing folder and closed it over my tag.  I let it dry. Then I stamped on the Fleur Di Lis.  At this point I used the same two grays and Dusty Concord to create a background.  Notice how the paint resist showed up with the darker colors.  Finally I stamped the tower and the saying.

So back to trying to recreate the box look.  I used some newly purchased Picket Fence Distress Paint on my stamp and got much closer to the contrast on the box.

I'm not sure which one I like better. Go figure...

-R