Distress techniques

Hi its Carol and today we are going to have another play with distress inks.

Have you ever been caught out by that forgotten card or tag and thought you don't have time to make one? - well, by using distress inks you can make a simple, but, elegant card in minutes....

This is what you need:-

Heat proof mat, distress inks, blending applicator and foam, or cut and dry, stamp, waterbrush, cardstock, card.

Using distress ink, ink up your stamp...here I have used pine needles on the leaves and stems and festive berries (this is the best RED ever and only available in the festive multi pack ) when you've inked the stamp breathe on it - this transfers moisture in your breathe onto the ink - stamp onto your card/cardstock then quickly using  a water brush pull out the colour.

 if the ink has dried a little or you want a deeper colour just lift the ink off your stamp using your water brush or swish your pad onto you mat and pick up ink from there..

How about just using one colour of distress:-

 

 Using vintage photo I've stamped and used the waterbrush and then added some subtle colour around the edges.

Voila a quick cards....this is a great technique to use at Christmas with a snowman stamp - add a bit of glitter and you've got some quick and simple cards.

Distress inks are so versatile and throughout my blog posts they will constantly be mentioned. 

Play with your inks and discover new ways to use them...I love to colour papers, Tim Holtz Kraft paper and his kraft glassine are great items to ink and then use as background papers or run thro' your die cutting machine and make your own embellishments:-

Here I've used Kraft Paper, text paper and glassine......I've cut out shapes using the rosettes die and the tattered floral garland die.....

Add ink to your pieces, can you see how the resist on the kraft paper actually resists the distress ink - with the glassine I've found it better to ink this with cut and dry, I get a softer touch with it and do less damage!! 

Next time I'll show you a piece to make using your own coloured embellishments.

Carol