Hi there
Thanks for popping in.
We got some new Ranger Distress Oxide Ink and regular Distress Ink colours delivered last week:
so I decided to take a look at one of them. Just one. Which one would YOU have gone for? I thought I’d compare the same colour in the two different inks, becasue they certainly differ in their application and even colour tone. The Distress Oxides are very chalky and opaque, whereas the regular Distress ink are more watery, more translucent. They both have their place. All available on our website HERE. We didn’t buy vast quantities of them, but we were topping up on our entire Ranger ink department, and thought we should bring in the new colours too!
I picked Speckled Egg. Beautiful! The reason for this was becasue I also wanted to shine a little light on our Mixed Impression Grunge Background stamps. We certainly have a large collection of these fab Mixed Media texture stamps, but again, I decided to focus on just one – The Ocean Swirls set. CLICK HERE TO FIND
- First, let’s use the smallest swirl stamp, and create a little topper – or ten!!
- Use a Spot-on Sponge to dab the Distress Oxide ink all over the stamp, which I have mounted on acetate. Both inks work well. but the Oxide reacts to water and goes beautifully mottled.
- Plant on a 3.5″ square piece of Clarity Stencil Card. You know we have these ready cut for you, don’t you. xx CLICK HERE. 100 pieces, ready to go!
- Spritz the stamp with a little water and stamp again. Fabulous, lighter, mottled effect. Did I add more ink? A tiny amount, just off the sponge.
- Make a bunch.
- Now for the large A5 texture mat. Fantastic solution to grungey, mixed media type background effects. All you need, to get the huge stamp inked up faster, is a soft Speedball brayer.
- Dab the ink pad directly onto the texture mat. I used the Oxide, but actually both work perfectly well.
- Spread the ink all over with a brayer
- Lay a 5×5 inch scored but not folded cardblank of ours down onto the inky stamp
- Rub the back of the card,
- If you want to add a little panel of print on the back of the card, too, simply open up the folded card and rub to transfer the ink.
- Make a bunch
Edging the centrepieces. Let’s use regular Distress ink here, with a stencil brush atound the edges, then a blending tool for depth.
Here you can see a close up of the two effects. On the left is the Distress Ink, on the right is the chalky Oxide.
A little matting & layering with Sharpie pens, Clarity 5×5 inch cardblanks and a Clarity Glue runner, the additino of a few meaningful stickers sentiments, and we have ourselves a lovely set of notelets – perfect to send to a friend, perfect to GIVE to a friend as little gift.
Loads of background texture cards ready made, and plenty of toppers too. It doesn’t always have to be complicated to be good. And these arty little cards would sell well in any arty giftshop for sure. I’d buy them. I LOVE this colour too!
All the ingredients are on our website. As for the Mixed Impression Texture stampsets, I have my favourites…
How about you? I think I like these ones best because the smaller stamps are so fabulous. We’ve got something very very special in the pipeline, and these stamps will work like magic. I look forward to when I can show you. All good things take time though, eh…
Love and Hugs
Barb xxx