Distress Ink Blending

In conjunction with the Art 'n Soul Newsletter the week, I am posting a tutorial on blending with Distress Inks.  I am using a card that is similar to one I have posted here before, but this will have a picture tutorial to go with it.

Although I know that many of you love your Distress Inks as much as I do, I have had SO many questions about shading and layering colors that I thought I would share with you the techniques on the Christmas cards I am making this year.  



Here's my card, and those of you getting a card from me this, year, I hope it won't be too anticlimactic to see it early!

I love using Distress Inks for layering and shading because they blend so well.  I also really love the new round mini blending tools.  I find that they don't make a hard edge like the rectangular tools sometimes do.  I still like the larger blending tools for large areas, but the smaller ones really make shading and blending effortless.





I started by inking my stamp with Versamark clear sticky ink, and I stamped the Magenta Multilingual Merry Christmas (07.883.K) in the top center of my card.  I then stamped the Snowy Evergreens (0690.L) on either side of the sentiment.  Since I am making A2 size cards, the trees stamped off the card on either side, but I think it's a good look.  I embossed the stamping with Judikins White Diamond embossing powder.

  For this card I chose 3 colors of blue Distress ink to color my background.  They are from light to dark:  Broken China, Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire.  

Using the lightest ink first, and with the mini blending tool, I rubbed Broken China ink over both of the Snowy Evergreens.  Don't be afraid to press hard when applying your ink.  The embossing powder will resist the ink and the images will pop when the ink is applied. 



Second, I rubbed Faded Jeans over the sentiment, and then blended it in with the Broken China at the tops and bottoms of the trees, and covered the card to all of the edges with ink.



At this point, I wanted to do some shading under the trees, so I got a template from the Magenta Masks set (TM-40), and using a sponge dauber, I carefully applied Faded Jeans ink under the trees, and in a line between the trees, connecting the shadows.



Last, I used the Chipped Sapphire ink and the mini blending tool all around the edges of the card, blending with the other two colors. This last step makes the white of the sentiment and trees really pop, and gives an overall richness to the card.



To simulate snowfall, I sprinkled Stampendous White Embossing Enamel over the card, and heated it from underneath the card.  Just when the flakes of enamel start to melt, move on to another area of the card and so on until all of the flakes of enamel have melted.


I mounted the finished panel to blue mirricard for matting, and then to a white folded card.  This card will not take extra postage to mail, and I'm happy with the sparkle and shine it has, even without my usual sprinkle of bling.

Magenta Products used

Multilingual Merry Christmas 07.883.K

Snowy Evergreens 0690.L

Masks TM-40

Other Materials used:

Distress Ink: Broken China; Faded Jeans; Chipped Sapphire

Versamark Ink

Judikins White Diamond Emobssing Powder

Stampendous White Embossing Enamel

Ranger Round Mini blending tool

Finger dauber

Blue Mirricard