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Is there a substitute for distress inks? I've got tons of dye, craft, shadow, and StazOn inks. I'd really like to get some distress inks, but I'm hoping there is a substitute without buying MORE inks. Need some insight and help here...
I don't know what kind of "look or design" you're talking about with distress inks. That said, if I want to make cs look old, shabby/chic or antique I often use dye or shadow type inks in beiges, tans or browns applied with a cotton ball. You only pick up a "hint" of color that way and get the distressed look. I do have some distress inks, but only seem to pull them out when I feel like I've been neglecting them - lol!
I hope that helps.
to clarify what I would like to do - - I saw a card using distress inks and it had a beautiful watercolored look. The distress inks were applied to a teflon like craft sheet in a staggered pattern and then the stamp was patted or "walked and wiggled" on the several different colored distress inks, the stamp was then misted with water and stamped on the card.
I think I will try the chalk ink and see if I can duplicate the look - however if anyone has another idea I would surely appreciate their insight.
You can probably replicate the technique with dye inks-- should stay moist on the craft sheet and will reactivate on a stamp when spritzed with water. However, I agree with Cinnistew that there really isn't a substitute for distress inks-- there's just something in the formulation for how they behave.
My THANKS and appreciation to each of you for your help. I guess I pretty much felt like the distress inks were in a class of their own, I just wanted to verify it with wiser heads.
Joyful Blessings!
I watercolor with dye and chalk inks all the time. There are lots of techniques you can do with those. Some of the inks you mentioned (craft, some chalk inks, Stazon) don't blend well with water in my experience and you might end up with blotches, but you can always experiment just to see!
You can use dye reinkers for the technique you mentioned - drop reinker or swipe inkpads on your pad then mist the surface, and drag your tag or cardstock through. The difference with the Distress inks is that they are blendable for a longer time, and the pigment won't separate when mixed with water (I have a few dye reinkers that do separate, though sometimes I look that look, I don't always want yellow in my pink or purple in my blue!).
to clarify what I would like to do - - I saw a card using distress inks and it had a beautiful watercolored look...
Although you can do this with dye inks you won't be guaranteed to get what you think you're going to get! Some dye inks in some colours break down to their constituent colours (so for example, Adirondack inks are gnerally stable but Stonewashed breaks down in to purplish and lighter blue tones). It probably doesn't matter at all with this technique though as you're getting a random look anyway. The difference with Distress ink colours is that they always stay true when you add water.
Another point to make distress inks unique: The colors are designed to work best on not-white papers, like shipping tags and naked chipboard. Many inks would no longer be their true color once applied to grungeboard then misted. I have tons of inks also and have never regretted buying some Distress Inks and refills (I don't have the entire collection yet but still dreamin').
Mary Beth
I will always look for a substitute first before buying a product. I have never seen a good substitute for distress inks. They are truly an art ink even used by quilter's, and professional artists. Distress Inks are a class of their own.
Clearly, I'm using my distress ink in a very different way than most of you. What technique do you all use that required water?
Thanks in advance for you help!
Clearly, I'm using my distress ink in a very different way than most of you. What technique do you all use that required water?
Thanks in advance for you help!
There are load of ways to use water with your Distress inks! You can
smoosh your pads onto a non-stick mat, spritz with water and then pat your cardstock into it to pick up the colour
ink a piece of cardstock and then flick water droplets at it off the ends of your fingers, leave for a few seconds and then blot off for an interesting splotchy background effect
use the inks to watercolour an image
add a few drops of reinker to a mister with water in it to make your own colourwash spray (add a little Perfect Pearls and you have a custom glimmer spray)...
I'm sure there are others but those are the ones that popped in to my head straight away. HTH!
substitute for distress inks
distress inks
