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I am late coming to distress inks. How do I begin to decide how many & what Colors I need. I have discovered they are the best for sponging and blending; not to forget the colorlifting technique I am hooked on. My cards lean to flower and nature themes. Im not in to cute at all. Is there a method for choosing what to buy. I am thinking of mini pads and reinkers as space is a problem. Any advice out There?
I only buy mini pads and re-inkers. Start with the colors you use most, you will quickly see what additional colors would be useful and be able to fill in where you want to.
I'm with Debbie - the method is "what do you like?"
That said, if you're majoring on flowers and nature images you might do well to start with maybe a pink for flowers (Picked Raspberry is my favourite and you can get good shading just by using more or less diluted ink) a green or two for foliage (Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint are my favourites there) and a brown or two for trunks, stems, autumn leaves or animals (I find Vintage Photo very versatile and use Antique Linen a lot for a lighter shade).
As Dalene says, you can play with just a few to start with and fill in once you decide what gaps you want plug.
I've attached a card made with Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters and Peeled paint just so you can see how those work together.
Have fun picking out some new colours and playing with them!
I am one of the few people who actually stamps with distress inks sometimes, so I am an odd one. I would only choose the colors you really like.
As all the new ones were coming out last year, I thought that someone just getting started might just get those new ones and have some modern and complete rainbow of colors. Just a thought.
Also, I use antique linen a lot to age things, or if you wanted to do no-line coloring.
Good luck picking! I think the mini pads would work fine for you!
I am late coming to distress inks. How do I begin to decide how many & what Colors I need. I have discovered they are the best for sponging and blending; not to forget the colorlifting technique I am hooked on. My cards lean to flower and nature themes. Im not in to cute at all. Is there a method for choosing what to buy. I am thinking of mini pads and reinkers as space is a problem. Any advice out There?
Oooh you will want them all! :grin: I have a similar style and started with the more toned-down colors in the range that are nice for natural themes: Antique Linen, Weathered Wood, Walnut Stain, Tattered Rose, Peeled Paint, Stormy Sky, Broken China, Tumbled Glass.
Just recently, I started adding some brighter colors and have had a lot of fun with them, too: Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Wild Honey, Crushed Olive, Ground Espresso, Cracked Pistachio, Abandoned Coral.
I have been accumulating mini or full-size pads as they are on sale. Sometimes Joann has the full-size pads as low as $2.99. Have fun!
I'm with poppydarling. Of course you need them all! I have all but the last couple of 2015 monthly colors, and I use almost every color at one time or another.
I'll allow that you might need to get the ones you like the best first...but eventually I bet you'll have all of them.
I have the minis and reinkers. I love anything rainbow on my cards, so I started with ROYGBIV -- one mini for each color. After a while, I started filling in with colors I felt I was missing, a second green, a second blue, etc.
If you do lots of flowers, I like the idea of starting with a few pinks and greens.
[QUOTE=howdyheidi;21193977]I am one of the few people who actually stamps with distress inks sometimes, so I am an odd one. I would only choose the colors you really like.
Another odd one here. I stamp with my distress ink all the time because I love the colors and the look I get when I stamp with them. That's why I have collected all the colors over the years.
Cindy
Oh you gals are enablers.LOL I hardly ever stamp even though I have 4000+'stamps. I have tons of die cut sentiments I use. I guess technically, I am a paper crafter. I use tons of layers and pay extra postage for everything. Now I must try more stamping. I love the evolutionary nature of this craft. Never boring; just more techniques to try. I love it and get so much joy. Now, I'm impatient for my colors to get here tomorrow.
every time I come across your thread I want to say "all of them"
but, color is such an subjective thing your probably better off starting with your favorites.
my go to color hands down I have replaced the full size pad several times over the years, is Antique Linen. followed by Vintage photo. but, I really do use all the colors ( 'cept the black and white much) and I find I use the markers just as much as the pads so if space is at a premium maybe getting the Markers in the lesser used colors would be a good option for you.
I got all of them, but that was after I made a decision about inks in general. So they are my main dye ink line. I also use them to stamp. It isnt easy...so many brands of inks esp with hybrids showing up to confuse me more.
But I didnt get the pens, the sprays, the stains, etc etc etc.
I am just jumping in here. I have bought lots of the big size distress inks, but after trying and trying to do sponging with them on glossy paper and not liking the results... there they sit. I need to just stamp more with them which brings me to my question. Do they only work on watercolor paper or is it okay with whisper white cardstock?
I am just jumping in here. I have bought lots of the big size distress inks, but after trying and trying to do sponging with them on glossy paper and not liking the results... there they sit. I need to just stamp more with them which brings me to my question. Do they only work on watercolor paper or is it okay with whisper white cardstock?
They definitely work on good-quality thick card stock. One thing I like about them is you can get a watercolor look without having to use a lot of water! You might try this with a leaf or greenery or flower stamp: dab 2 or 3 different complementary colors in different areas of the stamp, then lightly mist with water and stamp onto card stock. You can work the color around a little bit more with a wet paintbrush but I like the look without manipulating it any further.
I have a skeleton leaf background stamp and a palm leaf background stamp and it looks terrific with both of those!
Shirl, I don't know the answer to your Whisper White question, but I don't think you'd get good results sponging distress inks on glossy cardstock. And I don't sponge them on watercolor paper. I do tap 1 or more DI pads on my non-stick mat, sprtiz with water and use on watercolor paper that way; or I use them to watercolor an image.
To sponge onto cardstock, I think you need a smooth matte paper. I've used PTI and Michaels Recollection 110# cardstocks and had great success with both.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
I have 4: Black Soot, Old Paper, Vintage Photo and Tumbled Glass. I use the black for stamping, the 2 neutrals for distressing edges and antiquing effects and the blue for sponging skies. I love all the colors but know I wouldn't use them. I keep my ink collection to 95% SU- I like their larger pads with the attached lids.
Shirl, I don't know the answer to your Whisper White question, but I don't think you'd get good results sponging distress inks on glossy cardstock. And I don't sponge them on watercolor paper. I do tap 1 or more DI pads on my non-stick mat, sprtiz with water and use on watercolor paper that way; or I use them to watercolor an image.
To sponge onto cardstock, I think you need a smooth matte paper. I've used PTI and Michaels Recollection 110# cardstocks and had great success with both.
Thanks Linda E. and poppydarling for your helpful responses. Linda, that is interesting about the glossy c.s. because it was a class I took that did this. Of course the teacher made it look easy, but when I came home and tried it for hours, I finally gave up. You have helped more than you know.
No one can really tell you what Distress Ink pads that you may or not may need. Color is a subjective thing. I like the inks because of their blending abilities.
How many distress inks do I need?
