Coloring with Distress Inks

by Yvonne Hagane

Learn how to watercolor with distress inks.

Supplies

  • Water brush, without water
  • Watercolor paper
  • Distress reinker
  • Water
  • Waterproof ink (Jet Black Archival ink used here)
  • Stamps (Flourishes Zinnias used here)

Step-by-Step

  1. Step 1

    Stamp your image on a piece of watercolor paper with waterproof ink.

  2. Step 2

    Add ink to the moistened waterbrush and wipe off excess ink on a paper towel before you start.

  3. Step 3

    Color the background of your image. Weathered Wood reinker was used here.

  4. Step 4

    Color the leaves with a light green reinker. Bundled Sage was used here.

  5. Step 5

    Use a darker color reinker to the areas you want to shade. Peeled Paint reinker was used here. Use a clean, moistened brush to blend the colors together.

    Wipe off excess color from the brush with the tissue.

  6. Step 6

    Color the flowers with a light color. Spun Sugar was used here.

  7. Step 7

    Add a darker color to the parts of the flower that you want to shade. Victorian Velvet was used here.

  8. Step 8

    To add even more debth, add an even darker color to the shaded areas of the flowers. Aged Mahogany was used here.

  9. Step 9

    Add the color to the center of the flowers. Wild Honey was used here.

  10. Step 10 (Optional)

    For a soft look, sponge a light color around the edges. Antique Linen Distress ink was used here.

  11. Your colored image is finished.

  12. Step 11 (Optional)

    Finish your card.

Video!

Your Turn

You've seen the tutorial, now you try it! We've got a section of the gallery set aside for Coloring with Distress Inks. Try this technique, then upload your artwork to the gallery. Show us your creations!

***Please note - Internet Explorer/Edge is not a supported browser, and will not allow you to see the videos. Please use Chrome, Firefox or Safari to view our tutorial videos.

Questions and Comments

We'd love to get your feedback or questions. Leave your comment below.

And you use a dry watercolor brush? Then what, put a drop of water on the board along with a drop of reinker? Every time I use the watercolor brush with water in it, it bloops out and makes a mess. Using it empty would be better, I think. Beautiful coloring!
DeborahB45231  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 9:36 AM
Thank you Yvonne for the exceptional text tutorial and Thank You Beate for the video. Between the two of you, you have provided me with the inspiration to give this technique a try. Your cards are incredibly beautiful!
Judy  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 10:17 AM
Absolutely awesome!!!! I can't wait to try this. I have to first buy reinkers..hehe...don't you love it when you HAVE to go shopping for stamping supplies. Thank you for sharing this technique.
Dani  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Great tutorial - A few comments:
First, through working with other bloggers who use distess ink coloring, it is better to use the reinkers. You can get great color intensity with them and they are easier to use than the pads. Next, the lady above does not seem to FILL the waterbrush and that is something I recently learned. It is a GREAT idea as much frustration stems from not being able to control the water that flows from these brushes. Wetting them but leaving the barrell empty works best. Last for finer details, use a #0 or#1, #2 watercolor brush for shading as well. WOrks great. Last, you must WAIT for the first coat of watercolor to dry before shading or adding other colors or all colors will mush. For another fabulous tutorial (free) check out Deenas Stamping Corner:
http://denasstampingcorner.blogspot.com/search/label/Video
Ann Marie Governale  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Could you use alcohol inks as well as the distress reinkers? A beautiful card! Love it!
Joanne Austin  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 4:20 PM
Thank you for this wonderful tutorial
Zehra  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 5:44 PM
what is the difference between using distress and regular inks, or using water color crayons???
thanks
Jackie Fidecaro  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 6:01 PM
Joanne,
If you switch the water in this tutorial with alcohol blending solution you should be able to color with alcohol inks.

Jackie,
Distress inks are waterbased inks. But unlike other water based inks, Distress ink colors won't dilute when you add water. Red will stay red, not turn pink.

Watercolor crayons is a different tutorial. You can find that on our resource section. You can watercolor with each medium you mentioned. The technique is just a bit different.
Beate  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 7:06 PM
Hi,
Could you tell me what stamp company the stamp was from?
Thanks!
Donna gohlke  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 8:27 PM
Donna,
You can find a link for the stamp set used in the photo tutorial in the supply list on the beginning of the tutorial.
The stamp set in the video is also from Flourishes. It's called "With Gratitude".
beate  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 8:29 PM
I have had some TH distress ink for a while and will be trying out this tutorial. I look forward to Wednesday's to see what you will offer. Thanks so much
Molly Upfield  |  Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 8:39 PM
Beautiful card!
Jan  |  Thu Sep 1, 2011 at 5:30 PM
waouh super
md  |  Fri Sep 2, 2011 at 8:06 AM
These colors are absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the reminder to use what I already have.
linda  |  Fri Sep 2, 2011 at 6:22 PM
Thanks Yvonne & Beate! I have lots of images that I seldom use because I can't get them coloured in well. And I can't afford to get into Copics so this totally fits the bill! Keep up the great work!
Marsha  |  Sat Sep 3, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Oh my! What a fun way to color. Thanks for the instructions.
Carol S  |  Sat Sep 3, 2011 at 7:10 PM
Why is a dry waterbrush used? Do you need to better control the amount of water?
Dorothy Anderson  |  Sun Sep 4, 2011 at 5:23 AM
Wow! Thank you for sharing, your work is beautiful!
Jane Grayson  |  Sun Sep 4, 2011 at 4:07 PM
I just love this tutorial. I love to color and I am always looking for different techniques. I do not have many distress inks, so I now have a good reason to pick some more up...Do you HAVE to use the reinkers for the lighter colors? Or will the pads work for that too? Thank you for sharing this with us.
Dani  |  Mon Sep 5, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Thank you Yvonne. Showing us how to expand the usage of all our supplies is fantastic!.

Kathy
Kathy Wyatt  |  Wed Sep 7, 2011 at 6:25 AM

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