breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,892 
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Apr 9, 2024 15:08:00 GMT
I'm wondering if Distress Oxides were the wrong choice, and I should have purchased Distress Inks? Or maybe it's the paper I'm using...
I have the pads, not the spray bottles.
They don't really blend like I thought they were supposed to, and I end up with obvious dauber marks on my creations. The results remind me of painting with Crayola water colors (you know the kind that come in a tray for $3...) and end up muddy.
Any tips, tricks or suggestions or helpful videos?
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Post by joblackford on Apr 9, 2024 15:20:52 GMT
The paper you use can definitely have an effect but number one tip is to start blending off the surface or in a hidden spot and build up the layers slowly, gently. Some people tap the brush/blender off onto a glass mat or scrap piece first to get some of the ink off - seems wasteful, but getting too much ink onto the first spot your blender touches is probably the problem. If you want a light layer start off the edge and slowly work the color on.
The other problem can be not applying enough ink. Coming back over the paper many times to build up the color, blending the colors together with repeated additions of ink should smooth out the blend. Some people I follow on YT use so much ink! I usually use a sheer layer so I had to switch to brushes and try to teach myself not to go hard right off the ink pad, not to be impatient.
Oxides are easier than regular distress. Regular distress with leave a lot more blender marks. A light spritz of water will help the blend too but will also give you more of the milky finish that oxides have.
Mindy Eggen does a lot of blending, Jessica Frost Ballas has some great ink blending videos too. I’ll try to drop a couple of good YT tutorials in the thread later.
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Post by brenda89 on Apr 9, 2024 15:33:10 GMT
Also check out Tim Holtz's videos on Distress Oxide ink. He goes into detail. I'll see if I can find a link
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Post by brenda89 on Apr 9, 2024 15:35:50 GMT
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Post by mbanda on Apr 9, 2024 16:27:14 GMT
The paper you use can definitely have an effect but number one tip is to start blending off the surface or in a hidden spot and build up the layers slowly, gently. Some people tap the brush/blender off onto a glass mat or scrap piece first to get some of the ink off - seems wasteful, but getting too much ink onto the first spot your blender touches is probably the problem. If you want a light layer start off the edge and slowly work the color on. I agree with this! The paper you use can for sure make blending easier. I use Bristol Smooth cardstock (first choice) or the Hammermill cardstock. I also agree with starting off the edge to help prevent the harsh blender lines. I really think what helped me was just practice. I blended multiple backgrounds until I figured out what worked best for me. I also watched some of Kristina Werner's videos on blending - those helped me as well. Stick with it! |
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Post by joblackford on Apr 9, 2024 17:11:52 GMT
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Post by karinec on Apr 9, 2024 18:06:35 GMT
It does take a little practice too. I had better luck with brushes vs sponge daubers.
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,514
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Post by pinklady on Apr 9, 2024 18:56:08 GMT
It does take a little practice too. I had better luck with brushes vs sponge daubers.  I never had good luck with blending using the Tim Holtz in blending tools with the foam applicators. I always had marks. Using blending brushes CHANGED MY WORLD! |
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Post by peanutterbutter on Apr 10, 2024 2:36:46 GMT
I'm much prefer blending brushes over dobbers, I got such a smoother look. I have the cheap oval makeup brushes in various sizes and they work like a charm.
Starting off the paper and blending inwards is helpful, however I don't see as great a need to do that when I'm using the blending brushes. Also I've noticed sometimes I will do a background it will look a little blotchy but if I give it overnight it greatly smooths out and gets the really pretty color and smooth the fact that I'm looking for.
Distress inks and distress oxides do have different looks and properties. I find it really helpful to have some of both but I really truly love my oxides, I call it creamy paint in a stamp pad.
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Post by grammadee on Apr 10, 2024 3:42:59 GMT
Thanks for asking, jokeysmurf, and thanks to all the talented Peas who have answered so far. I find that Oxides blend more smoothly than Distress inks do. And they are especially pretty when used with water. (I apply ink to an acetate surface, spritz with water, then drag the cs through it. Works best with mixed media papers like Vicki Boutin's Foundations. Oxides also work much better on dark backgrounds. I had to get used to the Oxides, though. They are not as bright as the Oxides. I wish the colour on the top of the ink pad were closer to the colour of the ink when applied. Distress inks were closer to what I expected. I try to blend only warm colours with warm and cool with cool. Trying to blend together inks from across the wheel tends to produce mud. |
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I never had good luck with blending using the Tim Holtz in blending tools with the foam applicators. I always had marks. Using blending brushes CHANGED MY WORLD!
