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Tips &=20 Techniques

T= im=20 Holtz=99 Distress Ink=99 Pads

Here are some key=20 points that make Distress Inks different:

STAYS WET = LONGER -=20 (allows you to blend and shade on photos and paper - also = emboss)=20 other dye inks dry too fast especially on photos so you end = up with=20 lines and marks if you go direct from the pad.

COLOR = WICKS OR=20 SPREADS OUT - (these inks will travel across the surface of = your=20 paper when spritzed with water) other dyes do not travel as = much=20 although they might bleed a little when wet, the Distress = Inks=20 actually "wick" or spread out much further creating several = tone on=20 tones.

COLOR STABILITY - (the colors of the Distress = Inks=20 will not break down when wet or heated allowing you to have = more=20 color control for the finished look) other "brown colored" = dyes will=20 break down when water is added leaving a pink & green=20 hue.

COLOR PALETTE - Well these are unlike ANY other = colors=20 of inks you've seen. The color palette of Distress Inks = is:

*=20 Antique Linen -the color of aged lace or linens found in the = cherished heirlooms of grandmother's trunk

* Old = Paper -the=20 color of weathered and timeless book pages tucked away in = the attic=20 for generations

* Tea Dye -the orange hue of = saturated tea=20 bags with the results of dying in a tea bath for = days

*=20 Vintage Photo -this color is captured right out of the = photographs=20 from times gone by

* Walnut Stain -a rich, dark stain = of and=20 old walnut tree perfect to create a dark wash of = color

*=20 Black Soot -from the depths, a black like no other - this is = the one=20 you've been searching for

*Fired Brick -the look of = charred=20 cinders from an old camp fire

*Weathered Wood -taken = from the=20 patina on a dairy barn=92s window frame

*Mustard Seed = -the=20 rich, warm taste of spicy Americana mustard

*Peeled = Paint=20 -the color of the flaked green paint on Aunt Sadie=92s porch =
furniture

*Tattered Rose -grandma=92s cabbage = rose wall=20 paper, faded and stained to
perfection

*Milled = Lavender=20 -a veil of pale lavender sachet tucked into mom=92s lingerie =
drawer

TO=20 DISTRESS: I like to use water when I am = distressing. I=20 think it gives the papers more of a weathered texture, so = here's how=20 I start. Working on any type of paper (manila, cardstock, or = text=20 weight), crumple the paper up - always press in the center = of any=20 heavyweight cardstock or manila stock - this will break the = surface=20 tension of the paper and allow you to crumple up the paper = easier=20 without tearing it. Next rub the Distress pads over the = surface -=20 you can work with several different colors or just one - = WALNUT=20 STAIN IS IDEAL FOR THIS. Then spray the inked surface with = water=20 (you will immediately notice the ink "travels" outward when = water is=20 applied as these inks are designed to react with water). = Heat the=20 surface to dry - and here's why... Although you don't have = to Heat=20 Set these inks for any reason, I like to dry the water using = either=20 my Heat-It Craft Tool or an iron. This will allow for more = tone=20 control and keep areas dark and others light. Ironing the = paper will=20 also give you a much smoother surface to stamp on without=20 compromising the aged finish. *If you allow the surface to = air-dry=20 most of your color will end up on the edges only because the = paper=20 will bend and buckle when wet, forcing the ink and water to = the=20 edges. Notice that these Distress Inks retain their color = value even=20 when wet and dried. Other brown dyes will break down in = color=20 (sometimes leaving a pink and green hue).

DOUBLE = DISTRESS=20 TAGS: Crumple tag and apply 2 colors (one new tone and one = original=20 tone) of Distress Inks directly from the pads to each = crumpled tag.=20 Spray with water and dry.

"WRINKLE-FREE" = DISTRESSING=20
To create the look of aged papers, from times gone by, = without=20 all the lines
and wrinkles - give this a try. Working on = your=20 non-stick Craft Sheet, begin
by directly applying = various colors=20 of Distress Ink Pads to the surface of the
Craft Sheet. = A couple=20 of swipes of a color or two will do the trick (you
might = also=20 try using an original color of Distress Ink along with a new = one!).=20
Get out your Distress Re-Inkers for this next step as = you want=20 to add a bit of
intense color for the ultimate vintage = look. I=20 like using Walnut Stain or
Vintage Photo for this, so = remove the=20 glass dropper from the bottle and drag it
across the = inked Craft=20 Sheet - do not squeeze any drops of ink as it will take =
over=20 everything! Next mist the Craft Sheet with water to allow = the inks=20 to
begin mixing and blending - usually 3-4 sprays is = plenty.=20 Then take your paper
or tag and place in directly on the = inked=20 Craft Sheet and lift it off. If you
have any un-inked = areas=20 simply place that area of the paper on any left over =
inks on the=20 sheet. Finally dry your paper or tag using an iron or a = Heat-It=20
Craft Tool ( if you allow your papers to air dry they = will curl=20 and force most
of the ink to the edges so I prefer to = heat them=20 to dry.). To finish your
attic-fresh look, ink the edges = with=20 Distress Inks using a piece of Cut n' Dry=20
Foam.

FOR STAMPING: What can I = say about=20 the many stamping applications these inks can achieve. Once = again=20 the special formulation on these Distress Inks provides a = versatile=20 finish on papers yet still allow for "normal" stamping = applications.=20 I like to stamp on uncoated (matte) papers and immediately = rub the=20 image with a cloth - this will soften or shadow your image = WITHOUT=20 smudging any detail - VINTAGE PHOTO, WALNUT STAIN, TEA DYE, = BLACK=20 SOOT - wonderful for this one! Another surface is glossy = cardstock -=20 keep in mind this is a different type of dye ink so when you = stamp=20 on glossy, certain areas of your image will "bead" up, once = again=20 providing a Distressed look without you doing a thing (this = is=20 probably one of my most favorite looks) - some areas of the = image=20 appear "pitted". Brayering on glossy cardstock is also = wonderful=20 because you can still manipulate the inks with different = tools,=20 brushes, your fingers, whatever. Even after the ink is = applied you=20 can achieve amazing texture and color = shading.

ON=20 PHOTOS: FINALLY an ink formulated for photos! = Whether=20 you're a scrapbooker or not you can use all types of photos = (vintage=20 or new ones) on your cards and pages. The Distress Inks work = on all=20 types of photos - inkjet, laser, toner copies, regular = photos (matte=20 or glossy) and even color photos! Start by using the = lightest colors=20 ANTIQUE LINEN or OLD PAPER with either a brayer or DTP = (direct to=20 photo). Cover the photo in the lighter colors, blend the = colors with=20
a small piece of Cut n' Dry Foam after you apply the = inks -=20 these inks stay
wet long enough for you to blend out any = lines=20 or marks other ink pads leave on
photos. Next age the = edges with=20 VINTAGE PHOTO or WALNUT STAIN by applying the pad directly = to the=20 edges - soften and mix the tones with a small piece of = Ranger Cut =91n=20 Dry=99 Foam. Of course to complete the aged process lightly = sand - YES=20 SAND - the photo with medium grit sand paper. Don't go over = anyone's=20 face, but just make a few scratches here and = there.

PHOTO=20 TINTING:
Distress Inks acid-free, easy to blend formula = makes=20 them your best choice
for photo tinting. Make a black = and white=20 copy of your favorite photo onto
Ranger Gloss Paper. = Select=20 areas of your photo to colorize. Pick up ink directly from = the=20 Distress Pads with Cut n' Dry Nibs and color. It's that = easy! Cut n'=20 Dry Nibs provide the control you need to place colors = exactly where=20 you want them. Distress Photo Edging Make any photo look = antique.=20 Cut a small square of Cut
n=92 Dry Foam. Ink the foam on = one of=20 the Distress pads. Rub the inked foam
around the edges = of the=20 photo for anaged effect.

THE = RE-INKERS: The=20 Distress re-inkers are so versatile and fun, especially the = bottles=20 they're in! These vintage looking glass dropper vials are = perfect=20 for aging a "batch" of tags, fibers, linens or whatever, in = baths of=20 Distress Inks & water. You can also create your own = palette on=20 your craft sheet using the reinkers and hand tint any black = and=20 white photo color by color (very fun thing to do). I also = like using=20 the resist ink or Perfect Medium and the reinkers to create = amazing=20 stained backgrounds on papers. Enjoy the journey=85 =

For more = information, visit http://timholtz.com/.
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