Technique of the Week: Playing with Distress Crayons

Today’s technique uses Distress Crayons on watercolor paper.  I bought the crayons as soon as they were available last spring but unfortunately, I haven't used them very much.  I recently started trying different techniques with them and then I ran across a video by Sandy Allnock which I mentioned in last week's Technique of the Week article.  

After experimenting with the technique a bit I’ve decided that I really like it and I hope that you will like it too!  In her video, Sandy does two versions of this technique – an embossed version and another version without embossing.  I’m sharing the embossed version today because I loved the shine created by the embossing powder and I love anything with shine!  However, the directions for the version without embossing, as well as a link to her video will be at the end of this blog post.

To begin you need to select a stamp that will cover the entire front of your card.  I selected Hero Arts Garden Tile, CG667, for this project but there are also lots of other big stamps, to include Impression Obsession Cover a Card stamps that will work great for this technique.  

Cut a piece of watercolor paper slightly larger than your stamp.  Tape the paper to the inside of your MISTI, smooth side up to hold it in place.  Align your stamp on your paper then pick it up with the lid of the MISTI. Use the Embossing Powder tool to generously cover the watercolor paper with powder. Ink the stamp well with Versa Mark ink and stamp the paper.  Restamp if necessary to ensure an even stamping.  

(If you don't have a MISTI, lay your stamp on your table, rubber side up. Ink your stamp and place your watercolor paper, smooth side against the rubber. Hold it in place and use your other hand to press the paper all over so that it makes good contact with the rubber. You will not be able to do a second stamping without the MISTI). Apply a detailed embossing powder such as Judikins Detail Gold and then heat with a heat gun. 

Select a few Distress Crayons in colors that will blend well together– I used Spun Sugar, and Dried Marigold, (from set #5) and Candied Apple and Squeezed Lemonade (from set #4).  Use the crayons to put dots of color all over the paper.  You can make the dots random or put them in a pattern.  Leave white space too, as you will be blending these dots.

Once you have the colors on the paper, use a baby wipe to blend the colors.  After experimenting I realized that it works best if you blend all the dots of one color, such as Spun Sugar, first.  Use a small section of the baby wipe and a light, circular motion to blend out the color.  The baby wipes will pick up the color so move to a clean section of the wipe when you start blending the second color. 

Follow this process until all the dots have been blended.  You can add more color as desired.  Just add the color and keep blending until you have the amount of color you want. 

Be careful not to overwork the paper though.  Move to another clean section of the wipe and gently wipe the whole card to clean any bits of crayon off the embossed areas.

To finish this card I trimmed the watercolor piece to 4”x5 ½”.   I used the Penny Black die cut “A Very Merry”, #51-147, to cut a sentiment in the center of the paper.  When you remove the die cut, be sure to save all the little inside letter pieces. 

Cut a piece of Scor Tape the size of the opening and place it on the back of the watercolor paper. I also die cut the same sentiment from red mirricard paper and then placed the red die cut into the die cut opening on the watercolor paper. 

I pieced in the centers of the letters (A, R, etc.).  I cut a piece of red mirricard to 4 ¼”x5 ½” and adhered it to the front of an A2 card.  I adhered the watercolor paper to the red mirricard and then added a few sequins to finish the card.

Another alternative is to skip the embossing step.  Just stamp with Versa Fine pigment ink (rather than Versa Mark) and after it dries follow the steps above.  Versa Fine works the best because it is a great ink for detailed stamps.  You can also check out Sandy Allnock’s video here to see both versions of this technique.    

Ranger has five sets of Distress Crayons available now and they just announced they will be releasing two more sets soon.  Eventually all 60 Distress ink colors will have a matching crayon.  The crayons will also be available individually.  Please stop by Art ‘n Soul to see this card in person and to learn more about these fun crayons.