Video: Easy Distress Ink Backgrounds + Giveaway

Hello. Today I share a super simple distress ink background technique. It’s a favorite of mine!

Distress Ink Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Affiliate links used. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

A couple days ago I announced a new card drive where we are collecting cards to give to folks who have recently lost their child via miscarriage. (You can learn more about it HERE.) I decided to go ahead and start making cards for the cause using the one of my favorite background techniques.

Distress Ink Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

After heavily covering white cardstock with Distress Ink, I added the Hero Arts Glorious Petal Stencil over it. I misted the entire piece with Sparkle Shimmer Spritz and dabbed away the excess with a paper towel. The moisture reacts with the Distress Ink and leaves behind a shiny suede-look. Such a fun an easy technique that can be used in many ways!

Distress Ink Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Remember – you can get a big refill bottle of the Sparkle Shimmer Spritz and refill any bottle.

I really love the look of the Sparkle Shimmer Spritz on the Hickory Smoke Distress Ink. It looks like platinum…

Distress Ink Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I used the Hero Arts and Simon Says Stamp Prayers Die and Stamp Set for the card sentiment. (25% of the profits from this set will go to supporting the Lasting Hearts efforts. More on that HERE.)

I really wanted the “prayers” die cut to pop up. The easiest way to do this is to put Stick It double-sided adhesive on the back of some white craft foam and die cut it. The craft foam has dimension and you are good to go! I also die cut some tiny hearts for accents. Oh – and I made the sentiment stand out by putting it on vellum cut into a heart.

Distress Ink Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Remember – gentle tape (such as the 1/4″ masking tape I used in the video) is helpful when placing die cuts perfectly!

RELATED LINKS

Here are some links that may be helpful:

GIVEAWAY

How would you like to win a Prayers Stamp and Die Set like I used above? For your chance, leave a comment below by 11:59pmEST on 1/25/16 telling me your favorite card greeting. “Prayers” and “hugs” are mine. (The winner’s name will be randomly selected, emailed and posted on my “Winners page” after the giveaway closes. International folks are eligible, too!)

SUPPLIES

Interested in the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except those with an asterisk.)


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574 thoughts on “Video: Easy Distress Ink Backgrounds + Giveaway”

  1. Wow! I completely forgot you could do techniques like this with distress ink. I even was inspired to buy that shimmer mist by you last year so I’m all set to go. Thanks for the inspiration. You are truly amazing and I love ya! 🙂

  2. I like Prayers and Hugs too but I love Happy Birthday because I seem to do a lot of those cards. When I was doing crafts fairs and selling cards, I had Thank You cards, Birthday cards, baby cards and just cards that were general cards, cards just for someone to say “Hi, I was thinking of you.” I love sentiments!

  3. DELIGHTFUL cards Jennifer!!!
    LOVE the design and really appreciate your video with the techniques, I’m feeling excited about having some inky adventures and look forward to getting some sparkle shimmer spritz too – THANK YOU for sharing 🙂

  4. Wow,some amazing techniques ,that are new to me! Love the tip about the thin strip of tape to keep the word straight ! Beautiful cards, Jennifer! My prayers set came yesterday can’t wait to get started. Thank you ,and God bless!

  5. My favorite card greeting is “Blessings”….it just works for everything….new babies, weddings, congratulatory cards, religious events. I love that it can be used for recipients that may not be ultra religious. But I work or a religious organization so my “blessings” sentiments and dies are well loved.

  6. I definitely agree that Prayers and Hugs are two of my favorite greetings! They are so encouraging and both make the recipient feel loved, valued, and appreciated!
    If I won this set, I would give it to my friend, Nancy. She is starting something called Encouragement Club. The group will meet to make cards for people who need an extra dose of encouragement and then spend time together praying specifically for those people and their needs. It will a great time of ministry and I’m looking forward to it, and Im sure we would get lots of use out of the set! 🙂

  7. I love using short words or phrases, like hugs, thinking of you, or a simple happy birthday. BUT….I do love using all the quirky and fun sentiments that come in some stamp packs. They can be so cute and creative sometimes and I especially love the punny ones!

  8. I love your video on the Prayers Stamp and Die Set. So many nice cards and I enjoy the way you explain the details and using the Stick It and the fun foam is something I want to do. You always make these techniques so easy….hope I can do a good job, too! Thanks for the chance to win! I especially like using “Thinking of You” for cards to have on hand.

  9. I’d have to say that “happy” is my favorite greeting…or I should say part of a gretting. Nice technique. I have to try this.

  10. Great technique! Your tutorials are inspirational. ‘Thinking of you’ is a sentiment that I love 🙂

  11. WOW! NO Way! I came here to get information about the card drive and when I saw that you used this technique with the cards my jaw hit the floor. My desk is covered in all the materials you are using because I am just about to use the same exact technique. I have been playing with stencils all week. I can’t believe that I had the exact idea as you. Maybe I do have some genius in me….maybe after all these years a teensie tiny bit of your creativity is rubbing off on me. I will have to hug you more! 🙂

  12. Favorite sentiments: Just Because and “Miss You”. This is an awesome technique and very beautiful. Thank you for sharing your kindness.

  13. Great card, great cause, and great video! I especially like the tip about using the tape to put down the die cut word. As for my favorite card greetings, they would be “happy birthday” and “thinking of you”. Thanks for sharing both your talents and the information about this wonderful cause.

  14. I like “Hugs” and “Blessings” a lot! Of course Happy Birthday and Thank You are always nice, as well.
    I love EVERYTHING you do, you are just an amazing artist, Jennifer! My dream is to get to papercraft with you! ❤️Thanks for all you do to help us.

  15. Can’t remember if I commented earlier or not – anyway, one of my favorite is also Prayers, although I also like to use Hello. Lie having a chance to win, Thanks!

  16. Thanks for the demo using sparkle spray. I already gave it a try and it is great for making quick cards. I mostly make birthday cards, so I use Happy Birthday a lot, but on the inside I like to put Don’t forget to have a little fun today.

  17. I mostly use the phrase Merry or Joy for the many holiday cards I make for the Caring Hearts card drive. I make a lot of birthday cards too. My favorite newest phrase is SMILE, a Simon Says die and coordinating stamp. I can use that for birthdays, thinking of you, congratulations, best wishes, etc. I love your idea of using a prayers die on your cards. So appropriate. So nice.

  18. My favorite card greeting is either a funny saying that makes the recipient smile or “Thanks”! If the saying is a pun to the picture, my friends seem to love it! I love the word “Thanks” because you can thank a person for something they did for you or just Thank them for being who they are everyday! It is great to give a person a smile or a bit of encouragement. God made each of us for a unique purpose and we should encourage others!

  19. My 2 favorite greeting would be ‘love’ and ‘precious’. Most people would think money is the most powerful tool. But I believe love conquers all. Hence the power of love. Also, in our busy lives we sometimes forget how loved ones play a vital part. Sending a ‘precious’ card would show them how valuable they are. Love how the results of this technique produces. Simple yet elegant. Thank you.

  20. I love sending praying for you/thinking of you cards to people because those can sometimes be an unexpected encouragement at just the right time for the recipient. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this card drive. It is very dear to my heart ❤️

  21. If I don’t have a particular type of card I want made I will generally go with a more generic saying such as Thinking of You or Hello. That way inside I can always add a saying to personalize it more such as Get well soon or Happy Birthday, etc. Oh, and I love the card and will have to try the technique soon.

  22. Love the PRAYERS cards.
    Hello has always been my fave but now I have a new Favorite. PRAYERS!!! love this set!!

  23. There are so many, but I would say Thank You and Miss You. Love your card and I am not familiar with Sparkle Shimmer Spritz but will have to try it. Thanks for sharing.

    Linda D.

  24. Favorite card greetings you ask….well prayers&hugs combined together. Really like the Hero Arts prayers font and matching die combination. Hoping they will do more sets like this and in the same font. Great timeless set. Hugs&Wags would be fantastic for pet owners, those who rescued etc. Also, great card techniques and card drive info. Thank you for all you do. Happy crafting and puppy wags.

  25. My favorite sentiment would be “Hang In There” , or “You’ve Got This”. I like for my cards to be uplifting. Thank you so much for the new product introductions and descriptions. I just LOVE seeing what’s new & hearing your different ideas for using them. And, wow — those Wplus9 designers really showed some awesome cards too!

    Thanks again!
    Denise Ferguson
    Bryan, TX

  26. My fav card greeting at this moment is: You are Loved. Love this new technique and will try tonight, can’t wait 🙂 Thanks

  27. Wow, it’s like magic the way the water makes the effect on the distress inks. And the stencil is exquisite too.
    My favourite sentiment is Just for You – it makes the recipient feel really special, I hope.
    Thanx for the giveaway. It’s so thoughtful of you to participate with this cause. Be well.

  28. Your cards are so amazin and inspiring that it makes me want to make them .i love this stamp set a lot , that you have used in the cards .. I would really really really love to win the “Prayers stamp set” . Thanks for this opportunity .And also my favorite stamp or sentiments I use most often are thank you and you are so kind .

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