Distress Oxide Ink Stamping
Hello! I promised more card examples using Distress Oxide Inks. So… today I show how lovely they are on non-white cardstocks. I made 30 cards – with good reason!
[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]
Several weeks ago, there was a high school in Cincinnati that was vandalized with horrible messages of hate. When I found out, I was crushed and wanted to hug each of the people at the school. So I contacted the school and said I wanted to do something nice for the whole staff. I found out how many staff members they had and I asked friends to help me to create a card with an encouragement message for each person on staff. I am taking the cards – along with lots of breakfast treats and coffee – to the school in a few weeks. Hoping it makes them smile. Just wanting the folks there to know they are LOVED.
Anyway… that is why I made 30 cards in this video. These cards each will go to encourage someone special. I will share others I make!
I really wanted to experiment more with stamping Distress Oxide Inks on non-white cardstock. I encourage you to watch the video for a better idea of what I did for different looks. But I wanted to share photos here.
For all of the cards, I used the lovely WPlus9 Feathers and Florals Stamp Set with the Distress Oxide Inks. This stamp set is the perfect mix of solid images with a bit of layered detail. So pretty!
First up is simple stamping with Distress Oxide Inks on Simon Says Stamp Fog Cardstock. The images stamp solid and intense. I did spritz them lightly with water a few times just to add to the “chalky” look. I think this medium-grey cardstock works SO well with the Oxides. The inks dry after a bit and I don’t have to worry about them messing up like I do with most pigment inks.
After I stamped the first layer with the colorful Oxide Inks, I stamped the layer images (details on the flowers and leaves) with Hero Arts Unicorn White Pigment Ink. This gives soft white detail. I then went in with a white gel pen and added white dot details. This really makes it pop!
I also found that I liked the look of the Distress Oxide Inks on kraft cardstock. (I prefer Ranger or Hero Arts Kraft cardstocks – they are like a brown paper bag color.) For these, I gave even a few more spritzes of water. You can see on the “hello” card’s pink flowers… the dye portion of the Oxide Ink halos out of the stamped image… but pigment portion of the image says true to shape. Such a cool effect! The water “oxides” the images and makes them appear to glow while also giving a chalky look. LOVE.
Oh and the sentiments are white heat embossed from the WPlus9 That is All and Hand Lettered Hello stamp sets.
Simon Says Stamp Slate (a dark gray) cardstock also worked well. You can see the muted color and the bit of dark halo around the images thanks to the spritzes of water. So pretty in real life. On one card I put details with the white pen, and on the other I didn’t…
On the “hello” example below, I also used Mini Ink Blending Tool and an Iced Spruce Oxide Ink to add a softened edge around the card. It is almost dream-like!
I used some old, dark grey shimmer cardstock for this next card. It’s finish is very different… and the Oxide Inks still gave beautiful results. Check out how oxide-like-white those pink flowers look after a few spritzes of water. YUM. I hope to find more of this cardstock!
While I was on a roll, I decided to play with light gray (MFT Stone Gray Cardstock) and white cardstocks. For the light grey, I spritzed generously with water to give a messy watercolor look. You can see how the Oxides bleed but also keep their shape. I also sprayed the white with quite a bit of water but not as much.
Look at those chalky flowers… crazy cool! I usually struggle with unpredictable results like this but I am really liking this.
You can also see the oxidation effect on the white card…
Tim Holtz had recommended Distress Heavystock so I had to try it, too. And he is so right – the Distress Oxide Inks really behave so well on this paper. I used a lot of water on this for the crazy look. But I also added white pen details to “clean it up” a bit.
Again – not usually my style, but boy is it fun doing something different! I will be making more.
Remember to check out my first Distress Oxide Ink video HERE if you haven’t already.
Oh – and in the video I used the Misti Stamping Tool along with the new MISTI Creative Corners since I was mass producing these cards. These tools are very helpful for stampers. The Corners are out of stock in most stores because of the high demand, but will be back soon.
I know that getting new inks like these is an investment. I am hoping my videos give you a better idea of what they have to offer and if they are of interest to you!
SUPPLIES
Want to find the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except those with an asterisk. As always, this post was NOT asked for, paid, or sponsored.) Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Ellen Hutson (EH), etc.

