Playing with inks, stamps, stencils and dies

 I have recently started to get hold of some Distress Oxide inks.  These are a mix of pigment ink and dye ink and have a chalky look, but not a chalky feel.  They have been around for a couple of years and I kept seeing them being used to create the most wonderful backgrounds on blogs and youtube, so I thought I should give them a go (better late than never!).  They work really well.  Above is a simple birthday card for my niece with a Distress Oxide background.  The stamp worked beautifully too.

I then made more backgrounds and used stamps I hadn't tried before.

 I was really pleased with the results.

I have started using frames around these smaller images and I think they look really effective.

 I then tried the oxides through a stencil...

...in a couple of different colourways.  I found that the Oxides are a lot easier to blend than the regular Distress Inks. 

The Oxides react to water so you can create some interesting effects such as 'faux bleaching'.
I used a spiral stamp to create the backgrounds above and you can see the effect adding water had.  I used watercolour card for that.

I also ordered some rather fabulous dies which arrived last week.  Oh my goodness, I love them!  I used the Oxides to create the backgrounds although it took me a few goes to get the colours right - (lighter colours around the moon, Ellie!)

 They are so versatile and can be used throughout the year, not just Christmas, although that's my cards sorted for this year!  A fox peers warily through the trees...

 A stag, doe and fawn pause in a glade...

 A barn owl is on the prowl and a rabbit listens...

 You can also build up the layers by making a little pocket for the tags to sit in.

I know I am going to really enjoy using the inks and dies, although more Distress Oxides will need to be purchased, I think.