Did you know that not all stamp pads are created equal? Different types of ink pads have different properties that can be used for a variety of projects. Distress Ink and Distress Oxides are two of the most popular stamp pads on the market. They have unique properties that set them apart from other brands. What are the differences and similarities between these two? 

Let's start by discussing the similarities. Both Distress Oxide and Ink can be refilled. This is a great eco-friendly feature. You don't need to keep purchasing stamp pads but can reuse the same one over and over. They both come in a 3x3 size. The packages are cleverly designed to nest and stack making storage a breeze.

Both can be used with water. Spraying the ink on the paper with water will cause them to wick and spread across the paper creating speckled watercolor effects. They can both be used in combination with watercolor paints. They can also be used on their own as “watercolors”. Try dripping the reinker bottles in a clean palette. With a brush try painting an image or painting over a black stamped image to get amazing effects! Both Distress Oxide and Ink can be used to emboss. Using a clear embossing powder can show the beautiful ink underneath it.

The differences between these two may not be apparent at first glance. Distress Inks are a dye based formula. Check out last week's blog post for a more in depth look at dye inks. Dye based inks are more transparent and dry quickly. This allows you to see the tooth of the paper or an image underneath the ink. This can create amazing layered effects in a project. Relative to other brands on the market, both inks blend very smoothly. However, Distress Inks blend less smoothly than their Oxide counterparts.

Distress Oxides are a hybrid between pigment and dye based inks. They are opaque when stamped. This is a wonderful property to take advantage of if working on a project with dark cardstock. Distress Oxides when stamped on paper begin to oxidize when exposed to the air. It creates a beautiful creamy, chalky finish. This is a wonderful property to use when working on vintage themed projects. 

Distress Oxide and Distress Inks have unique properties. They are a joy to work with. They can be used in a variety of projects to add a special touch. They can be used in scrapbooking, cardmaking, journaling, on fabrics, tags, and bookmarks. They sky's the limit with these amazing inks. Give them a try on your next project. Country Craft Creations has a wonderful selection to choose from.