How To

Top of Page

Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads

Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint

Distress Crackle Paint is just that…paint that dries with a crackled effect. This is not the “2-part” crackle finishes that you see in hardware or craft stores, but an acrylic paint that has more of the look of “dried or cracked earth”.  What is so special about it is that the paint cracks on its own as it dries and comes in the beautiful 24 color Distress™ color palette. A multitude of looks can be created, from grungy to vintage distressed to shabby chic!

Here are some tips on how to get the best results with Distress Crackle Paint!

Tips:
1. Shake the jar to mix the paint. If it is a little thicker, add some mists of water with a Mini Mister™. Stir and add more mists of water as needed until you have a smoother consistency. Note: only add water to Crackle Paint IF NEEDED.

2. Apply Distress Crackle Paint to a surface that has some “tooth” (something that the paint can grab onto) such as paper, Grungeboard™, chipboard or primed canvas. If using unfinished wood or natural canvas,

it is suggested to prime the surface first with gesso or acrylic paint, such as the Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers.

3. It is ideal to paint medium to thick applications; a medium application will result in smaller cracks. A thicker coat will create larger cracks. A thin application doesn’t work as well because the paint has nothing to crack. Don’t treat the paint like a “regular” acrylic paint-Distress Crackle Paint is self-leveling. If a thicker application is applied, the paint will still level out before it dries and cracks.

4. The optimal way for the paint to crack is to just let it dry and crack on its own. Yes-watching paint dry! If you’re in a rush for the “magic”, once the paint has started to crackle on its own first (this is an IMPORTANT step!) apply cool air, such as from a mini-fan or dry with a Craft Tool from underneath the painted surface.

5. Be sure to completely close the lids on the jars.

6. Once the paint crackles, an option is to highlight the cracks using one of the Distress Ink™ Dye Stamp Pads and the Inkssentials™ Ink Blending Tool. The matching color of the Distress Ink will accent the cracks;

a darker color of Distress Ink will tone down the paint color as well as accenting the crackle.

7. Images can be stamped on the crackled surface with Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers as well as Archival™ Ink Stamp Pads. Many rub-ons can also be applied to the crackles surfaces. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

8. Remember, it’s paint…that cracks.

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads

Here are some key points that make Distress Inks different:

STAYS WET LONGER - (allows you to blend and shade on photos and paper - also emboss) other dye inks dry too fast especially on photos so you end up with lines and marks if you go direct from the pad.

COLOR WICKS OR SPREADS OUT - (these inks will travel across the surface of your paper when spritzed with water) other dyes do not travel as much although they might bleed a little when wet, the Distress Inks actually "wick" or spread out much further creating several tone on tones.

COLOR STABILITY - (the colors of the Distress Inks will not break down when wet or heated allowing you to have more color control for the finished look) other "brown colored" dyes will break down when water is added leaving a pink & green hue.

COLOR PALETTE - Well these are unlike ANY other colors of inks you've seen. The color palette of Distress Inks is:

* Antique Linen -the color of aged lace or linens found in the cherished heirlooms of grandmother's trunk

* Old Paper -the color of weathered and timeless book pages tucked away in the attic for generations

* Tea Dye -the orange hue of saturated tea bags with the results of dying in a tea bath for days

* Vintage Photo -this color is captured right out of the photographs from times gone by

* Walnut Stain -a rich, dark stain of and old walnut tree perfect to create a dark wash of color

* Black Soot -from the depths, a black like no other - this is the one you've been searching for

*Fired Brick -the look of charred cinders from an old camp fire

*Weathered Wood -taken from the patina on a dairy barn’s window frame

*Mustard Seed -the rich, warm taste of spicy Americana mustard

*Peeled Paint -the color of the flaked green paint on Aunt Sadie’s porch
furniture

*Tattered Rose -grandma’s cabbage rose wall paper, faded and stained to
perfection

*Milled Lavender -a veil of pale lavender sachet tucked into mom’s lingerie
drawer

TO DISTRESS: I like to use water when I am distressing. I think it gives the papers more of a weathered texture, so here's how I start. Working on any type of paper (manila, cardstock, or text weight), crumple the

paper up - always press in the center of any heavyweight cardstock or manila stock - this will break the surface tension of the paper and allow you to crumple up the paper easier without tearing it. Next rub the

Distress pads over the surface - you can work with several different colors or just one - WALNUT STAIN IS IDEAL FOR THIS. Then spray the inked surface with water (you will immediately notice the ink "travels" outward when water is applied as these inks are designed to react with water). Heat the surface to dry - and here's why... Although you don't have to Heat Set these inks for any reason, I like to dry the water using

either my Heat-It Craft Tool or an iron. This will allow for more tone control and keep areas dark and others light. Ironing the paper will also give you a much smoother surface to stamp on without compromising the aged finish. *If you allow the surface to air-dry most of your color will end up on the edges only because the paper will bend and buckle when wet, forcing the ink and water to the edges. Notice that these Distress

Inks retain their color value even when wet and dried. Other brown dyes will break down in color (sometimes leaving a pink and green hue).

DOUBLE DISTRESS TAGS: Crumple tag and apply 2 colors (one new tone and one original tone) of Distress Inks directly from the pads to each crumpled tag. Spray with water and dry.

"WRINKLE-FREE" DISTRESSING
To create the look of aged papers, from times gone by, without all the lines and wrinkles - give this a try. Working on your non-stick Craft Sheet, begin by directly applying various colors of Distress Ink Pads to the surface of the Craft Sheet. A couple of swipes of a color or two will do the trick (you might also try using an original color of Distress Ink along with a new one!). Get out your Distress Re-Inkers for this next step as

you want to add a bit of intense color for the ultimate vintage look. I like using Walnut Stain or Vintage Photo for this, so remove the glass dropper from the bottle and drag it across the inked Craft Sheet - do not squeeze any drops of ink as it will take over everything! Next mist the Craft Sheet with water to allow the inks to begin mixing and blending - usually 3-4 sprays is plenty. Then take your paper or tag and place in

directly on the inked Craft Sheet and lift it off. If you have any un-inked areas simply place that area of the paper on any left over inks on the sheet. Finally dry your paper or tag using an iron or a Heat-It
Craft Tool ( if you allow your papers to air dry they will curl and force most of the ink to the edges so I prefer to heat them to dry.). To finish your attic-fresh look, ink the edges with Distress Inks using a piece of

Cut n' Dry Foam.

FOR STAMPING: What can I say about the many stamping applications these inks can achieve. Once again the special formulation on these Distress Inks provides a versatile finish on papers yet still allow for

"normal" stamping applications. I like to stamp on uncoated (matte) papers and immediately rub the image with a cloth - this will soften or shadow your image WITHOUT smudging any detail - VINTAGE PHOTO, WALNUT STAIN, TEA DYE, BLACK SOOT - wonderful for this one! Another surface is glossy cardstock - keep in mind this is a different type of dye ink so when you stamp on glossy, certain areas of your image

will "bead" up, once again providing a Distressed look without you doing a thing (this is probably one of my most favorite looks) - some areas of the image appear "pitted". Brayering on glossy cardstock is also wonderful because you can still manipulate the inks with different tools, brushes, your fingers, whatever. Even after the ink is applied you can achieve amazing texture and color shading.

ON PHOTOS: FINALLY an ink formulated for photos! Whether you're a scrapbooker or not you can use all types of photos (vintage or new ones) on your cards and pages. The Distress Inks work on all types of

photos - inkjet, laser, toner copies, regular photos (matte or glossy) and even color photos! Start by using the lightest colors ANTIQUE LINEN or OLD PAPER with either a brayer or DTP (direct to photo). Cover the photo in the lighter colors, blend the colors with a small piece of Cut n' Dry Foam after you apply the inks - these inks stay wet long enough for you to blend out any lines or marks other ink pads leave on
photos. Next age the edges with VINTAGE PHOTO or WALNUT STAIN by applying the pad directly to the edges - soften and mix the tones with a small piece of Ranger Cut ‘n Dry™ Foam. Of course to complete the aged process lightly sand - YES SAND - the photo with medium grit sand paper. Don't go over anyone's face, but just make a few scratches here and there.

PHOTO TINTING:
Distress Inks acid-free, easy to blend formula makes them your best choice for photo tinting. Make a black and white copy of your favorite photo onto Ranger Gloss Paper. Select areas of your photo to colorize.

Pick up ink directly from the Distress Pads with Cut n' Dry Nibs and color. It's that easy! Cut n' Dry Nibs provide the control you need to place colors exactly where you want them. Distress Photo Edging Make any photo look antique. Cut a small square of Cut n’ Dry Foam. Ink the foam on one of the Distress pads. Rub the inked foam around the edges of the photo for anaged effect.

Back to top of Page