Irresistible Inking Ideas

One of the most basic, yet popular technique in paper crafting is using inks. We all enjoy stamping images and coloring them for almost all of our papercrafts.

Today we are taking it to the next level with fun and creative inking techniques.

We all love our ink pads and the tools that go with them. There are so many choices these days in the different collections and the colors available within these collections.

Make sure when you are buying new ink pads to get the reinker too. There are offers on the internet that combine the ink pad with the reinker. These are often offered at a discounted price. 

The point of buying the combo is that you always have extra ink so you can complete your projects.  And if for some reason the company discontinues that pad, you can extend the life of the pad.

Ink Blending Backgrounds

In this technique, we use ink blending brushes and sponges to create softly merged colors. Distress inks and distress oxide inks are the most popular to get the best results. You get smooth transitions and the bonus with these inks is that they are reactive to water. 

Another way to use them is to edge cards with them. This is a popular use for greeting card layers, journal edges and mat layers in scrapbooking. You can also edge tags, postcards and artist trading cards.

And of course we could not forget using inks with stencils. 

• When you are blending it is important to use the right paper. Smooth paper is always your best choice. Stick with smooth cardstock and you will always get the best results.
• Use the right tools. For a lighter blend use blending brushes. The foam can be used again if you keep one pad for each of your colors. Ink daubers work well too. 
• Chose the right inks. You can in fact blend most dye inks. Pigment inks would be very wet to work with. Distress inks and distress oxide inks are the easiest to work with and my personal favorites.
• Use a craft mat. It makes clean up a breeze. But more than that, it helps you blot off excess inks to avoid harsh lines between colors.
• If you are using a round blending tools. Ink blends better if the tool is saturated.
• Start off the page. Start off the page and work into it. You will get a better blend.
• Build color for a better blend. Remember if you put too much ink on the project, you cannot take it off. So, start light and build your color to get the perfect blend.
• Keep a piece of scrap paper on hand. Use it under your non blending hand. It will help you avoid smudges and keep some ink away from your fingers.

Ink Smooshing

Ink Smooshing is an easy inking technique that creates beautiful, organic, watercolor-style backgrounds — perfect for card making, journaling, and mixed media! It is a method to transfer wet ink from a surface onto paper by “smooshing” (pressing) the paper into the ink.

Press ink pads onto a craft mat, spritz with water, then press paper into the color puddles.  Great for watercolor or abstract backgrounds.

The result is a loose, blended background with unpredictable patterns, splashes, and soft color transitions — kind of like watercolor, but faster and easier!

What You Need:

• Water-reactive inks (like Distress Ink or Distress Oxide)
• A craft mat, acetate sheet, or plastic packaging (from stamps or dies)
• Water spray bottle
• Cardstock or watercolor paper (watercolor paper holds up best)
• Paper towel for blotting

How To Do It:

1. Apply the ink to a craft mat, an acrylic block or a glass mat.
2. Add water-Spritz lightly with water to activate the ink and make it move. The more water you add, the softer the color will be.
3. Smoosh-Either press your cardstock directly onto the ink puddle. Or, Pick up ink with acetate, then gently press and “smoosh” it onto your paper (the acetate method gives you more control).
4. Dry Between Layers (optional)-Use a heat tool to dry your first layer, then repeat with more colors or layers for depth and texture.
5. Finish-Once dry, you can stamp, emboss, or die-cut over your smooshed background.

Project Tips And Variations

• Use multiple ink colors but start light and layer darker shades later.
• Add metallic splatters or white paint for extra detail.
• Try smooshing through stencils for a patterned watercolor effect.

Water Lifting

Blend a solid ink background, then sprinkle or flick water. Let it lift the color for a speckled look. You can also use stencils with water to lift patterns.

In some papercraft or mixed-media work, artists use water to lift dye or ink from glossy or alcohol-ink paper to make patterns.

How To Do It

1. Ink the surface (like Yupo paper). You could also try using glossy photo paper.
2. Once dry, place a stencil over the surface.
3. Brush or spray clean water through the stencil.
4. Wait a few seconds, then blot with a clean towel — the lifted water removes color where it touched. You get a subtle negative image or a ghostlike effect.

Emboss Resist

Emboss resist is a fun and versatile ink technique in paper crafting where heat embossing is used to "resist" ink or watercolor applied on top. The melted embossing powder forms a shiny, raised surface that repels color, revealing your stamped or embossed design underneath.

Stamp an image in clear embossing ink, heat emboss, then blend ink over it. The embossed areas resist the ink, revealing the design.

What You Need

• Smooth cardstock or watercolor paper
• Embossing ink pad (clear or tinted, e.g., VersaMark)
• Embossing powder (usually clear or white, but any color works)
• Heat tool
• Inks or paints (Distress inks, dye inks, or watercolors work great)
• Blending tools, brushes, or sponges
• Soft cloth or paper towel

1. Stamp your image using embossing ink on your cardstock.
2. Sprinkle embossing powder over the stamped image.
3. Tap off excess powder and heat-set it until it melts and turns shiny.
4. Once cool, blend or brush ink over the entire piece — the embossed design will “resist” the ink.
5. Wipe the surface gently with a dry cloth or tissue to remove any ink sitting on the embossed areas.

Project Tips

• Heat emboss on thicker paper to prevent warping.
• For soft blends, use Distress Oxides or dye inks.
• Make sure embossing powder is completely melted — otherwise, ink can stick to powdery spots.
• You can combine emboss resist with stencils, masking, or ink smooshing for unique backgrounds.

Multicolor Stamping

Multicolor stamping means applying different ink colors to different parts of a single stamp before pressing it onto paper or another surface.

Apply different inks directly to sections of a stamp for a gradient or rainbow effect. Great for flowers, leaves, or word stamps.

1. Direct-to-stamp inking: Dab different colored ink pads directly onto portions of the stamp.
2. Marker technique: Color specific parts of the stamp using water-based markers.
3. Layered stamping: Use several coordinated stamps (often clear or photopolymer) that align perfectly, each stamped in a different color.

Ink Layering with Versamark

Ink layering is a technique in paper crafts is used to create depth and dimension. It layers different inks on top of each other. You can create custom shades and vibrant color combinations without the need for extra supplies. 

The process involves selecting ink colors, aligning stencils and using blending techniques to get the best result.  

Stamp in colored ink first, then stamp slightly offset with Versamark and heat emboss with clear powder for a glossy 3D look.

Shadow Stamping

Shadow stamping is simple stamping technique that creates a soft, shadow-like effect behind your stamped image — giving your design depth and dimension without layering actual materials.

Stamp an image once in a light color, then slightly offset it with a darker ink — creates a dimensional or “double vision” effect.

• In the first impression Use a light ink color to stamp your image.
• Second impression: Stamp the same image again, slightly offset (just a tiny bit to one side or below) using a darker ink color or the same color stamped again more strongly.

Best Stamps For Shadow Stamping

Some stamps work better than other in this technique:

• Solid Stamps-For this technique, the more solid the stamp is, the better the result. They create a strong contrast between the “shadow” and the main image, so the offset effect is crisp and visible.
• Bold Sentiments-Large word or phrase stamps with thick lettering (often used for greetings) are perfect for shadow stamping. The wide lines make it easy to offset the second image slightly and get a readable shadow effect — especially nice for titles or focal points.
• Layered Stamps-Though usually meant for multi-step coloring, you can use the first layer (the solid base) of a layering stamp set for shadow stamping. Those base layers are designed to give smooth, solid coverage — exactly what you want for this technique.
•  Pigment-Friendly or Clear Photopolymer Stamps-Clear photopolymer stamps are especially good because you can easily see through them and align your second stamping slightly offset — perfect for positioning your shadow precisely. You get better control for slight shifts. You also get even inking and clearer images

How To Do It

1. Choose your stamp and two coordinating ink colors — one light and one dark.
2. Stamp the lighter color first.
3. Without cleaning your stamp, ink it again with the darker color.
4. Align the stamp just slightly off from the first impression (a hair’s width or so).
5. Press down firmly and lift — the “shadow” will appear!

Project Tips

• For a soft, dreamy look, use tone-on-tone colors (like light blue + navy, or beige + brown).
• Try white pigment ink on dark cardstock first, then stamp over it with a bright color — it makes the top image pop.
• Use a stamp positioner (like a MISTI tool) if you want precise control over how far the shadow sits.
• Avoid Highly detailed stamps: Small lines make it hard to see the shadow clearly.
• Fine-line or outline stamps: The shadow looks too subtle or messy.
• Textured or distressed designs: Can look muddy when double stamped. Stay away from these too.

Metallic Inking

Metallic inking uses inks that contain reflective pigments (like mica or metal flakes) — to give your stamped or stenciled designs a shiny, lustrous finish

Metallic inking simply means applying ink with a metallic sheen—such as gold, silver, copper, or pearl—to your paper using stamps, blending tools, brushes, or stencils. When the ink dries, it leaves behind a subtle to bold reflective surface that catches the light.

Types Of Metallic Inks

• Pigment based metallic ink-This type of inks is thick and opaque; sit on top of the paper. It is great for dark or colored cardstock. Best for stamping and heat embossing (they stay wet longer).
• Metallic spray or mist inks-Spritzed over stencils or paper for shimmer backgrounds. Gives a soft, diffused metallic look.
• Metallic ink reinkers or liquid inks-Can be painted, splattered, or blended with a brush or water. Often used for watercolor effects with a metallic glow.
• Metallic gel or alcohol inks-Used on nonporous surfaces (like acetate, Yupo, or foil cardstock). Produce bold, marble-like effects.

Ways To Use Metallic Inking

• Stamping: Ink your stamp with metallic pigment ink for shiny impressions.
• Blending: Apply metallic ink with a blending brush or sponge for a soft sheen around edges or over stencils.
• Lettering: Write or highlight details using metallic ink pens.
• Accents: Flick or splatter diluted metallic ink for decorative shine.
• Layering: Stamp over colored backgrounds for contrast and dimension.

Project Tips

• Use smooth cardstock for even shine.
• Let the ink dry completely (metallic inks can take longer).
• For more durability, heat set or lightly emboss with clear powder.
• On dark paper, metallic inks really stand out beautifully.

Ink Splattering

Ink splattering in paper crafts is a decorative technique used to add texture, energy, and visual interest to a project—like handmade cards, scrapbook pages, art journals, or mixed media pieces.

What Media Works Best With Ink Splattering

• Distress inks or distress oxides (mixed with water)
• Watercolors
• Acrylic ink
• Spray ink or shimmer mist
• Metallic or pearlescent paints for sparkle

How To Do It

1. Load a brush or tool: Dip a paintbrush, toothbrush, or ink blending brush into liquid ink, watercolor, or diluted acrylic paint
2. Flick the bristles: Tap or flick the brush over your project to scatter droplets of ink.
3. Control the effect: Closer flicks = bigger, denser spots. Farther flicks = finer mist. More water = softer, translucent splatters. Less water = bold, opaque dots.

Tips For This Technique

• Use a toothbrush for your splatters
• Cover areas you don’t want splatter on (use scrap paper or masking). You can use scrap paper.
• Test first on scrap paper to gauge droplet size.
• Use a splatter box (a shallow cardboard box) to contain the mess.
• Layer splatters in different colors for dimension.

I hope you have enjoyed these ideas. Thanks for stopping by. 

Happy Crafting!

Linda