Welcome! In this In Detail segment, I’ll be discussing the recently released Ranger Distress Ink Spray Stains.
The In Detail posts on Spray Mists, Make-Your-Own Mists, and Stencils may be of interest. The topics “Misting Basics” and “Spraying through Stencils” are covered in the Spray Mists post.
The Distress Spray Stains (1.9 oz.) are available in 24 colors, including white and 3 metallics, from the Distress color palette. These water-based dye inks, also water-reactive, are intended for use on paper and porous surfaces. The white and metallic bottles include a mixing ball, whereas the other colors do not.
Spraying through Stencils
To test one of the color sprays, I sprayed Ranger Distress Mustard Seed Spray Stain through the Crafter’s Workshop Chunky Chevron stencil.
The spray provided an even mist with a few large drops. The formula for the color sprays is more like that of the Dylusions sprays than the Studio Calico or Hero Arts sprays, (these products were reviewed in Spray Mists). The Distress Spray Stain saturates the paper rather than sits on its surface.
To test one of the metallic colors, I sprayed Ranger Distress Brushed Pewter Spray Stain through the Tim Holtz Stars stencil on red cardstock.
Again, the spray provided an even mist with a few large drops. Due to its opacity, the metallic spray sits more on the surface than the color sprays.
I sprayed the Distress Picket Fence Spray Stain through the Tim Holtz Holiday Knit stencil on red cardstock.
Yet again, the spray provided an even mist with only a few large drops. Like the metallic sprays, the white spray sits more on the surface than the color sprays.
Adding Splatters
My next test was to remove the nozzles of the sprays and tap the product onto cardstock squares.
The drops from the Tarnished Brass, Brushed Pewter, and Picket Fence stay on the top of the paper, while those from Barn Door, Mowed Lawn, and Mustard Seed spread considerably and soak into the paper.
Emboss Resist
On #5 Manila tags, I stamped and heat-embossed a sentiment from the Essentials by Ellen Brushstroke Christmas by Julie Ebersole. I sprayed three tags with Distress Spray Stains in Mowed Lawn, Evergreen Bough, and Barn Door and swiped with a paper towel.
The sprays provided good coverage without soaking the tag too much.
Combining Mists
Just as I did in the Spray Mists post, in which I used Dylusions sprays, I sprayed two Distress Spray Stains–Mowed Lawn and Peacock Feathers–onto a manila tag and rolled with a paper towel roll. This is an easy way to create a background. The key is to avoid combining colors that are opposites on the color wheel–red/green, blue/orange, yellow/purple–because the color created with the combination will muddy.
Painting with Sprays
I used the Barn Door and Mowed Lawn Spray Stains to paint a stamped Tim Holtz poinsettia image. I simply sprayed the colors into small disposable cups and used a Tim Holtz water brush, without any water, to apply the sprays full-strength to the image. While I wasn’t using the spray to watercolor, but rather just to color, the image, the spray stains could be used for watercolor.
Stamping with Distress Picket Fence Spray Stain
Since the Picket Fence Spray Stain is opaque rather than transparent, it can be used for stamping with the Dylusions Ink Spray Pad. I heavily sprayed a section of the pad with the Picket Fence Spray Stain. I concentrated the spray in one section, slightly larger than the stamp I was using, as I didn’t want to use the entire bottle on the ink pad! I stamped the same image with Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink and with the spray ink on black tags.
Although I would not use this method on a regular basis, the Picket Fence Spray Stain can be used for stamping.
Custom Blends with Distress Picket Fence Spray Stain
In the Make-Your-Own Mists post, I discussed the ability to mix Dylusions Ink Spray White Linen with other sprays in the Dylusions line. I wanted to test the mixability of the Distress Picket Fence Spray Stain. With a Studio Calico eye dropper, I added two droppersfuls of the Picket Fence Spray Stain and one-quarter dropper of Distress Peacock Feathers Spray Stain to a Mini Mister bottle to make a light teal spray.
The resulting mist, which I sprayed through the Dylusions Floral Medley stencil, yielded a subtly-colored, opaque image. By design, the Distress Spray Stains coordinate with the Distress color palette and therefore lacked the vibrancy of the Dylusions mists.
Creating "Watercolor" Backgrounds
For my final test, I sprayed Mowed Lawn and Peacock Feathers Spray Stains onto my craft sheet and swiped a panel of watercolor paper through the sprayed areas. (I use a similar method to apply Distress Ink to watercolor paper for a background by smooshing the Distress Ink pads onto the craft sheet and misting with water. By the way, the Dylusions sprays can be used in the same manner.)
While I wouldn’t purchase the Distress Spray Stains specifically for this technique, it’s nice to know it’s an option.
Thanks for joining me today. I hope you've enjoyed this exploration of the new Ranger Distress Spray Stains.
--Jean
