All About Ink Smooshing

Ink smooshing is an “older” technique, but I have to admit I have struggled with it SO MUCH! Anytime I have ever tried this technique I never come away with a usable background, let alone one I like. That is until I switched up my card stock. I was following everyone’s directions to use watercolor paper and that will give you the best results, but it just didn’t work for me. If you want to know what worked for me and a few tips and tricks I learned to help me make backgrounds I actually use be sure to watch the video tutorial down below!!

This is one of those instances where I could never give you all the information in a written post, the video tutorial is definitely where you want to invest you time today! I give so many different examples of ink smooshing, a few ways to do it and different products that can give you different results!

My first two cards I used Distress Ink Minis and smooshed with both my craft mat, I use the Imagine Silicone Mat, and plastic sheeting. These are both great ways to get color onto your projects, but they each have their own advantages and disadvantages!

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For my third card I did something complete different! First I stamped my image as I normally would with a water safe ink (Versafine Clair Pinecone). Then, after cleaning off the stamp I flipped it over and made sure the back of the stamp was facing AWAY from the acrylic block. I quickly applied some color to the back of my stamp with watercolor markers and gave it a quick spritz then I used the back of the stamp to smoosh the ink and color in the image! Super easy way to color!!

For my fourth card I went back to smooshing with my craft mat and a plastic sheet, but instead of inks like my Distress Inks, I used my Dr. PhMartins Hydrus watercolors. So whenever you’re choosing your products it’s ok to think outside the box and try new things! Liquid watercolor or reinkers would be something new and fun to try!

This video was a lot of fun to make, but it definitely was messy!! I could’ve spent hours smooshing backgrounds! I hope you all enjoyed the video as much as I enjoyed making it!

If you are interested in any of the supplies I used today, you can find them all listed and linked down below!! Happy Crafting!!

Affiliate links ARE used – Items marked with (*) were sent to me for free for design purposes.

• Joy Clair Good Vibes Stamp Set 
• Joy Clair Barn Party Stamp Set
• Watercolor Paper
• Vintage Photo Distress Ink Mini
• Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink Mini
• Hickory Smoke Distress Ink Mini
• Pumice Stone Distress Ink Mini
• Peeled Paint Distress Ink Mini
• Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink Mini
• Imagine Craft Mat
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink
• Alcohol Markers
• Joy Clair Crackle Background Stamp
• MISTI
• Tombow Removable Adhesive
• Anti Static Bag
• Versamark Ink Pad
• Heat Tool
• Hologram Embossing Powder
• Abandoned Coral Distress Ink Mini
• Dried Marigold Distress Ink Mini
• Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink Mini
• Twisted Citron Distress Ink Mini
• Evergreen Bough Distress Ink Mini
• Seedless Preserves Distress Ink Mini
• Joy Clair Hello Sentiments Stamp Set
• White Embossing Powder
• Joy Clair Stamps Spring Time Flowers Stamp Set
• Versafine Clair Pinecone Ink
• Spectrum Aqua Markers
• Masking Paper
• Joy Clair Stamps Broken Brick Background Stamp
• Catherine Pooler Lime Rickey Ink Pad
• Dr Ph. Martins Hydrus Watercolor Set 1