Welcome back to the craft room and today’s Ink Smooshing with 3 Unexpected Colors post. I love all of my Tim Holtz Distress Ink pads, but choosing color combos can be a challenge. No matter how often I search Pinterest for inspiration, the palettes rarely work for me—I’m usually missing one or two of the exact colors used. So, a few days ago, I went to ChatGPT with a question. After listing all the Distress Inks I own, I asked it to generate a few color combinations for me. One suggestion—Aged Mahogany, Worn Lipstick, and Tea Dye—stopped me in my tracks. Wait, what?? I had to try that combo first!
Supplies
Since this technique would involve a good amount of water and ink, I reached for a piece of Distress Watercolor Card. It has a cold press texture on one side and a smooth surface on the other. Before applying any ink, I decided to heat emboss the background. I tend to be heavy-handed with color, so preserving a bit of white space with heat embossing helps balance things out.
For this step, I used a script stamp from American Crafts and clear embossing powder from Ranger. Because I didn’t want a perfectly stamped image, I opted for one of my stamping blocks instead of the MISTI. After applying the embossing powder, I used an old paintbrush to gently brush away some of the powder before setting it with my Wagner heat tool.
Ink Smooshing Attempt 1
To create my ink-smooshed background, I applied the Distress Ink to a piece of plastic packaging, spritzed it with water, and then pressed it onto the paper. This method gives you a surprising amount of control when layering color. I worked from the lightest shade to the darkest, drying the paper between each layer.
Even with those careful steps, I wasn’t completely happy with how it turned out. In the image below, you can see how strangely the ink pooled around the heat-embossed areas. Despite using a light touch with the ink, the embossing nearly disappeared into the background.
Since this result didn’t come close to the idea I had in my head, I decided to abandon the design. But instead of tossing the whole piece, I flipped it over and ink-smooshed the textured side. I like that version better, though without the heat embossing it feels a bit unfinished—so for now, I’ll set it aside and save it for a future project.
Ink Smooshing with 3 Unexpected Colors – Take 2
My next attempt started with a piece of Strathmore Bristol Vellum Surface paper and another round of heat embossing. As soon as I began applying ink, I knew this one was going to deliver the results I’d been hoping for! Starting again with the lightest color—Worn Lipstick—I added it in random areas across the panel.
Then I introduced Tea Dye. Using the piece of plastic packaging really helps me visualize where the ink will land, which makes it easier to control the placement of color. I find it much harder to get that kind of precision when smooshing directly from the tabletop.
Initially, I worried that Tea Dye might overpower the Worn Lipstick—and it could have—but by applying it sparingly and using plenty of water, it added a soft, antique wash that I absolutely loved. Honestly, I could have stopped there and had a gorgeous panel to work with.
But I wanted to try the full combo, so I added in the Aged Mahogany—and that’s when the drama hit! Looking back, I almost wish I’d stopped right at that point because it was beautiful. Still, I went ahead and layered in a few more touches of all three colors, building up the texture and depth.
This second round of Ink Smooshing with 3 Unexpected Colors turned out so much better than I imagined—especially once the panel dried and the full depth of the color layering came through. The finished panel turned out beautifully, with all three shades blending into a rich, antique-inspired look. The embossing shines through just enough to give it added texture and elegance.
Creating the Card
Once the panel was completely dry, I trimmed it down to 4″ x 5.25″ using my Waffle Flower A2 Layering Die set. Before moving on, I decided to bring out a bit more of the Worn Lipstick color. Focusing on the areas where the pink was already present, I added a soft layer with a Waffle Flower blending brush.
If I’m being honest, I probably wouldn’t do that step again. While it did enhance the pink slightly, I think it also took away from the soft, antique feel the panel had before. That said, it’s still a beautiful piece—just not quite the look I originally envisioned.
The last thing I wanted to do was cover up this background! To bring in a touch of white and highlight the design, I reached for the Brass & Bliss Foliage Trio Die set. For extra texture and dimension, I stacked and glued three of the branch die cuts together before adhering them to the card front.
Finishing Touches – Heat Embossed Sentiment
At first, I wasn’t sure what sentiment to use—my plan was to tuck the finished card away until I found the right one. But then I came across an exclusive stamp set from Rubbernecker Stamps and the sentiment “You are simply the best” felt like the perfect match.
It wasn’t until after I had paired the sentiment with the die-cut foliage that I realized both products are from the same company—Rubbernecker has rebranded as Brass & Bliss! I’ve loved using their dies, and now it’s fun to see how seamlessly their stamps fit in too.
To carry through the heat embossing from the background, I ink-blended Aged Mahogany onto a scrap of Strathmore Bristol Vellum Surface paper. Once it was fully dry, I embossed the sentiment using Ranger white embossing powder. I trimmed the sentiment strip and layered it over a piece of white Recollections cardstock for a clean border.
To finish it off, I added the sentiment to the card front using Thin 3D Foam Squares. I love the subtle lift and extra dimension the layered branch and sentiment bring to the card—it adds just the right touch without taking away from that beautiful background.
The Finished Card – A Look at the Final Results
Thank you for joining me for today’s Ink Smooshing with 3 Unexpected Colors post. I had so much fun exploring this unexpected combo of Aged Mahogany, Worn Lipstick, and Tea Dye—and I’m honestly so pleased with how the final card turned out. Below, I’ve included a close-up shot so you can really see the texture and layering, as well as a photo of the finished card alongside the three Distress Ink pads that brought it to life.
Did you enjoy this color combination? I’d love to know—what are some of your favorite Distress Ink combos? Feel free to share them in the comments! If you’re looking for more inspiration, be sure to check out my other ink smooshing projects for even more color play and technique ideas. Until then, have a fantastic week and I’ll see you again soon. Happy crafting!
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