Tim Holtz Distress®

Tim Holtz Distress® Ink Pads are Dye Ink Pads. These are water-reactive and specially formulated to stay wet longer to allow you to blend, shade, and create a vintage, stained, aged effect. Since the ink stays wet longer, you can use it for heat embossing. On the other hand, Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pads are hybrid ink pads. They are a water-reactive dye and pigment ink fusion that creates an oxidized effect when sprayed with water.

You don’t need a long supply list to start ink blending. A few basics from the Tim Holtz Distress line will get you going right away.

Start with a couple of ink pads, such as Tim Holtz Distress Ink or Tim Holtz Distress Oxides Ink. Many crafters like to pick a few colors that blend well together so they can practice layering and creating soft transitions.

Next, use a Tim Holtz Distress® Tiny Blending Tool with blending foam. This tool is designed to apply ink smoothly and helps you build color gradually without harsh lines.

Add some smooth cardstock, and you’re ready to start blending. From there, you can experiment with layering colors or adding a light mist of water to create the signature distressed effects the line from Ranger Ink is known for.

All three sprays from Ranger Ink are great for adding color, but they behave a little differently.

1. Distress® Spray Stain is bold and vibrant, perfect for strong backgrounds or layered color. It reacts beautifully with water for soft, textured effects.
2. Distress® Oxide Spray blends a dye-pigment hybrid for a more muted, chalky finish. It’s fantastic for layering and creating that signature oxidized look.
3. Distress® Spritz is a luminous spray that adds a colorful shimmer. It is a formulated blend of pearlized pigments in a clear fluid base, ideal for misting, adding tiny splatters or accenting backgrounds without overpowering your project.

A good rule of thumb: use Spray Stains for coverage, Oxide Sprays for layered textures and Spritz for detail work. Experimenting with water on each one will give you even more unique effects.

If you have 50–70+ Distress Oxides Ink pads (or more!), keeping them organized makes crafting so much easier. Many crafters start with an ink storage tin. It’s really sturdy, stackable and perfect for keeping your pads in one place.

Add the new Distress Labels to stay on top of your collection. Round or rectangular, black or white, they make it easy to label each pad by color, ink type or even project theme. With your pads labeled and neatly stored, you’ll spend less time digging and more time blending.