Watercoloring Stamped Images + Canvases with Distress Crayons

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Hey friends, it’s Nina-Marie here with you today bringing you a video featuring the Tim Holtz Distress Crayons and how to do some fun watercoloring techniques with this unique medium! This video also features the super cute and BRAND NEW Crazy Dogs stamp set from Tim Holtz… lots of Tim Holtz inspiration to be had today! ;)

The Distress Crayons are one of the newest additions to the Distress line that was revealed by Tim Holtz and Ranger in early 2016. What makes the crayons unique from the other Distress mediums is that they become permanent once they’ve reacted with water. Whereas a Distress ink, stain or spray can be reactivated with water over and over, once Distress Crayons are activated the first time, you cannot reactivate them again.

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In today’s video, I’ll be showing you how you can watercolor with the Distress Crayons on both watercolor paper and media board (canvas-covered chipboard). I chose both surfaces because they each have a bit of “tooth”; in other words, they are more rough in texture. If you want a watercolor paper that is more smooth, try Strathmore Bristol paper.

The watercolor paper I will be using today is the Canson XL paper and the canvas media boards are ones I picked up from my local craft store. However, I will link to a Dina Wakley media board assortment we have in the Simon store that is pretty much the exact same thing as what I used in today’s video. Do keep in mind that you will want to prep the canvas media board with gesso before applying your Distress Crayons over top because the coating on the media board is a bit slick; I’ll talk about this in the video as well and show you how I applied some Dina Wakley gesso over the canvas before watercoloring.

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One of the things I love most about using a paper or canvas that has more of a rougher texture, is that it allows the texture of the crayons to show up better. The natural texture of the Distress Crayons adds a lot of interest to your project, and you can use this to your advantage when creating with this medium. In today’s video, I’ll show you how I enhanced the texture of the Distress Crayons when I applied the dot background to my mini canvas to create a bit more visual interest.

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So to see these crayons in action and learn some tips and tricks for how to best use them in your watercoloring, be sure to check out the video below! If you enjoy the video, please give it a big thumbs up and subscribe to our YouTube channel and blog so that you do not miss any of our weekly posts and videos!

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WATCH THE VIDEO

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  1. Love the look of those distress crayons! It is neat to see how they work on two different surfaces. Your cards are adorable!

  2. Love your cards and canvas. This is such a great set by TH. I have the birds; but, not the cats and dogs which I would LOVE to get. Maybe Santa will leave them under the tree this Christmas! Thanks for sharing with us! So very nicely done!

  3. A fabulous tutorial with beautiful end projects! Until now I really hand’t been interested in the Distress Crayons but now I need them. Thank you for the great enabling lol Karen x

  4. This is by far the best video I have seen using distress crayons. You gave info I haven’t heard b4! Thanks so much.

  5. Wow! Wow! Wow! Both of your projects are so awesome! I haven’t taken the time to see how these distress crayons work and I am so impressed. Those crazy dogs are super cute and I have pinned both projects as they are some of my faves that I have seen with this stamp set! Thanks for the great video!

  6. I love your video tutorial using the Distress Crayons! I haven’t bought any of them yet but oh you just made me add them to my must have list! Thank you for sharing your projects Nina-Marie!

  7. These are FANTASTIC!!!!! The mini canvas would make great coasters if you seal them!!
    Love the great ideas for the Distress Crayons thanks!!

  8. Beautiful and adorable! Thanks for the Distress Crayons Tutorial Video! Love the texture on the canvas media board also ~

  9. Nina-Marie, thank for this awesome video! I watched several on these crayons (I received a set as a gift) and yours was the best, with the best information and instructions!! I think I can finally put my crayons to use! I LOVE your dogs and your choice of colors. Now I suppose I have to get that stamp set and that set of colors too. Again, thank you!!

  10. Lots of great info on the distress crayons! I love that a second layer doesn’t lift the first layer and the heating to give that bit of a raised effect is a fun bonus! Love your projects with the vibrant colours. Just the sort of style I love!

  11. Omgosh – these Tim Holtz crayons are simply AMAZING!!! I am sooo glad you shared the video and tutorial. The effects that colouring with the crayons have is incredible. Can’t wait to play with them now! Thanks for the inspiration! :)

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