5 Creative Ways to Use Distress Crayons: Stencils, Splatters & Layering

A while back, I compared Personal Impressions (Pi) Woodless Watercolour Pencils with Distress Crayons — see my post HERE 👈 The original idea was to combine the two, but in true creative style, I went down a Distress Crayon rabbit hole!

I also dug out some older Tim Holtz stamp sets — Flower Jars and Flutter — and began creating cards and tags. Using old favourites alongside new tools is always so inspiring.

1] Using Distress Crayons with blending sponges

I often use my Pi pencils with a blending sponge and water, and this idea inspired my first Distress Crayon card.

• Start with Rusty Hinge and Stormy Sky to build the background. More water creates a softer wash.

• Lift colour with a wet tissue and a stencil (Patchwork Hex) to create subtle patterns.

• Use the sponge like an ink pad with a butterfly stamp from the Flutter set.

• Stamp the largest jar twice with Jet Black Archival Ink and add flowers coloured with Barn Door and Stormy Sky.

• Stamp an extra jar on separate card, colour as before, and layer onto the card. Finish with a butterfly and a small sticker sentiment.

💡 Tip: Experiment with lifting colour using a stencil or tissue — it creates texture without overpowering your background.

2] Creating textured backgrounds with Distress Crayon                   shavings

With Pi Pencils, I use sharpenings to create watercolour pans or backgrounds. Because Distress Crayons are creamier, using them this way is trickier, but it's still fun for creating a splatter effect!

• Scribble colours like Squeezed Lemonade, Picked Raspberry, and Spiced Marmalade on a blending mat, spritz with water, and flick with a paintbrush onto textured card.

• Use leftover colour with a blending sponge to add soft circular patterns.

• Stamp jars with Jet Black Archival Ink, add foliage coloured with Peeled Paint.

• Mount onto a black mat and a DL card base, then finish with a sentiment.

3] Colouring Stamps with Distress Crayons

Distress Crayons are creamy and versatile: use directly, with a brush, or scribble on a mat and pick up the colour.

• Stamp jars on textured card with Jet Black Archival Ink. Add foliage in the same ink.

• Colour with Ground Espresso, Tumbled Glass, and Stormy Sky.

• Using Wilted Violet on a blending sponge, spritz and add subtle background colour.

• Repeat with Peeled Paint, filling each jar gradually.

• Mount onto a 5" x 7" kraft card base and finish with a sentiment.

💡 Tip: Layering light colours first lets you build depth without muddying the design.

4] Using Distress Crayons with collage medium

• On a tag, add collage papers with Distress Collage Medium and let dry.

• Apply crayon directly to the surface, blending with fingers, sponge, or damp tissue.

• Let each layer dry before adding more to avoid contaminating colours.

• Stamp butterflies with Jet Black Archival Ink; the background provides the colour.

• Finish with twine, ribbon, or a sentiment.

💡 Tip: This method creates smooth, layered effects while keeping colours vibrant.

5] Maximum colour with Distress Crayons

Unlike watercolour pencils, Distress Crayons allow for more opaque, intense colour layers. This technique focuses on that bold, rich look.

• On a tag, add bold blocks of Candied Apple and Mustard Seed, and shimmer with Tarnished Brass.

• Lift colour with a stencil (Lace) and wet tissue for a faux-bleaching effect.

• Stamp foliage from Flower Jars and add cut-out butterflies from a separate panel.

• Finish with a favourite quote or sentiment.

Final Thoughts & Creative Freedom

Distress Crayons are perfect for experimenting with bold backgrounds, layering, and blending. Pairing them with older stamps adds another layer of fun — rediscovering tools in your stash can be just as exciting as trying new supplies.

I’d love to know: Have you revisited any older stamps or forgotten supplies recently? What did you rediscover?

Until next time,

Lou
xxx