DIY colored cardstock

I used to buy a lot of colored cardstock during my craft hoarding days (my retirement made me rethink about my craft spending habits!). With cardstock as a card making staple, I searched youtube to find ways to make my own colored papers. I tried matching what affordable paper goes well with what ink.

I tried using student grade watercolor paper - i.e., Fabriano or Canson. For the colors, I played with water-based inks or mousse that are already in my stash - i.e., Ranger Distress mini ink pads, Distress Oxide ink pads, and Viva Décor Inka Gold mousse. Distress Inks are so good in blending and layering colors with a matte finish. Inka Gold, on the other hand, allows me to make various tints of colored metallic cardstock by just mixing varied amounts of black or beige pearl into the color mix before applying them on paper.

I hope to shoot a video on this process once my set up is ready. In the meantime, here are some photos of the colored cardstock I developed using Inka Gold and Distress Inks.

Viva Décor Inka Gold

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pads

Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pads