It must be sealed with a water-based sealer and we recommend Ranger's Gloss Multi Medium. When working on tile surfaces, we recommend sealing Alcohol Ink with Ice Resin.

Alcohol Inks are not tested for food safety and we do not recommend using them with objects that come into direct contact with food and beverages.

Distress Spray Stain and Dylusions Ink Spray are different formulations, each with their own reactive properties. Dylusions Ink Spray is designed to ghost and lighten while Distress Spray Stain is designed to wick and mottle when wet. Both products are acid free, non-toxic water based dye inks.

All three add color, but each one has its own personality.

• Distress Spray Stain is bold and saturated. It’s a solid choice when you want strong coverage or a vibrant layered background. Add water and it softens into beautiful layered effects.
• Distress Oxide Spray has that chalky, muted quality the Oxide line is known for. It layers beautifully and builds that oxidized look with depth.
• Distress Spritz is the sparkly one. They are pearlized pigments in a clear base that adds shimmer and luminosity without taking over your project. It's great for a light mist, a few splatters, or accenting a background you've already built.

A good starting point: Spray Stain for coverage, Oxide Spray for a muted chalky finish, Spritz for finishing touches.

Sprayers can occasionally become clogged. We have found it helpful to soak the sprayers in warm water and then spray them out every so often. This usually resolves the issue.

When you notice the contents thickening, you can add small amounts of water and mix thoroughly until the consistency is restored.

Distress Markers should be stored horizontally on their sides. Distress Markers contain a continuous ink barrel, which feeds ink to both nibs. Sometimes when Distress Markers are stored vertically for extended periods of time, the majority of the ink ends up at the end that is facing down. The good news is, you can lay your Distress Markers on their side, horizontally, for 24 hours and they should be as good as new!

The Dylusions Paint Pens only need to be primed if there is no paint in the small chamber above the tip. Once a pen becomes over-primed, do not prime it again. Clean-up the tip with a baby wipe, and while holding the pen upright, depress the tip on the surface, hold it there for at least 30 seconds, or until you can see paint coming from the tip when it is moved on the surface.* This should allow you to write with the pen.

Always use the pens in an upright position and not at an angle. The pens have a much smaller tip than other types of paint pens, so the paint needs to be flowing in the direction of the tip. Once the pen is tilted, even slightly, this may result in skipping. This is especially important when using the white paint pen, as the pigment makes the paint slightly thicker. It is also helpful to use the cap when letting the pen sit, even for a minute.

There may be a slight “skin” of paint on the tip the next time you go to use it. As long as there is paint in the small chamber above the tip, there is no need to prime the pen. Simply moisten the tip with a baby wipe (or the tip of your finger and follow the suggestion above*).

Finally, when you have finished using a pen, clean-up the tip with a baby wipe, tightly secure the cap and store it horizontally.

Distress Ink Pads with the original ink formulation can be stored flat or on the side. However, we have learned that humidity and geographical location, as well as the unique dye-pigment formulation of Oxide ink may affect Distress Oxide Ink Pads (the pigment may tend to move when pads are stored on the side). Should an issue develop while storing Distress Oxide Ink Pads on the side, we recommend storing them flat, right side up.

Archival Ink is permanent and waterproof once dry, so your stamped lines stay crisp and won't bleed when you paint over them, add markers, or layer other inks on top.

Distress Ink is water-reactive which makes it great for blending, creating and building that aged or vintage look.

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads are water-reactive dye inks that gives you the flexibility to blend, shade, and create that soft, stained, vintage look.

They also work well for heat embossing. Distress Oxide Ink Pads are a hybrid (dye and pigment combined) that give you a softer, chalky finish. 

Spray them with water and you get that signature oxidized effect. Both are great for layering; it mostly comes down to the finish you're after.

You don't need much to get started. A couple of Distress Ink Pads or Distress Oxide Ink Pads in colors you're drawn to, a Tim Holtz Distress Tiny Blending Tool with blending foam, and some smooth cardstock. That's really it. You want to pick colors that feel like they belong together and practice building them up in layers. From there, you'll figure out what you want to add next.

Ranger makes several ink pad lines, and each one has its own character.

Distress Ink Pads are water-reactive dye inks that are great for blending, vintage effects, and distressed backgrounds. Distress Oxide Ink Pads combine dye and pigment for a softer, chalky finish and oxidizes beautifully when spritzed with water. Archival Ink Pads are permanent and waterproof. They are the go-to for crisp stamped images you plan to color or layer over. Simon Hurley Dye Inks and Simon Hurley Stellar Inks are known for vibrant color and smooth blending. 49 and Market Dye Inks blend seamlessly and coordinate with their paper collections.

Most crafters end up with more than one type because different projects call for different results or they are drawn to a different color palette.

Any Ranger ink pad works for stamping. The choice mostly comes down to the effect you want.

For blended backgrounds, Distress Ink Pads, Distress Oxide Ink Pads, Simon Hurley Dye Inks, and 49 and Market Inks all blend smoothly and work well together.
For water-reactive techniques, Distress Ink, Distress Oxides, Simon Hurley Dye Inks, and 49 and Market Inks can all be reactivated with water to build layered, effects.

For heat embossing, a dedicated embossing ink pad is the easiest starting point — it's formulated to stay wet long enough for the powder to stick evenly before you heat it.

Learn More About Product Basic FAQs

Just a few things and you're ready to go:

• An embossing ink pad, pen, or dabber: the sticky base that holds the powder in place
• Embossing powder: a metallic like gold or silver, and one opaque color is a great starting point
• A heat tool, like the Ranger Heat It Craft Tool

The process is really straightforward. Apply the embossing ink, sprinkle powder over the wet surface, tap off the excess, then heat until it melts into that smooth, raised finish. Once you've done it a couple of times it becomes second nature.

Ranger powders come in a range of finishes so you can match the look to your project:

• Opaque, solid, full-coverage color
• Metallic, smooth, reflective shine without glitter
• Tinsel, sparkly with visible glitter particles
• Pearl, soft, pearlescent sheen
• Super Fine, tiny granules that pick up fine stamp details cleanly
• Glaze, translucent with a dimensional, raised surface
• Mixed Media, chunky, textured blends for more tactile effects
• Sticky, leaves a tacky surface for applying foils or loose glitter

Stickles Glitter Glue has a clear base with sparkle suspended in it and comes in a fine-tip bottle for precise placement, great when you want to add shimmer to a small detail without going overboard. Stickles Glitter Gel is thicker and more opaque, giving you heavier, bolder coverage. Both stay put once dry, it's really just a question of how much sparkle you're going for.

No, Stickles will stick where you put it and stays there. The fine-tip bottles make it easy to place exactly where you want it, and once dry it doesn't flake or shed. Crafters have been reaching for it for over 25 years for exactly that reason. It gives you all the sparkle with none of the mess that comes with loose glitter.

If this is happening to you, we recommend making sure the tip is clear when finished using the product. The best way to do this is with a small paper clip or a thin piece of wire, but DO NOT use a pin as you could pierce a hole in the bottle or split the needle tip. Because of its circumference, a paper clip will clear out the tip from top to bottom without expanding the opening. Once the tip has been cleared out, hold the bottle in an upright position and lightly tap it on a hard surface while squeezing to allow air only remaining in the tip. As long as the tip is clear after each use, clogging should not occur. If you choose to keep a straight pin in the tip to prevents clogs, make sure it is stainless steel to avoid rust from discoloring the product.

Ranger Inks are non-toxic, but they are, however, made with dyes that can stain. Start by washing with plain soap and water. You may also want to use shampoo or a mild detergent, then scrub gently with a washcloth, loofa or a craft scrubbie.

Please Note: Most orders are packaged and shipped out within 3 business days (Monday-Friday) of receiving your order. Orders are shipped from New Jersey so please expect normal transit times, with California being the longest at 5 business days.

FREE Shipping for Orders over $59.99. Orders under are $6 Flat Rate.(US customers only)

International Orders:

Orders under $100 USD = $20.00 Shipping
Orders between $101-$149 USD = $10.00 Shipping
Orders $150+ USD = Free Shipping

Duties and Taxes vary

We are happy to announce we have a new international e-commerce platform, Zonos. This platform provides a safe, efficient technology solution that tailors online shopping experiences for international customers.

Select your country from the US flag at the bottom left of the site. All duties and taxes are calculated at checkout.There are no additional costs that will be due upon receipt of your order.

At Ranger Industries we stand behind the arts and crafts products we sell and our customer’s satisfaction is very important to us. We accept returns on all unused and unopened products purchased from us within 45 days for a full refund. To receive a full refund of the purchase price back to your original payment method, excluding the original shipping, please follow the link below:

Ranger Ink Returns Portal