I have absolutely had a different experience than what you show at the beginning. I found these to be extremely water reactive with minimal effort with a waterbrush, and very easy to smudge and blend with a dry finger as well. Like most products, it definitely depends on the surface used. I've even used them as paints, scribbling on my craft mat, then going it to retrieve color with a waterbrush. They worked great through a stencil. Each of the Distress products has some different qualities, which is what makes them fun to play with.
Greetings Jenny. Very nice review. One of the things I believe Tim said regarding the crayons is that they won't move until you want them to and he was using a tag and colored the crayons after using the three new collage mediums that were revealed at CHA, the antique, the crazing and then the basic? I wonder if this product is ideally meant to be used with a medium. More things to try and have fun with. Thank you for all you do! You are incredibly awesome! ~Mari~ Edit: It was the Collage mediums that he used the crayons with. Scraptime did the CHA video.
Thank you for the review. Very helpful and answered several of my own questions (I've been pondering whether to buy a set). Appreciate all that you do!
Loved your review. I have some of the distress crayons on order and look forward to using them. A technique I saw on another video demo-ing distress crayons laid down colour on watercolour paper. Then she dipped her finger in water to blend and massage the distress crayon to great effect. Anyway thanks and I just subscribed.
OH Jenny What an Awesome Product Review...you really did try anything and everything every which way......you totally have given one super outstanding product review...totally impressed and for me no question left unanswered girl you always go above and beyond!! YOU so ROCK!! Joan Smith
Thank you! I have been watching videos on these crayons. These are off the may want list! They seem to be similar to gelatos but not as good. THANK YOU for pointing out the amount of product you use!
I found it’s not necessary to use as much product as you’ve done in this demonstration. I especially like them as “portable” water colors. Just put a dab on a plate or pallet and pick up the color with your paint brush. An easy take-along for road trips! I love these crayons for their versatility!
Really informative. I bought a set of the neutrals to test out and do like them and will probably stick with experimenting more with those rather than buy the other colour packs, but I liked how they reacted on gesso and with a light rub with a baby wipe with or without stencil. I got lovely halo and shadow effects on my art with other mediums which I liked. I've not yet used them where they are the stars of the show, more a supporting act. Interesting that they act like any waxy type surface and stop ink from drying. I wonder if Stazon would stay put? Would the crayon react to heat if you embossed on top? Really informative thanks.
Its like a lipstick maybe a little firmer. I find that if you apply a think layer with a water brush the colors move nicely. Also I find that it blends nicely and just a little color comes off but can't wipe with a really wet cloth and or don't wipe harshly/firmly. But when I went over it with a damp wet wipe gently it blended well and took some color off but not like the way you demonstrated. Maybe trying a more gentle touch. See Made by May May. She has a awesome demo and review. Thanks for the review.
Distress micro glaze will render this waterproof so you can add any other medium on top. Just watched th demo and he used crayon then inked over the top and the crayon repelled the ink, meaning its still vivid colour. If you spray with water the crayon resists further showing more crayon. Once dry tho it doesn't budge unless you add water and friction.
I thought Tim said that the product cures( dries) and then is no longer water soluble. So you can watercolor with them and after the crayon is throughly dry you can do a wash over your watercoloring and the watercoloring with the crayons resists the wash. Anyway that’s what I thought I understood. I just bought a few sets just for that reason. So fingers crossed
+Jeanie Gregory I have a few "head to head" comparisons coming up...and you'll see which product(s) I like better. (SPOILER- not necessarily this one.)
I think a better way to critique a product would be to show it as it's designed to be used. As far as Distress goes, this product is awesome and works absolutely as intended, including drying to the touch, and far different than what it is not (oil pastels, watercolor ...). It's water-reactive, but unlike Distress inks, it's not meant to be endlessly mutable. It's not intended for stamping; there are other products for that. This is DIFFERENT. Tim Holtz has great videos on how to use them, and I suggest watching those before you reject them.
Pj Lewis trust me they work really well. Look more demos. I have a set of the earthy colors and I did a card the way Made by May May demonstrates and it comes out nicely.
I have absolutely had a different experience than what you show at the beginning. I found these to be extremely water reactive with minimal effort with a waterbrush, and very easy to smudge and blend with a dry finger as well. Like most products, it definitely depends on the surface used. I've even used them as paints, scribbling on my craft mat, then going it to retrieve color with a waterbrush. They worked great through a stencil. Each of the Distress products has some different qualities, which is what makes them fun to play with.
Greetings Jenny. Very nice review. One of the things I believe Tim said regarding the crayons is that they won't move until you want them to and he was using a tag and colored the crayons after using the three new collage mediums that were revealed at CHA, the antique, the crazing and then the basic? I wonder if this product is ideally meant to be used with a medium. More things to try and have fun with. Thank you for all you do! You are incredibly awesome! ~Mari~ Edit: It was the Collage mediums that he used the crayons with. Scraptime did the CHA video.
Thank you for the review. Very helpful and answered several of my own questions (I've been pondering whether to buy a set). Appreciate all that you do!
Loved your review. I have some of the distress crayons on order and look forward to using them. A technique I saw on another video demo-ing distress crayons laid down colour on watercolour paper. Then she dipped her finger in water to blend and massage the distress crayon to great effect. Anyway thanks and I just subscribed.
OH Jenny What an Awesome Product Review...you really did try anything and everything every which way......you totally have given one super outstanding product review...totally impressed and for me no question left unanswered girl you always go above and beyond!!
YOU so ROCK!!
Joan Smith
Thank you! I have been watching videos on these crayons. These are off the may want list! They seem to be similar to gelatos but not as good. THANK YOU for pointing out the amount of product you use!
Hi Jenny. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for the review. It's very informative!
Thanks for the very complete review. The sound was very echoey, however.
I found it’s not necessary to use as much product as you’ve done in this demonstration. I especially like them as “portable” water colors. Just put a dab on a plate or pallet and pick up the color with your paint brush. An easy take-along for road trips! I love these crayons for their versatility!
Really informative. I bought a set of the neutrals to test out and do like them and will probably stick with experimenting more with those rather than buy the other colour packs, but I liked how they reacted on gesso and with a light rub with a baby wipe with or without stencil. I got lovely halo and shadow effects on my art with other mediums which I liked. I've not yet used them where they are the stars of the show, more a supporting act. Interesting that they act like any waxy type surface and stop ink from drying. I wonder if Stazon would stay put? Would the crayon react to heat if you embossed on top? Really informative thanks.
Answering my own question I'm thinking you'd use micro glaze to seal before going on to other mediums anyway, solving this issue.
Its like a lipstick maybe a little firmer. I find that if you apply a think layer with a water brush the colors move nicely. Also I find that it blends nicely and just a little color comes off but can't wipe with a really wet cloth and or don't wipe harshly/firmly. But when I went over it with a damp wet wipe gently it blended well and took some color off but not like the way you demonstrated. Maybe trying a more gentle touch. See Made by May May. She has a awesome demo and review. Thanks for the review.
With what would you seal the crayon colored surface when finished?
Distress micro glaze will render this waterproof so you can add any other medium on top. Just watched th demo and he used crayon then inked over the top and the crayon repelled the ink, meaning its still vivid colour. If you spray with water the crayon resists further showing more crayon. Once dry tho it doesn't budge unless you add water and friction.
Thank you for this very informative review. These are on my wish list.
Thought I would re-view your TH-cam video today. Informative as always. Will need to pull the distress crayons out. Thanks.
I thought Tim said that the product cures( dries) and then is no longer water soluble. So you can watercolor with them and after the crayon is throughly dry you can do a wash over your watercoloring and the watercoloring with the crayons resists the wash. Anyway that’s what I thought I understood. I just bought a few sets just for that reason. So fingers crossed
Thanks for showing the length of the product! Would you buy them and do yo think you get what you pay for? Thanks for the demo!
+Jeanie Gregory I have a few "head to head" comparisons coming up...and you'll see which product(s) I like better. (SPOILER- not necessarily this one.)
Did you ever have the drawing for the distress crayon giveaway? I looked over your website and couldn't find out if the drawing had happened yet.
Yes- the winner is poster right on the post, in the Rafflecopter widget box.
+CraftTestDummies Thanks Jenny. I'm not very computer savvy so it takes me awhile to find things.
Great review!!! Very helpful and informative!!!! Have you tried the Recollection crayons? TFS!!!
I bought the Recollections crayons and they are very similar and SPARKLY!
+Cathy Coleman Haven't seen these yet....going on the hunt for them, tho!!!!
They are in a middle isle of new Recollection stuff... not in the area you'd think... ask one of the "helpful" Michaels employees!!
Thank you for sharing another great video. Take care, Kim :)
Awesome video. I’ve been struggling with these. I want to love them but I’m just not feeling it. This was helpful though. I can at least “like” them.
Not all products are for everyone! I still like my gelatos best. :)
I think a better way to critique a product would be to show it as it's designed to be used. As far as Distress goes, this product is awesome and works absolutely as intended, including drying to the touch, and far different than what it is not (oil pastels, watercolor ...). It's water-reactive, but unlike Distress inks, it's not meant to be endlessly mutable. It's not intended for stamping; there are other products for that. This is DIFFERENT. Tim Holtz has great videos on how to use them, and I suggest watching those before you reject them.
Dayna- I appreciate your loyalty to Tim. However, for the category that it's in, and the price that is charged, there are better products.
CraftTestDummies. Like what???
I dont get it. Why are they only for adults?
I think it's a case of the manufacturer covering themselves from liability.
Thanks for the review. I've never been a crayon person so I don't think I'm going to pick these up.
These aren't meant for watercolor. They have completely different properties than watercolor crayons.
+Jennifer Lowry I stated that they are a water-soluble product, and they are meant to be used with water.
well done, but I'm not impressed with this product at all.
Pj Lewis trust me they work really well. Look more demos. I have a set of the earthy colors and I did a card the way Made by May May demonstrates and it comes out nicely.
Not anything I would ever use rather sprnd my money on something else