• About
  • Press
  • Advertise

Craft Test Dummies

The Crafting Blog for Crafters, By Crafters

  • Craft News
    • CHA Coverage
    • Crafting for a Cause
    • Giveaways
    • CTD on TV
    • Quilt Market
  • Craft Product Reviews
    • Apps & Sites
    • Art Supplies/Mixed Media
    • Beads/Jewelry Products
    • Books, Magazines, Events
    • Comparisons
    • Crafty Tools
    • Fabric, Needle, & Quilting Arts
    • Food Crafts
    • Paints, Inks & Dyes
    • Paper Crafts
    • Polymer Clay & Tools
  • Craft Storage and Tips
  • Crafty People & Places
    • Crafty Field Trips
  • Kids Stuff
    • Hands On Crafts For Kids-TV show
  • Winter/Christmas
  • Home Decor
  • Food Crafting/ Party Crafts
  • Valentine’s /Sweetest Day
  • Spring/Easter
  • Wedding & Shower Crafts
  • Father’s Day Crafts
  • Baby & Shower Crafts
  • Mother’s Day Crafts
  • Patriotic crafts
  • Summer Crafts
  • Fall Crafts
    • Halloween Crafts
  • Jenny Sez
    • Sponsored Posts
  • Periscope Superfans Page
Home / Craft Product Reviews / Craft Prouct Review: Versamark Dazzle

Craft Prouct Review: Versamark Dazzle

January 5, 2011

VersaMark Dazzle in Frost and Champagne

My sister was walking through the local craft store and texted me: “Versamark DAZZLE?” I texted back: “Unfamiliar- BUY NOW!” So she did, and we had to crack them open and give them a go.

Now, just a bit about VersaMark pads. Usually they are a spongy foam pad that is saturated with a pigment ink- but with out the ink. That is, it’s the media but without the color. This means that you can stamp on plain paper and get a “watermark” effect or use it as an adhesive (I use this word lightly) to get mica powders or chalks to stick.  It’s also very effective with embossing powders.

So the concept with VersaMark Dazzle (made by Tsukineko) is that there is a hint of color and metallic shine in the ink. They come in Frost and Champagne and I tried them both out.

On to the swatching!

First I used both on white paper.

The effect is so subtle, it's almost impossible to photograph.

The top line of swatches is using Frost, the bottom is the Chamapagne. First I stamped an image and embossed it with clear embossing ink, then the stamped image, then direct-to-paper.

With the Frost, you get no color or metallic shimmer with the embossed image. You get a faint watermark with the stamped image- the frost is almost impossible to see on white, though. When applying direct-to-paper, you definitely see the shimmer- it’s almost a pearl.

Using the Champagne, you do get a faint gold glow with the embossed image. (However, you can’t see any shimmer.) You see the slightly bolder gold shimmer with the stamped image- this is nice even on white. When applying direct-to-paper, however, the champagne color just looks muddy metallic. Not my favorite use of this pad!

Now on to black paper:

Ok, same drill: top row is using Frost, the second row is using champagne.

Like on the white paper, you don’t see any color or shimmer when embossing with the Frost. The stamped image showed up nice and crisply, and I really liked it alot. When applying direct to paper, you really she that shimmer pop!

The Champagne had similar results on black paper- just a faint gold glow when embossed. The stamped image was a little fainter than I thought it might be- but direct-to-paper showed up very well and the color was truer to “Champagne.” I’d use this technique only on dark papers- it’s the only way to get any real impact.

I decided not to try using the pad as an adhesive for chalk or mica powders because that would completely obscure the shimmer in the pad. The ink is the same as in the VersaMark, so you can certainly use it for those applications in a pinch.

I decided to whip up a few projects using the Dazzle pads, just to see if I could use them in a project effectively.

First, I tried stamping on some textured cardstock so I could add it to a tag.

VersaMark Dazzle doensn't show up well when stamped on textured cardstock.

Hmmm. That’s kind of an epic fail right there. So I  moved onto stamping with Frost on an embossed tag, and using some direct-t0-paper to highlight the embossed areas:

Unity Stamp, Sizzix embossing folder, Nestabilities die.

Very faint… as a matter of fact, when you view it straight on, you can’t see the stamping at all- not even as a watermark.

The Frost disappears on textured cardstock- not even a watermark.

So then I tried darker, smoother cardstock and used Frost to stamp a text block as a background.

The frost shows up better here (held against the light.)

And here’s another view of the card front- note that the Dazzle Frost actually looks black on this navy paper- but you see a frosty shimmer if you tilt the card.

So, kittens, here’s my opinion- for the retail price of $10.00 USD, this is a little pricey and not a lot of bang for your buck. I LOVE my regular VersaMark pad and have two of them, in fact, for different things. But my suggestion is save this ten bucks and go splurge on some Perfect Pearls (which work marvelously with the VersaMark stamp pad) and then you’ll have FOUR different colors of shimmer to choose from. (And you can use your Perfect Pearls with a bunch of other things, too!)

Rarely do I advise against a craft product, and this is one of those times. Sorry, Dazzle. You didn’t dazzle me at all…..

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Jenny

Chief Craft Test Dummy, Craft Evangelist, Founder, Editor, bottle-washer, trouble-maker, and creative whirlwind.
  • Spooky Spider Halloween Bookmark Craft - October 24, 2018
  • Review and Demo of LDRS Hybrid Ink Pads - October 15, 2018
  • Review and Demo of Nuvo Hybrid Inks - October 1, 2018
  • Craft Studio Tour and Organization Ideas - September 20, 2018
  • Wax Paper Resist Background Technique - March 20, 2018
  • Comparison of Liquid Watercolor Markers/Pens - March 16, 2018
  • SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers- Review & Demo - February 23, 2018
  • Rinea Metallic Foil Paper & Ghost Ink Review - February 21, 2018
  • Jane Davenport debuts at Creativation 2018 & Watercolor Card - February 13, 2018
  • Creativation 2018: New Product Showcase - January 20, 2018

Posted in Craft Product Reviews, Paints, Inks & Dyes, Paper Crafts |

Comments

  1. Faye Scott says

    January 5, 2011 at 11:14

    I have the Champagne Versamark Dazzle and yes it is VERY subtle but I like it for just the right application. Mainly background flourishes on solid colored card stock. But I do wish it would stay as dark as it is when it is wet. Thanks for the review:)

  2. Cindy D says

    January 5, 2011 at 18:58

    Thanks for the review. I’ll stick with the Versamark and pearls!

  3. Michelle Liimatainen says

    January 7, 2011 at 05:32

    I’ve had the Champagne one for about a year now. I rarely use it for the shimmer. Like you, I was very excited to find it but greatly disappointed with the end result. I just use it like my regular Versamark pad. I almost bought the diamonds one to see if it was better but now I know to save my money! Thanks 🙂

  4. Jen Clark says

    January 8, 2011 at 16:35

    I’m SOOOO glad you did this review – b/c every time I’m in the store, I look at the Dazzle ink pads, and I wonder about them…now I won’t wonder any more!!!

  5. Jenny says

    January 9, 2011 at 11:48

    Thanks, Jen! It’s very pretty and everything…but…I just want folks to know what to expect. Craft on!

  6. Rosy Newlun says

    November 17, 2013 at 16:29

    Hi, Jennifer – I agree. I was googling around for the difference between (why I bought) Versamark AND dazzle. I have not been dazzled either. Wonder if Tsukineko has any options on using these. Or, I can always use both for heat embossing {sigh}. Thank you!!!

  7. Janis says

    May 13, 2016 at 10:39

    I specifically went looking to see how these would work – I saw it today for the first time. I am glad you did the review – I often use your site for pros and cons of crafty items. I will rather buy a reinker for my current Versamark pad.

ctd-headshot-round

Hi! I’m Jenny, the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS and the Head Dummy behind CraftTestDummies.com where you’ll find craft product reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news.

ctd-fb ctd-pin ctd-twitter cts-insta ctd-youtube ctd-g ctd-email

Search

ctd-subscribe
Want weekly craft projects delivered straight to your inbox?

YouTube

Disclosure

CraftTestDummies is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

jenny-headshot-square

Jenny Barnett Rohrs is Head Dummy and Pied Piper behind CTD, which focuses on reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news. Jenny has appeared on HSN, Scrapbook Soup PBS series, and is currently the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS.

ctd-fb-30  ctd-pin-30  ctd-twitter-30  cts-insta-30  ctd-youtube-30  ctd-g-30  ctd-email-30  ctd-rss-30

Copyrighted Content Permission All images and tutorials on this blog are copyrighted material. Please contact me if you would like to borrow any media (photos, video or audio files), tutorials, or ideas from this blog. 99% of the time I would be happy to allow you to use one photo with appropriate credit and link back to CraftTestDummies.com (preferably to the same post it was borrowed from.)
clever-network  linqia  viglink

All content copyright © 2015 Craft Test Dummies | Privacy Policy | Disclosures | Site design by XO Sarah

MENU
  • Craft News
    • CHA Coverage
    • Crafting for a Cause
    • Giveaways
    • CTD on TV
    • Quilt Market
  • Craft Product Reviews
    • Apps & Sites
    • Art Supplies/Mixed Media
    • Beads/Jewelry Products
    • Books, Magazines, Events
    • Comparisons
    • Crafty Tools
    • Fabric, Needle, & Quilting Arts
    • Food Crafts
    • Paints, Inks & Dyes
    • Paper Crafts
    • Polymer Clay & Tools
  • Craft Storage and Tips
  • Crafty People & Places
    • Crafty Field Trips
  • Kids Stuff
    • Hands On Crafts For Kids-TV show
  • Winter/Christmas
  • Home Decor
  • Food Crafting/ Party Crafts
  • Valentine’s /Sweetest Day
  • Spring/Easter
  • Wedding & Shower Crafts
  • Father’s Day Crafts
  • Baby & Shower Crafts
  • Mother’s Day Crafts
  • Patriotic crafts
  • Summer Crafts
  • Fall Crafts
    • Halloween Crafts
  • Jenny Sez
    • Sponsored Posts
  • Periscope Superfans Page