This is what I have found with distressed inks in relation to your numbers:
1. I have found that starting off the paper on a slick craft mat (or other slick surface) really does make a difference on getting the soft blending ink effect…..when I start on the paper I am distressing, I get splotches and some soft blending/smears. I always move the blending tool in circles first on my craft mat (I have the beige, slick craft mat---are you using a craft mat?), then move it onto the paper to blend-----and when I say "move it onto the paper" I mean
keep the blending tool on the mat and do not lift it up when coming across the paper. In my mind, I figure starting off the paper and on the craft mat somehow distributes the ink around in the sponge on the blending tool to minimize the blotches. Not sure why it works better for me, but starting off the paper does. (I have started off the paper and on a scrap piece of paper I put under my tag before and I found that the scrap paper sucked up the ink and made blending on the tag a slow process---so that is why I am pointing out to use a craft mat or another slick surface to begin the blending tool on).
2. I make sure I have stabilized the edge of the paper I will brush over with the blending tool----to do that, I spread my thumb and middle finger (or index finger) apart over the paper edge and press my fingers down to make sure the paper is taunt with no gaps or relaxation to the paper edge---keeping the paper edge you are going over taunt seems to help keep from getting unwanted folds/bends.
3. I regards to splotches: sometimes I do want the splotches. I like inking the sponge, then just pressing the sponge directly on the paper, without ever moving/blending the blending tool---it creates pretty speckles. I like to sometimes put the speckles over what I have blended or sometimes I just leave just the speckles. Having speckles in 2 or 3 different colors is really pretty.
Other things:
1. I also hold the rectangle block rather than the handle of the applicator.
2. I will say that it does take practice to learn how to color using the blending tool. I tried makeup sponges before I bought the blending tool and found them hard to use---thus I bought the applicator. I haven't tried the smaller blending tool---I have the larger size.
I too had a hard time with blending distress inks in the beginning, but I recommend sticking with it and practicing---using the challenges is a great way to practice.
I read on the tag thread that you were trying the inks, Kathy, but you were hesitant b/c of distressing not being your style---and I never got to reply and let you know that that was why I avoided them for a long while. Now I just see them as a color (like that of crayons or markers) and not as a distress product as they were marketed. Plus there are many bright colors now! I would recommend the peacock feathers and picked raspberry and mustard seed---I love how vivid and bright these 3 are--nothing like how I think of the word "distress"! I'm glad to see you are trying them Kathy!!