When a "recipe" calls for glossy paper...

[lost luggage]

sigh...

I've just made a mess with my expensive alcohol inks. I don't like the results AT ALL.

I am referring back to the October PCM issue and to the Everything I need to Know thread you guys wrote a few weeks ago "over there"....

Is it me? I can't post anything here to show you yet, because everything is sopping wet. But for the money these cost, and how much I had to use during the experiment, I am a little disappointed.

Here is the link to some paper I worked on:
http://stamp-shack.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=467

When I use the felt square, the blended images look like vomit. Not kidding. When I pour on the inks for them to run together, it uses so much ink!

Please give me some inspiration...I need a pep talk bad.

[teabear]

Alcohol inks should dry really fast on glossy paper....don't use regular paper. They need a non-pourous surface. It is supposed to be a mottled effect. I really like what I saw in the gallery. You have to move really fast with this technique, or you will use alot of ink. The inks will blend together, so use colors you like together. You shouldn't be pouring the inks on anything, though. When you apply them to the felt, put the tip directly down on the felt and just squeeze out a little. Do that in a few places with different inks. I don't know if that helped at all....I'm looking for a tutorial for you that I watched recently.

[teabear]

It's called irrestistable....she works with alcohol inks on a variety of surfaces. I hope it helps:
http://crafttvweekly.com/player.html

[Far North]

Hi Julie,
It is a little hard to tell from your pic but it looks like a single color is filling large spaces. Generally when I work with AI I think of first think of polished stone techniques where each color covers small areas and the interest is created by adding layers on top of one another. I think of the metallic add-in as the small veins in real stone so I only add small accents over the entire piece-particuliar since one can not see through these colors. A little of this ink goes a long ways--I only use it by drops and after 2 years my bottles are still 75% full-even after doing lunchboxes, dominoes, Christmas balls and cards.

The would highly recommend the video Tami just shared. Here is picture tutorial resource...http://www.blockheadstamps.com/TechniquesPages/alcohol_inks.html
Happy experimenting!...Jan
PS. Save all your scraps they are great for accents and tags.

[iloveflipflops]

it dries really quick!!

Like Jan said, you don't need much at all. Just a drop or two of each color.

Good luck, you can do it! :)

[GrammaStamper]

Thanks, Tami, for that link. I've always just dropped the ink on the paper and, like Julie, hated the splotchy look. Who'dathunk to put it on the felt first. Obviously, I'm a 'visual' learner. I don't even want my coffee now, I want to go try it out. I'll post my results later, I hope.

Thanks and, Julie, you can do this because I know I can.

[lost luggage]

I was using glossy paper for those.... :(

The felt is messing me up. I will watch the video. I applied the ink directly to the paper in both attempts.

[Nancy]

Put your ink on the felt pad, not on the paper. Use a gold or silver Krylon pen making small dots on the paper and brushing over with the felt, you will come up with gold or silver line in your colors also. I use different pieces of felt for the different colors at times to make a lighter background on top and darker down the page. Hope this helps- I also have had my alcohol inks for more than 4 years.. Good luck - Nancy

[Whoopsie Daisy!]

I struggled with AI when I first purchased my set at the start of the year. The video referred by Tami is fabulous!! I am ready to give it a go during naps this afternoon!

Thanks, Tami!

:) Jane

[lost luggage]

WTH?? No wonder I was messed up...the instructions published by Papercrafts in the October issue are totally different from this video.

Tami- this video is AWESOME. I signed up to get free email updates from them :)

I used about 25% of my gold ink throwing it around last night. I am so happy to see I will get more use out of these and to know that the results can look so awesome...I am going to buy more AI for sure!!

THANK YOU Everyone!!!!!

[stampcrazyjulie]

You know, I have used the AI & regular ol' rubbing alcohol with good results. I have done it not even using anything but squeezing it out on the paper & moving around with different colors. I may have to go watch the tutorial & see what I am missing!

[lost luggage]

You know, I have used the AI & regular ol' rubbing alcohol with good results. I have done it not even using anything but squeezing it out on the paper & moving around with different colors. I may have to go watch the tutorial & see what I am missing!

That is what I did with the examples I posted....I used alcohol and my fingers...:o

[teabear]

I'm so glad you are all joining me in the "I love AI club"! I love the suggestions about using metallic pens and inks with them....it's on my list now!

[Erin K]

Oh good I see the crisis has passed! I was worried there! using 25% is crazy! I've had mine for ages and you can't even tell I've used any

[lost luggage]

I will move on to the next crisis.. lol

[logcabincreations]

The demo on crafttvweekly.com on how to use the alcohol inks is great.

Jan