Playing with Alcohol Inks

Hello everyone, Happy Tuesday.   It's freezing rain here this morning, so we are stuck inside as the roads can be very slippery.

I recently had a play with alcohol inks, I love the textured shapes the blending fluid creates.  I don't use these inks much for some reason, but they are fun.  Below are a couple of cards using alcohol ink backgrounds, with no stamping.

On the card above, I simply doodled some flowers where I dripped alcohol blending solution.

The background above was cut into four and attached in a lay-out that I've seen on other blogs.  I thought it needed something in the center so I added the die cut leaf and bling.   I gave this card to my Dad for his 89th birthday, I thought it would work as a 'man card' :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Gelli Plate Print and Alcohol Inks

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.  We enjoyed a great long weekend and also time in the gardens. 

I'm in the craft room this evening for a change and thought I would show you a card that I created a using a Gelli plate print that had been sitting in my stash for a little while.

The smaller background is glossy paper with alcohol inks.   I stamped the beautiful Song Thrush Silhouette  by Chocolate Baroque with black archival ink.  I created the flowers with  Crealie dies (CLCS24, CLCF22 & Double Fun No 12). I coloured the flowers with Distress Inks before molding.

UPDATE:  I received an email asking if the alcohol inks would hurt my Gelli plate.... I thought it would, but see information below from Win Din.    However, I did not use Alcohol Inks on my Gelli plate.  The larger background is a Gelli Plate Print created with Acrylic paints on the Gelli plate.  The smaller background behind the bird is glossy paper with Alcohol Inks.  Sorry about any confusion !

ADDITIONAL UPDATE (May 22):  Win Din, talented mixed media artist,  left me this information in a comment on this post:    "I've been assured by the Gelli people that since alcohol is a component of the Gelli plates, the inks will not harm them. They may, however, stain them, but with prolonged use, so does acrylic paints to some degree".

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the week,
Shirley

Playing with Blue and Lilac

Happy Valentine's Day !  

I hope everyone is doing well.  I was away enjoying some time with family in warm sunshine and now back to the land of snow and cold.   I'm behind visiting in blog land but will try to catch up over the next few days.

When I had a look at the beautiful DT samples for the February's Blue or Lilac Challenge at Lavinia, I wanted to join in.   But I only own three of their lovely fairy stamps and nothing else to create a scene or to add other stamping.   So I came up with this design, I tried adding flowers but they were not working for me.

Lavinia stamp used:   Fleur Silhouette.
Dies:  Spellbinder - S4-383 Marvelous Squares
Stencils:  TCW - Circle Explosion and Star Fall

I stamped the fairy with black archival ink on glossy paper that I blended Blue & Lilac Alcohol inks over.   The two mats were created with After Midnight and Crushed Grape Dylusions inks.  I blended Shaded Lilac Distress Ink over the two stencils.   I added a little glitter to his wings.

Thanks for your visit and enjoy your day,
Shirley

Because I Care

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I have card today that was 'quick to make' using Chocolate Baroque's gorgeous new sets Tranquility and Serenity.  I thought this would work for an occasion when you want to cheer someone up or even as a sympathy card. 

The background behind the tree and bird was created with alcohol inks on glossy paper.    I stamped the tree and bird from Serenity and sentiment from Pretty Poppies with black Archival Ink.   The second background was created with Seedless Preserves Distress Ink using the Acrylic block technique.  I over stamped with the vine from Tranquility using Seedless Preserves DI.   

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Playing with Alcohol Inks

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I finally succumbed and bought alcohol inks.  I've resisted for a long time because I have so many other mediums but after seeing amazing designs at Marja's, Alie's & Maria's Blogs, and Pinterest I had to buy some. 

I'm enjoying playing with them but I'm having trouble stamping over the glossy papers without smearing the ink.   On the design below I used glossy cardstock, but I have also had fun trying landscapes on Yuppo (plastic coated watercolour paper).

If you have experience with alcohol inks and can give me tips on what inks stamp without smearing (or how) on Yuppo & Glossy paper I would greatly appreciate it.   I've tried Dye, Stazon & Archival Inks, probably Archival works best.  I used Dye ink on the card below and was able to rub off any images that didn't come out sharp. 

I ended up doodling with a black Pigment Pen over the alcohol ink background as I could 'see' flowers in it.   I also stamped a little with Design by Ryn's famous Water Droplets.  I highlighted with a white Gellyroll pen and added some liquid pearls to some flower centers.  Hello is from Impression Obsession (A3579) - a favorite little sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley