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Sunday, June 29, 2008

Using alcohol inks on fabric

I LOVE alcohol inks,you can use them on anything! Just use your imagination! I want to share tips on using them on fabric embellishments. First you need to gather your supplies. I used five different colors of alcohol ink,the ranger alcohol ink applicator,and some fabric embellishments found in the Bridal section of Michaels and WalMart. (TIP-if you don't have the ink applicator,use cotton balls. You will need to be careful though,you run the risk of getting ink on your fingers this way! IF you get ink on your fingers:I use comet(powdered form)! It works every time!)

The next step is applying ink to the applicator. Apply small dots of the different colored inks,it doesn't matter how much or little of each color you apply,or where you apply it. I strongly feel part of working with alcohol inks is about letting go of control. Allow the inks to do what they like,I bet you'll love the results!
Now you can start on your embellishments. Press the applicator down firmly on your item,lift up,and repeat. You will notice that the different colors are melding together,making a unique pattern on your item. Repeat until the entire item has been covered in ink. You may need to apply more ink,just load your applicator the same as before.
Here is what you'll end up with:A uniquely custom colored embellishment. The multiple colors will add depth to your projects/layouts.
I like to use this technique on fabric flowers as well,just use the same steps...
You will end up with beautiful,uniquely colored flowers!!
If your flowers have a pearl,plastic,or bling center,you can color them as well! To get a deeper color,I like the direct bottle to item method.
Here are the beautiful custom colored embellishments I ended up with! The picture isn't really doing them justice!
Here is the layout I made the embellishments for. I love the texture they add! Go ahead and try this technique,it's fun and easy,and yeilds beautiful results!

12 comments:

TesaB said...

Oh wow! This is beautiful! Haven't got any of that ink - yet... I think I really neeed to get some though... LOL! AWESOME LO! As always!

AND: CONGRATULATIONS to the DT assignment!!!

holly* said...

i really LOVE how those horrid (i'm sorry, but its my true feelings) bridal embellishments turned out with the alcohol inks! they look beautiful on your LO.

congrats on the DT, btw!!!

scrappermimi said...

I never even thought to use alchol ink on flowers!Great LO!

Kim said...

Going to M's ASAP to use my 50% coupon on some of those inks... This is such a cool technique!

Anonymous said...

I may have to try this sometime. Thanks for explaining the process!

Anonymous said...

Rebecca, this is just beautiful and your explanation is perfect! I'm off to buy some alcohol inks - very excited! :)

---
Jill

Lily said...

gorgeous stuff. I am going to add you to my blog list!

Anonymous said...

hey there!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Love this tutorial-alcohol inks on fabric! Never would of tought to do that! Thanks!!!

Anonymous said...

Looks beautiful! Great idea..Im using similar techniques, just cant find where to buy the inks??where did you get those inks from?? :)

Paula said...

Incredible! I have a bazillioon of these inks, plus the dye pads and almost everything else in the Adirondack line. I also have tons of pigment pads from other makers and want to use these to color trims and embellishments to use on altered wearables. I've found some info as to what will and what won't work, but nothing on the alcohol inks or the dye pads. Will they wash out and ruin everything in a wash load once they are laundered, or will they be OK if let to set up for 72 hrs then are properly heat set with an iron or heat tool?

Thanks,
Paula

Anonymous said...

hello there thanks for your grat post, as usual ((o:

Loves Courage said...

Will Alcohol inks wash out if used on clothing? Anyone had any experience with the Spectrum alcohol inks?

Susan