101 things to do with alcohol inks (OK maybe not that many)

This article is written by Kathi of DragonsGlass.artfire.com

101 things to do with alcohol inks (OK maybe not that many)

Alcohol inks are so fun to use with polymer clays. They can be blended into clay, they can be added to liquid clay, they can be used for accent of baked pieces. Here are a few different things you can do. None of these techniques are my “inventions” and I will give credit and links where I can remember them.

1: Using pearl clay I lay stripes of piñata or Adirondack inks in lines. Once the inks are dry I then blend them into the clay. This gives you a lovely pearlescent skinner blend in pastel colors. With the clay you can now use many techniques to cover items or use as surface decorations.




2: http://gwengibson.com/index.htm Gwen Gibson does wonderful things with alcohol inks and shaving cream as seen in http://polymercafe.com/images/polymer_cafe_11.jpg Polymer Café . Here is a picture of a few shaving cream beads I made using her technique.

3: You can use ink pads and stamps on a clay base and then layer translucent or Kato clear liquid clay. http://web.mac.com/donna_kato/Site/Layered_Dichroic_Effects.html Donna Kato does wonderful things with foils and stamps as seen in this tutorial.

4: As seen in http://www.polymercafe.com/images/polymer_cafe_30.jpg this issue in Polymer Café, using alcohol inks, alcohol and baked base beads, one can do amazing things with pitch black ink.

5: Inks are wonderful for making faux tie dye or batik. I learned this technique from http://www.purpledoorart.com/ Heather Campbell at the IPCG retreat in July 2009. She uses it a lot with her pieces. I don’t know if she is planning on publishing the method or not so I can’t really share how it is done.



6: You can add ink to liquid clay and experiment like I did with the making of my meteor beads. (there will be a tutorial forth coming on these)



7: Inks and foils. YUM! You can use them on silver/copper/gold foils and then crackle them for an awesome look. I even got a faux dichroic glass look on the below focal



The main thing is to have FUN with the inks. Experiment, play, get colorful fingers. Let your muse take over and shut your brain off. You will be amazed at what you can create!

Happy claying!
Kathi