Thursday 24 May 2012

Alcohol Inks... It's a Blast!

Another technique I demonstrated at Card-io last Saturday.... Alcohol Inks blasted with a can of compressed air. You know, the aerosol that you should be using to clean away dust on your keyboard, camera or other fiddly places you cannot reach. Well there's better use for that can than for dusting and 
it's much more fun than cleaning!
Card-io stock the cans of air, if you are in the area, or they can be bought at office supply shops or via the net ... or maybe there's already one lurking unused in the drawer of your computer desk.
The backgrounds produced can be chopped up and easily made into striking cards with just a little stamping and save all the off cuts to make great flowers  and die cut swirls to add that special finishing touch.
All you have to do is to drop alcohol inks onto glossy card and immediately give each drop a blast with the air can. Simples!
Below are some of the resulting cards.  Colour choice gives a variety of looks and the splats can then be stamped over, as you can see with the swirls below.
Try the technique on acetate sheets then layer the acetate over other backgrounds or images.
When the air can is new there will be more propellent liquid which gives a much softer look. This is attractive but only lasts for a few cards before the air comes out dryer and the results become far more intense. 
 The large splat below was created by dropping inks onto the same spot. As the inks are translucent it effectively gives shades through shades.
 By dropping the inks at the bottom edge, then blasting with the air from a low angle up towards the card, it gives a scenic or landscape look, as below. Imagine butterflies stamped over this card, toad stools along the bottom and a fairy tripping through the undergrowth... hey up! i'm getting cute ideas, not like me!!
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Just play about and have fun but remember to observe the safety details on the Air Can and also with the Alcohol Inks. No naked flames in the area, always have good ventilation etc.
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I chopped my cards into lots of pieces to make quicky give aways of tags and small cards during my dem. It would be great for ATCs as special little areas could be selected.

Here, I stamped the image on the Alcohol Inked card, then stamped another image, cut out just the face and stuck it over the image. It highlights the face and the features are ink free. 
As always, I hope you have fun trying out these ideas and if you have any queries please ask and I'll do my best to help.

20 comments:

sam21ski said...

Great technique Jo with fab results

TFS - Sam xxx

Sheilagh said...

Gorgeous, now to find a can of air..

Hugs


Sheilagh x

Helen said...

I love this technique and you have some great results - I love your yellow "landscape" but your finished pieces are just fantastic.

Rita said...

What a Fabulous Technique Jo. I love all your pieces and guess what, I found a can of air too. Watch this space, I'll let you know how it all turns out and thank-you so much for sharing with us. Enjoy the Sunshine. Hugs Rita xx

Trish Latimer said...

and to think i've been blowing like a loon through a straw when I could have been doing this, with much better results!!!! I especially like the drops upon drops effect, but love them all! Trish xxxx

Annie said...

What gorgeous results Jo. It remeinds me of the effects I used to get with my spiromatic [I think that was what it was called].....showing my age now :-)
Hugs,
A x

Paul B said...

What a brilliant technique! Those splats are fantastic, good and bold with lovely drippy arms. And true to your style, they are not only inky but vibrantly colourful and arty. I especially love the "Inspire" tag & it's accompanying "Dream" card. Px

Queenie Jeannie said...

Super, duper idea!!! I love what you've done with these - fabby projects!

Jeannie #75

May said...

This is fab... I didnt know you could buy cans of air... love it!!! the effect is Brillant.. what fabby cards and tags you have made with this technique...Hugs May x x x#30

Kim Dellow said...

Ooo gorgeous! Lovely colour burst! I'm really into my painty splatters at the moment! So much fun! Have some fun colour play! Kim

Glennis F said...

Fabulous - off to find some air cans!!

cockney blonde said...

Brill technique Jo. I haven't tried this for ages although it was you who first showed me the idea. Guess it will have to wait until my craft room is back up and running, x

Neet said...

Smashing tute Jo - remember doing this at the club now. Thanks for the reminder and clear instructions.
Hugs, Neet x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful technique and colors, Jo. I am visiting from another blog, but saw your colors and came running! Thank you for sharing the technique (runs to find can of air in here someplace!) :)

Eliza said...

Jo these cards look great, fab job on them. I tried this type of technique with a straw and LOL it was really funny, I think I nearly passed out because you had to work real fast, never thought of the can air and I have it in my tool box too, I am an electrical technician. Yes really. LOL

Must do this little exercise just for fun.

Eliza #49
http://queenartoypia.blogspot.com.au/

Tuire Flemming said...

Looks great! Really beautiful! But I´m afraid we don´t have here those air cans - at least I have never even heard about them. As we don´t have freezer paper... too bad :(
Of course there ARE cans with compressed air, but then there are also deodorant or hair spray or something else in those cans... too smelly!
Have a nice day!
Hugs!
Tuire

Lynn Stevens said...

That's such a fun technique Jo, your results are stunning. all those colors just make me smile!
hugs Lynn

hazel said...

A brilliant technique Jo and fabulous samples.
xxx Hazel.

Barb King said...

These are great, I am going to try this, thanks for the helpful hints!~ Barb WOYWW 121

Wiola said...

Wow, this is gorgeous. I love how bright and fun your cards look like.