By Neith Juch
Websites with Tips and Projects

• http://www.lumpystuff.com/articles/article_alcohol.pdf
• http://www.lumpystuff.com/article_ai2.htm
• http://www.rangerink.com/project_stainedglass.html
• http://www.timholtz.com/tips/
• http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_jewelry/article/0,2025,DIY_13762_3265339,00.html
• http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_entertaining_other/article/0,,HGTV_3116_1386003,00.html
• http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_fabrics_tabletop/article/0,,HGTV_3392_1396001,00.html
• http://www.rubberstampsclub.com/tips/polished-stone-technique.html
• http://www.schmoozewithsuze.com/product/product.php?pID=040719203959

Tools and Techniques
Felt Applicator Tool - Make your own tool with either a wooden dowel or cast off wood block (like a stamp mount) by attaching the hook side of a pc of velcro to the end and cutting up some white/neutral felt to the same size. You will dot, drizzle, or make lines on it direct from your ink bottles then dab, swirl, etc it onto your surface in any way you dream up. Reuse the inked felt or toss and start anew as your heart desires!
Slick Surfaces - Alcohol Inks work great on slick surfaces like glass, plastic, acrylic, manila, glossy paper/cardstock, transparencies, metal, etc. Half of the fun is in making the ink slide around on the surface!
Regular Cardstock - I was able to use alcohol inks on regular cardstock after I wet it with rubbing alcohol, painting it all over the paper, then applying the inks in drips, tilting the paper to make it move as well as adding more drops of rubbing alcohol and using a kids' plastic paintbrush to swirl it more. I basically covered the kitchen table in plastic cheap placemats wrapped in plastic wrap and got a bunch of paper out and played! :)
Pouncing - First you'd add whatever colors you are interested in to your felt applicator and dab it all over your surface, add as many layers as you like. This will give a speckled effect to your surface.
Dragging - Ink your felt applicator in a row of dots or stripes and drag it along your surface to create stripes or wavy lines. You can layer this technique for wonderful sunset or underwater looks! You can also swirl the applicator tool or any other style of swiping that you can dream up!
Direct from Bottle - You can apply the ink directly to your surface and it will puddle a bit, more if you add a lot, as it progresses along in the drying process it will interact differently with any additional ink you apply (the lumpy stuff article does a great job talking about this. I’ve also found it makes a great batik style look when you apply it after dabbing ink all over the paper with your felt applicator and letting it dry.
Wetting Your Surface First - Another great thing to try is wetting your surface first with Blending Solution or rubbing alcohol then applying Alcohol Inks. Even just a few drops will create beautiful effects akin to an aurora borealis!
Polished Agate Technique - First you'd add whatever colors you are interested in to your felt applicator and dab it all over your surface, add as many layers as you like, then take a metal leafing pen (leafing/foiling, not metallic paint pens) anddab/dot the leafing pen in spots onto your ink-wet felt applicator and pounce away! The inks and metal will interact and some veins will form... depending on how long you take between steps, the way things interact will be different. I’ve also seen where people applied the leafing pen directly onto their inked surfaces then added more layers of Alcohol Inks.
Stamping on Alcohol Inked Surfaces - Do not use Stayz-on! Use only dye based ink pads to stamp with or your various solvent solutions will react in a way that will destroy your work. :( You can use pigment inks and heat emboss before you apply the alcohol inks and it works great!
Resist Technique - Apply alcohol inks to acetate/plastic/shiny metal/possibly even glass then stamp with Ranger Archival Ink (this type is the only one known to work), immediately use a soft paper towel/tissue to rub away the Archival Ink and wherever you stamped will now appear clear. You can layer this acetate/etc over other images and even apply ink to the opposite side of the surface for wonderful looks (this technique was printed in the Jan Club Stamp Scrap Rap).
Painting - I was able to paint transparent layers of ink onto a write-on transparency by putting a small amt of rubbing alcohol in a disposable plastic cup and adding alcohol ink to it, then painted it all over the transparency in swirls.
Spritzing With Blending Solution/Rubbing Alcohol - After you’ve Inked your surface, you can use a spray/misting bottle to spritz Blending Solution or rubbing alcohol onto the surface. On some surfaces this will remove your ink on its own, on others you may need to blot off the Blending Solution/rubbing alcohol with a tissue.
Applying Ink from the Non-Stick Craft Mat - If you have Ranger’s Non-Stick Craft Mat, it’s a wonderful tool for using alcohol inks with! Not only will it protect your work surface, but you can reuse the stray ink that gets on it while creating or apply ink directly to it in order to create new works of art! Either apply new ink or Blending Solution/rubbing alcohol to the inked mat and then press your project onto it. Swirl it and/or lift it straight off the mat for different looks, even apply the Blending Solution directly to your project surface before pressing it onto the mat for more variety! Try it using other surfaces, like a sheet of transparency!
Coloring UTEE - Suze Weinberg has posted a technique for coloring UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) with Alcohol Inks! Simply put a small amount of clear, white, or pearl UTEE into a small jar and add a few drops of Alcohol Ink, stir and shake and the alcohol will “flash off” leaving you with colored UTEE to play with!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alcinktools.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/feltapplic.jpg
The close-up is of the homemade felt applicator tools, one with a used piece of felt, one without, as well as squares of used and new felt. An alternative applicator is to use an alligator clip tool to grasp a small fold of felt.
You can also use cotton balls to add rubbing alcohol to your surface, sponge daubers to daub ink with including ink you've diluted with rubbing alcohol, kids' plastic paintbrushes to swirl the alcohol ink on a glossy surface. Adding alcohol ink to rubbing alcohol or the blending solution will help make it more fluid for a longer time so that you can really get down and dirty, but the end result will be more diluted, still a great thing to play with!
Both the blending solution and rubbing alcohol will clean your work area and tools well. Also, Ranger's Non-Stick Craft Mat is soooooo convenient... you won't have to throw away huge piles of scratch paper or destroy your table... it wipes up with rubbing alcohol... any hard things that stay on it (UTEE, embossing powder, glues, thick paint,etc)can be rubbed off with the end of a plastic credit card when they are dry.
Technique Samples
(All samples shown are using Eggplant, Wild Plum, and Cranberry Adirondack Alcohol Inks from Ranger, since they coordinate well and are locally available at AC Moore)
Glossy Cardstock

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_1.jpg

1. Inking the felt applicator tool and pouncing the ink onto the tag.
2. Polished Stone Technique with Silver Krylon Leafing Pen and a small layering of ink.
3. Polished Stone Technique with Gold Krylon Leafing Pen and a few more layers of ink.
   
   
   
   http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_2.jpg
   
   
4. Inking the felt applicator tool and swirling it onto the tag.
5. Inking the felt applicator tool in 3 dots or lines and dragging it across the tag (I also will have samples of a sunset made with multiple colors of ink and extra layers of dragging as well as an ocean scene dragging in a wavy line and then adding "seaweed" direct from the bottle).
6. Pouncing an inked felt applicator tool onto the tag and then adding squiggles directly from the bottle.
   
   
   http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_3.jpg
   
   
7. Adding droplets of ink direct from the bottle.
8. Dripping the blending solution onto the tag til the surface is all wet and adding droplets of ink and tilting the tag until covered, touch the edges against the non-stick craft mat to remove the ink build up at the edges.
9. Using mostly dry remnants of ink on the felt applicator tool after making other tags.
   
   
   
   
   
   http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_4.jpg
   
   
10. Wetting the Non-Stick Craft Mat with Blending Solution, adding drips of alcohol ink,then pressing the tag onto the Non-Stick Craft Mat, swirling then lifting, pressing again if any areas aren't covered enough.
11. Adding Ink with a felt applicator tool to the ink remnants on the Non-Stick Craft Mat and pressing the tag into it until fully covered.
12. A Second Generation of inking after tag #11,from the same wet supply before it dries.
    
    
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_5.jpg
    
    
13. Adding a small amount of Blending Solution to ink Remnants on the Non-Stick Craft Mat and pressing tag into the mat, swirling and lifting until fully covered.
14. Second Generation from tag #13 with a little more Blending Solution.
15. A combination of first adding Blending Solution to the tag and then the technique from tag #13 once while wet and again after it has dried.
    
    
    
    
    
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_6.jpg
    
    
16. Tag #1's technique of pouncing ink, then after it is dry, misting with rubbing alcohol in a small spray bottle, then blotting off the alcohol with a paper towel.
17. Tag #4's technique of twisting the inked felt applicator tool, then after it is dry, misting with rubbing alcohol in a small spray bottle, then blotting off the alcohol with a paper towel.
18. Tag #8's technique of first wetting the tag with Blending Solution, then dripping ink onto the tag and tilting to cover and, after it is dry, misting with rubbing alcohol in a small spray bottle, then blotting off the alcohol with a paper towel.
    
    Photo Paper
    
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_7.jpg
    
    
19. Inking the felt applicator tool and pouncing the ink onto the tag.
20. Same technique as tag #19, but less Eggplant.
21. Polished Stone Technique with Gold Krylon Leafing Pen.
    
    
    
    
    
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_8.jpg
    
    
22. Same technique as tag #19, of pouncing ink onto the tag,followed with ink applied directly from the bottle in squiggles on top of the dried and inked tag.
23. Drips and squiggles applied directly from the bottle to the tag.
24. Same technique as tag #22, of pouncing and then direct from bottle ink application,followed by wiping the wet ink from the tag with a paper towel.
    
    
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_9.jpg
    
    
25. Same technique as tag #23, of direct from bottle inking,followed by wiping the dried ink from the tag with a paper towel and rubbing it into the tag in some areas for a deeper effect.
26. Same technique as tag #19, of pouncing ink, followed by stamping the tag with Archival Ink and wiping the area hard with a paper towel... results vary on this one greatly.
    
    Plain White Cardstock
27. Painting a diluted mix of Rubbing Alcohol and Wild Plum Alcohol Ink directly onto the tag.
28. Wetting the tag with Blending Solution and then applying ink directly to the tag, swirling the wet ink/Blending Solution then another application in squiggles before fully dried.
    
    Manilla Shipping Tags
    
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_10.jpg
    
    
29. Inking the felt applicator tool and pouncing it onto the tag, followed with direct from bottle ink application in squiggles.
30. Polished Stone Technique with Gold Krylon Leafing Pen.
31. Inking the felt applicator tool and pouncing it onto the tag.
    
    Aluminum Foiling Tape
    (Please note that the fully metal surface does not scan well, I will try to replace with better images.)
    
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_11.jpg
    
    
32. Ink applied directly from the bottle in drops, some are added when the neighboring ink is fully wet, others when it has dried somewhat.
33. Polished Stone Technique with Gold Krylon Leafing Pen.
34. Ink has been pounced onto the tag, followed with stamping the fully dried tag using Archival Ink and wiping away the stamped images quickly.
    
    
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_12.jpg
    
    
35. Confetti has been placed on the back of the Aluminum Foiling Tape before adhering the tape to cardstock. Then the tag was brayered with a soft brayer until the confetti images appear fully embossed. Ink was then pounced onto the tag evenly, with it removed from select surfaces via Blending Solution on Q-Tips and small folded pieces of felt, then ink in a contrasting color was applied with similar folded pieces of felt held in an alligator-clip chalking tool.
36. Blending Solution applied to the tag first, then drops of Alcohol Ink were swirled onto the tag.
    
    Transparencies (white tags placed behind for visibility)
    
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/Alcohol%20Inks/alctags_13.jpg
    
    
37. Ink has been pounced onto the tag. When dry the tag was stamped with Archival Ink and the stamped images were immediately wiped off with a paper towel.
38. Ink applied directly from the bottle in drops and squiggles.
39. Diluted mixture of Rubbing Alcohol and Wild Plum Adirondack Inks were painted onto the tag.
40. Non-Stick Craft mat was pounced with blending solution then the tag was placed onto the mat, swirled and lifted.

Project Samples

Polished Agate Bamboo Cards (glossy paper)-the bamboo colored paper uses the "polished agate" technique and a felt applicator tool (take a wood stamp mount that's long and skinny and unused... add velcro to the little end and then use felt squares on the velcro to drip ink onto then dab onto the paper or swirl or anything your heart desires, toss the felt or reuse to your heart's content) basically you dab the applicator with a few colors of alcohol inks onto the glossy surface, layer it as many times as you like... then take a metal leafing/foiling pen (not a metallic paint pen, won't work) and put a few dots down right where you'll dab with your wet, ink filled applicator.. it'll leaf out a bit and you can help it along with some nudges :) http://photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/cards/?action=view&current=bamboolantern.jpg
Batik Effect "Reach Within..." Card (glossy paper) - the oceany look is made by dabbing the same applicator tool (for this i made ink dots on the tool rather than squiggles) on the paper til you're happy, then take the ink bottle and make squiggles from the tip directly onto the paper, make more when the first color of ink is wet or when it's dry, both will have different effects http://forums.about.com/ab-scrapbooking/messages?msg=38300.1
Felt Applicator Tool forPurple Tag (manila shipping tag)- the purple tag base was made with the felt applicator tool and swirling the color onto the manila tag. http://www.lumpystuff.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/2742/cat/500/page/1

RegularPaper withRubbing Alcohol Leila Tag -For the Leila tag, I drizzled Rubbing Alcohol over the tag's surface then dripped Alcohol Inks onto the wet tag, adding more ink and more rubbing alcohol and using a sponge dauber to mix and swirl. I then stamped in copper (shows in real life but not in scan) and then yellow gold MicaMagic. The torn paper layers were created primarily by spraying with the color washes and a water spritzer. Then I added Rubbing Alcohol and Alcohol Inks before ironing dry and stamping onto it. http://www.lumpystuff.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/2226/cat/500/page/2
Fairy ATC Painting with Rubbing Alcohol(transparency) - The fairy cards have alcohol ink painted on with a rubbing alcohol soaks plastic paintbrush onto the back of a transparency and swirled all around. http://www.lumpystuff.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1936/cat/500/page/2
Polished Agate Technique Coasters (glossy cardstock)- The coasters use the same polished agate technique as the first image, then stamped over it with MicaMagic. http://www.lumpystuff.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/2466/cat/500/page/2

"if life were a fruit" Transparency Card -The oranges are stamped with black Stayz-On on one side of a transparency and then I used a sponge dauber on the reverse side and blending solution to apply the ink just within orange sections. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/cards/orange_family.jpg
Tinkerbell & Ariel Layouts on Glossy Paper - The Tinkerbellmats were created by inking the Non-Stick Craft Mat and adding a little blending solution, then Ipressed the glossy paper into it, swirled and lifted. Ariel's background is made by dragging the ink across the surface on the felt tool and then direct from bottle applications to make the seaweed. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/mini%20gift%20albums/tink_mermaid.jpg
Sunset Card on Glossy Paper -Thesunset was also created by dragging the inked felt applicator across the surface in repeated layers. Thefair caravan was heat embossed onto thesurface after the ink was fully dried. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/neithj/cards/circus_sunset.jpg