Good morning! A few weeks ago I shared this card where I “colored” a heat-embossed image with alcohol inks. I promised a video tutorial and I’m excited to share it today! 🙂 You can watch the video below or at my Youtube channel!
I love the resurgence of alcohol inks in the crafting world and I have to thank Tae-Eun for this particular technique. She resparked my interest in alcohol inks a few months ago and after watching her coloring heat-embossed images with alcohol inks I had to give it a try! I LOVE creating large background patterns with alcohol inks like these but this is also a really fun way to use alcohol inks in a different way.
Full disclosure first, this is not the technique for the perfectionist. And it was definitely a challenge for me to give up control but when you’re working with drops of ink, you’re very much NOT in control. And the sooner you realize it, the less yupo paper you’ll waste! 😉 There’s a moment in my video where I’d guess some of you will think that this is not going to work out well…but I hope you agree that the effect of the finished card hides those ink imperfections nicely! Honestly, it’s easier to watch the video but basically you’re going to heat-emboss an image on yupo paper. I used the sketchy floral stamp from Altenew and heat-embossed it with silver embossing powder. I’ve heard several people say that they can’t heat-emboss on yupo…it’s trickier than regular cardstock but there are a couple tips that will help. First off, I always use a larger panel of yupo paper than I need. Yes, it’s a little wasteful but it really helps keep the warping to a minimum on your final project. The yupo warps most easily along the edges and if you’re already planning to trim those off you can take a lot of the stress away! Second, the weight of the yupo paper really makes a difference. Currently I’ve been using the heavyweight yupo paper but I’ve had success with the medium weight and the Ranger yupo as long as I adhere the yupo to a piece of 110lb cardstock first. I use a good amount of ATG adhesive and that seems to keep the yupo from warping. Finally, I make sure my heat gun is blazing hot before I bring it to the paper and then when I do I move slowly and steadily making sure to not let the gun focus on one area too long. When the image is totally embossed and the paper is still warm I bend it back and forth gently as it cools and that also seems to help keep the paper from warping!
You’ll see all those tips in the video! When I color the images I use my air puffer, plastic q-tips, paper towels and alcohol inks. I drop the color one drop at a time in the various embossed areas and then use gravity and the puffer to gently move the color around. A paper towel or q-tip dipped in blending solution helps to move around the ink if it flows outside of the embossed area. If I want the color to move more freely I can add a drop of mixative or a drop of blending solution to lighten and push the color. The ink WILL flow outside of the embossed areas occasionally and it won’t always do what you want it to do. But sometimes some of my favorite results occur when I least expect them, too! I finished my card with a sentiment from Altenew’s Hello Sunshine and a few sparkling clear sequins! I hope you’ll watch the card and give this technique a try. I’d love to hear from you if you do try it!
I’d love to give someone the opportunity to try alcohol inks! I have a set of the Beach Deco ranger alcohol inks (Flamingo, Patina, and Amethyst) and a pack of Ranger white and Ranger translucent yupo paper to give to one of you! To enter, please leave a comment and let me know how you’d like to try alcohol inks! And for an extra entry subscribe to my youtube channel and leave a comment letting me know that you’re a new subscriber! Finally, the giveaway will close Monday, December 10th at 11:59 PM EST and all giveaway winners will be announced here!
Interested in the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Affiliate disclosure can be found here). Your purchases through my links help keep my blog running with no additional cost to you and I thank you so much for the support!
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Oooh! Love how this turned out! I would love to try using alcohol inks this way. I have not tried this technique! Looks amazing!
Your card is just stunning! WOW!! I haven’t tried either, the yupo or the inks, and it looks like fun!
Your flowers are beautiful! I want to try the backgrounds with yupo paper!
This is just fabulous! I’d try them this way because I love floral cards! I don’t care so much for full backgrounds with this technique but these embossed flowers look stunning! XXX
This is absolutely stunning and I would LOVE to give alcohol inks a try. Thanks for the great video – lots of information to help us be successful with this. The inks seem a little tricky but not out of reach
Jessica!! Stunning card!!
I would love to give your giveaway alcohol inks a try. I have never experimented with yupo paper and would love to give it a go!!
Sounds like the best approach is to have more of a “let’s see what happens” attitude when trying this method.
🙂
Wow this technique is amazing – the results are gorgeous – I have never tried alcohol inks and would love to try this out 🙂
Just subscribed to your Youtube Chanel:)
I have been a subscriber to your U-tube channel for awhile.
Enjoy it very much – so informative.
thanks for the chance to win some alcohol inks – I’d
love to try them.
I think it turned out beautifully! I never thought of using alcohol inks that way but I might have to give it a try. I’ve seen some gorgeous paintings done with these inks.
A fascinating process with lovely results. Thank you for showing me how to use alcohol inks.
Love your card and the techniques with the alcohol inks. I’ve never tried them before but I can see some wonderful projects in the future. Thanks for sharing; the tips are very useful and should keep me in line when trying these inks.
Awesome card. What a cool idea! Love the color’s too😀👍
Thank’sfor sharing
I love your card! I have used alcohol inks on ceramic tiles with great results. I have not tried yupo yet.
This is a piece of art! I love the look when you color a heat embossing stamp. Honestly, I haven’t used alcohol inks yet but I will definitely try, the final look is gorgeous.
I love alcohol inks and have had some forever – am so pleased they are making a comeback – really appreciate the tips today – especially about embossing the yupo paper – and your card turned out beautifully.
Such a beautiful card! I would love to play with alcohol inks. The colors are amazing!
LOVED watching you do this! Spectacular! Can’t wait to try this. I used alcohol inks once about 7 yrs ago for my daughter’s fall wedding. I dabbed fall colors onto photo paper and then punched out fall leaves. I then put them on the place cards. Your project is gorjus!
I would use the inks to create colorful backgrounds for cards and try something new with glass
You tube follower
Beautiful. Gorgeous card. Am excited to try this process.
Alcholol inks seem to be all the rage. I went to a garage sale and didn’t buy them because didn’t know how to use them, kicking myself. It I definite.ymwant to try these. I like the fact that all results will be unique and I think the f,owners will be a good place to start.
What a beautiful card. Thank you for the tips.
Wonderful tutorial…so many tips and tricks to truly appreciate. The results are spectacular. Such a beautiful card.
Beautiful card and I
have not used the
alcohol inks but
would love to win
and try them out
on a card.
Carla from Utah
Gorgeous effect with the alcohol inks! I would love to make some backgrounds, and try my hand at applying them to a design like you did here! Love the vivid colors!
I’m already a YouTube subscriber!