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!
|
the flowers are beautiful.
I don’t do much with flowers because they
are harder to shade but using the embossing
really makes it easier. Have to give it a
try.
thanks for sharing.
This is stunning! I would love to try yup Paper! I have heard about it but never tried it but it sounds interesting! TFS!
Gorgeous card, Jess! This is a technique I can’t wait to try. Have not used alcohol inks for many years but must still have them here somewhere.😆 Thanks for sharing these great tips!
LOVE it! You have the patience of a saint, not sure I would. Love to give it a whirl though.
Very cool results and thanks for all the tips. I would like to try this and also use the inks to make backgrounds.
I am already a YouTube subscriber.
Oh wow, gorgeous!!!! Thanks for sharing your talent!
I’d definitely love to give a try to this technique and to alcohol inks in general. So far, the only ones I have are homemade and I don’t know if they react the same as manufactured ones. And I don’t have any propre paper. Thanks for your generosity Jessica ! Love from France, Marjorie. margessw@icloud.com
BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for the chance to win. I would love to try alcohol inks!
And I’m definitely NOT a new YouTube subscriber !! 😉 margessw@icloud.com
This card is simply stunning! I do use alcohol inks and I recently tried Yupo paper and loved the results. I love you comment about this is not the technique if you are a moderate perfectionist – I’m a total perfectionist, but I think I will give this a try.
Are you kidding! I could possibly win some alcohol inks- YES PLEASE. I saw alcohol inks years ago and loved the look but never got into them as they were hard to get here. Now everyone seems to be using them on the www. And I am dying to try them. So to whoever wins- have fun and then have some for me too
Thanks for all of your tips on yupo paper. Have not tried it yet as it is difficult to find locally. But I see everyone demoing it and can see it is the only thing to use for alcohol inks if you want vibrant colors. Gorgeous card.
Who cares about lines this is much more artsy. Love it.
I absolutely love what you did with alcohol inks on this card. I have played with them a little, but I’m really looking forward to having some time around Christmas to get them out. I’ve tried this method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8lIFUpROYY. I even had a class with her. It was fun.
What a gorgeous result. I’ve never used alcohol inks before and I’d love to give it a try.
I am new to alcohol inks. Like so new that I literally just bought a starter kit yesterday. I would love to try this technique cause I love how imperfectly beautiful it is!
The card turned out beautifull. The alcohol inks look amazing!
Gorgeous technique that’s new to me, I have watched several of video’s that have demonstrated alcohol inks but I have yet to try this myself, maybe after the nrew year will be my turn x
I am in love…you did an amazing job but still looks a tad scary. I will need to get some supplies and give it a try! Thanks for the chance to win items to be able to try this technique.
Thanks for all the tips you shared about alcohol inks and yupo paper! I am planning to experiment with alcohol inks–just need to make the time to do it. Thanks for your generous giveaway and for sharing your talent with us.
🙂 Marie
I’ve always been a little intimidated to try alcohol inks but your video makes it look pretty fun.
Simply gorgeous! Amazing colors and technique. Definitely would need to let go and embrace the movement of the medium.
That is so cool! I love alcohol inks but I haven’t seen them used like this. Gorgeous!
Love the card and have never tried this technique before…thanks for the reminder to not expect to control the ‘flow’!
💕💕💕Love it! I haven’t tried this technique yet and don’t have those colors yet😊
I’ve been dying to try alcohol inks. The results I’ve seen are beautiful. Your card is breathtaking!