Wednesday 4 April 2018

A first play with alcohol inks and Yupo - Part 1

Crumbs, quite a few bloggers that I follow have used the Easter holiday to play with alcohol inks and Yupo paper - me included!

The previous week I really wanted to enter the Mixed Media challenge run by Loll and Bonnie, where the theme was acetate. I got my heart set on using a poor man's version of alcohol inks and bought some blending solution, which I then dropped onto scribbled Pro markers on acetate - but the colours hardly moved so I gave up. Sigh.

Then, too late for the challenge, I spotted that Clarity Stamps had a really great offer of 8 Tim Holtz Adirondack alcohol inks for £20 - wahoo!! That's £2.50 per bottle with free postage and seems hard to beat?! The slight catch is that you get what colours Clarity choose from available stock, but I figured it was good enough for a first try and also might form the basis of a few more to be added later on. I think the offer is still on folks! I got three colours in the brown spectrum but in fairness they're varied enough (Caramel, Teakwood and Pebble) to work really well together, whilst being different enough - and thanks to Clarity I'm set up with a pretty decent variety of colours to build on.

I spent Easter Sunday having a first try - my results most certainly aren't any more than very basic - but I was left with two pieces of inked up Yupo paper and made two cards from each of them. These are two from the darker sheet:


I used:

- one sheet of Tim Holtz white Yupo paper, just the small size (5" x 7")

- two white card blanks, one is 5.25" x 4" (side opening) and the second one is 4" x 4" square

- three different alcohol inks (Currant, Bottle and Caramel - and possibly a little drop or two of Teakwood right at the end). I was so excited I didn't keep a note - was also trying not to get the stuff over myself/desk/floor despite having protected what I could. However, I learned that disposable gloves are a must, I have them by the boxful here, just got carried away :)

- in true amateur fashion, I added drops of the inks plus some blending solution onto the sheet of Yupo paper then blew through a straw onto them, for as long as it took to add more coverage and spread the inks around a bit and repeated the process until I felt it was time to stop

- other crafters use an air 'puffer' or hairdryer apparently to move the inks around - as well as rubbing alcohol (on order) and various other wonderful techniques such as adding gold foiling. I have the silver and gold mixatives on order but, from what I've seen, the foiling would be stunning if I can get the spread of inks more subtle! And I yes, might very well still have some thin sheets of the very fine foil - dating back to the year 'dot'!

- then die cut two sets of frames using the Impression Obsession 'Rectangle 6 in 1 Frames' die

- selected two frames to suit what I wanted and also the duplicated ones from the other die cut sheet - glued ttwo frames together for more stability

- then trimmed the piece of Yupo, picking out which pieces I wanted to use and adhered them to the back of the frames by running very narrow red line tape around the back of the inner edge of each frame

- backed each framed piece of Yupo with fun foam for dimension then glued them onto each card - centrally for the first card and then leaving space for a die cut sentiment on the second card

- die cut the sentiment (hello) for the first card three times from white card, using a die from the MFT 'Hello There' set of dies, and glued the layers together before gluing the 'hello' in place

- die cut the 'smile' sentiment twice from white card and once from a snippet of the inked Yupo using a die from the Penny Black 'Hooray' set of dies, then glued the layers together before gluing the 'smile' in place underneath the framed piece of inked Yupo

- two cards - finished!

I've since taken the time and trouble to read a lot more about using Yupo and alcohol inks - Loll has some really great videos on YouTube. I love the softer look that folk manage to achieve - my next aim, providing the weather is good enough to have the craft room well ventilated! I didn't even know about ventilation being important when I was playing on Sunday, thankfully not in full rubbing alcohol mode, else it could have been dodgy to say the least. Will I ever learn to always do some research before launching headlong into something :) Doubtful.





32 comments:

  1. Super cards , Di, great results with your alcohol inks. I just happened to buy a couple of bottles of alcohol inks today.....oops, just noticed the time.....bought them yesterday, in my favourite craft shop in North Devon. I have a few bottles already, but decided I needed a couple of different colours. I've only ever used them on glossy card, so I have to look out for some yupo paper. Thanks for the tip about ventilation, I didn't know that was important!! xx

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    1. Yupo is fabulous stuff Liz! I got mine from Amazon - it's not cheap wherever you buy it from (that I can see anyhow) but really worth it. My buddy SaRn first used it a good while ago and I've been dithering ever since! xx

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  2. Pretty results Di and the colour mix is great. I love those large sentiments too and the frames go beautifully. x

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  3. Hi Di, sounds like you had alot of fun over the holiday weekend, the results are great, love the colour mix you used... have a wonderful week... Megan

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  4. gorgeous colours Di, isn't it fun playing with AI's

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  5. Two great cards and it sounds like you had great fun making them. I have lots of alcohol inks but no yupo maybe I should buy dome xxx

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  6. Great results Di. Would never have known this was your first play. The colours you've used look amazing together. Love both designs. Yes, ventilation is VERY important ... the alcohol inks, blending solution, rubbing alcohol ... they can really take over. Always good to have the windows wide open. :) xx

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  7. Beautiful cards, very striking and pretty brilliant for a first attempt. I really like the 'smile' being die cut from the yupo... looks great x

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  8. Ah! These are gorgeous Di! Love the colours, so the mixed lot you got were good ones! Look forward to seeing more of your cards using AI and yupo, it's a bit addictive, or maybe that's the fumes lol!! Cathy x

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  9. Ooh wow thats gorgeous Di the colours are stunning and the layout is beautuful too! another string to your bow your so talented xx

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  10. Well, I think the girl did good! It's always fun playing (I mean EXPERIMENTING) with new things. The two cards you've shown us are FAB, but please open the window next time, we don't want you fainting on us or speaking in tongues now do we???? LOL!

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  11. Two fabulous cards and your Yupo /alcohol ink backgrounds are gorgeous. I've just spent the morning sorting and disposing of ribbon and flowers and now I'm off to see what goodies I can buy to fill the empty space in the cupboard! xx

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  12. They are stunning, Di! I haven't got any alcohol inks, but have not even really played with my Pixie Powders yet either that I've had for about six months. I know, I'm slacking! xoxo

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  13. Fabulous both cards and alcohol backgrounds!
    I have never tried alcohol inks on yupo paper, I will try, when I have time!

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  14. Your post is timely because I just got my hands on some Yupo paper at the craft store yesterday! I have had AI’s for years. I love the deep colors you got, I think that is one of the really great things about these inks, they can be so bold! Lovely cards you made too!

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  15. Your first attempt is lovely. I can't wait to see what you do after research. It will be spectacular!

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  16. Aren't the alcohol inks and Yupo fun to do! You've created such pretty card using them and I love the way your framed out the pieces. Outstanding!
    Lynn

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  17. I too like your cards. Well done. I just ordered some Yupo paper - have been using glossy or vellum. Thanks for the tip for ventilation. Now to get some weather so the windows can be open!

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  18. Fabulous cards Di, I bought some yupo some time ago, so perhaps it is time to do some experiments too!

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  19. You are a better man than I am G.D. Well done, I am just getting into playing with Distressed Inks. Great results and too super designed cards.

    Kath x

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  20. Ooh these are awesome! Your alcohol ink on Yupo pieces look amazing. I have alcohol inks and glossy card but Yupo out of my price range at the mo but will try it one day. Must play with my glossy card and alcohol inks again though. Hugs xxxxxx

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  21. Ohhh I do love alcohol oops I mean alcohol inks and yupo its so pretty and how you have used it here for these two cards its perfect Di.

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  22. I've only ever used alcohol inks on glossy card - not for a long time now though it used to be popular. Did buy some yupo paper to have a try, just where did I put it?? Love both of your cards.

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  23. its so wonderful!
    have a nice day
    hugs

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  24. I like to think that you and I were playing with alcoholic ink on Yupo paper at the same time, Di! It's like we had a play date! Your four cards (I saw the others on the way in) are all fantastic! I didn't use a straw or heat gun on mine, but I thought it dried pretty quickly. I also forgot to open a window like a dork, but fortunately I didn't play for long. Wish you could come over and have another play with me!! ❤️Hugs, Darnell

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    1. Ha - we sure were on the same wave length Darnell! I used the straw to blow the ink around a bit but then let it dry naturally. I now have the pure alcohol which is better for 'watering down' the inks than just blending solution - so YouTube seems to say :)

      Come over anytime for a play - there will be carrot and raisin loaf over the weekend!

      Hugs

      Di xx

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  25. Gor jus! Love the color you chose. I don't have alcohol inks but I think you can use alcohol and SU reinkers to arrive at the same place.

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  26. A lovely set of cards hun and it looks like you had lots of fun too, luv Sam x

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  27. Love this technique, Di, and the cards are gorgeous. I particularly like the strong colour combination here but all four cards are fab. Adequate ventilation is important when using stuff like that and yet how often do we forget ... I know I do! Hugs, Elizabeth xx

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  28. Just quick note on phone.. brilliant Miss talk of you dithering I'm with you
    I bought the excessively tiny 5 x7 sheets abput six months ago.. have number of alc inks over number years... v dear here too clarity offfer dirt chesp.. now i just might have the courage to use that paper.. to get results like that
    Two cards from. 5 x7 seems good.. esp stunnners like these. Need rubbing alcohol though.. hugs gentle back healing prayers. Shaz.x crafting not blogging though.. one day!

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  29. All four cards are gorgeous Di, absolutely stunning! I must get mine out to play with at some point lol! Karen x

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