Wednesday 31 July 2019

Having a play with alcohol inks

I cleared the desk, put on an apron and disposable gloves, had kitchen roll on standby in case, got Len to entertain Dudley and out came the alcohol inks yesterday when it was raining 'Dudleys and Kittys'.

And this was the result:
I ditched one as it came out like mud - my fault entirely. But this is a heads up that if you've seen Jennifer McGuire's recent video on creating backgrounds using alcohol inks and Tim Holtz 'Sparkle' card I can confirm that it's huge fun! I added some silver mixative to the torquoise piece BTW, although it wasn't really needed as the sparkle on its own is so lovely. The array of colours that Jennifer has to choose from is much wider than mine needless to say. And, as ever, pieces like this don't look really finished until they're tweaked/trimmed and popped in a frame or such. And there are three pieces there, a pink one in the middle at the back which has more colour variations than really shows in the photo.

Jennifer used some gorgeous 'frame' dies by Simon Says Stamp that I'm too scared to order for fear of being stung by UK Customs. So, I'm going to attempt to use some pretty frames and some floral dies I have already. There's going to be a join where the floral die cut inside the frame will touch the frame itself but it's worth a try!

I've searched most companies that we stock here in the UK for similar dies and found just one die that almost fits the bill but nothing as pretty and delicate as the SSS ones. No doubt it will only be a matter of time though :)

Just out of interest - has anyone here had experience of SSS goodies being sent to the UK? I'm sure I bought some years ago and not only was I stung for import duty but our Customs had the temerity to even include the cost of postage from the US in their calculations. So I've not fallen into that trap again, although it's a real shame that SSS doesn't have an outlet or franchise in the UK - they would make a fortune!

I'm still trying to catch up on Playground commenting so please bear with me!





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22 comments:

  1. Cathy31 July 2019 at 04:15

    These look lovely Di! Can't wait to see what frame you use with them, Cathy x

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  2. Kathyk31 July 2019 at 07:56

    Looks like a fun way to spend an afternoon and I too, look forward to seeing how this experiment ends up

    Happy Wednesday

    Kathyk

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  3. Sarn31 July 2019 at 08:37

    Yay for an inky play sesh! Results look great. Can't wait to see what you do with them next xxx

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  4. Kathleen31 July 2019 at 09:24

    I have bought from SSS and there was no added customs duty, I think they include it in the postal charge from themselves. I bought something from another place in America (can't remember who) but that had nearly £20 custom charge to pay I was gutted.

    My SSS purchase was probably 18months ago, so can't say if it is still the same, I suppose you could always mail and ask what is their take on posting to the UK.

    Kath x

    Oh lovely colours.

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  5. Sandra H31 July 2019 at 09:49

    Di they are really great results cannot wait until you add them to another project x

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  6. Aquarius31 July 2019 at 09:55

    Looks like a brilliant way to spend a wet day and I look forward to seeing what you do with these pieces. Thanks for the link - off to take a look then I might dig out my alcohol inks (hope they've not evaporated!!)

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  7. kiwimeskreations31 July 2019 at 10:28

    Ohhh - what wonderful pieces you have there Di - isn't playing with AI's so much fun!
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  8. Aimeslee Winans31 July 2019 at 10:43

    Yummy sheets! Enabled! Just ordered some Tim sparkle card. xox

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  9. Alice (scrAPpamondo)31 July 2019 at 12:11

    I can't wait to see your pretty works with those beautiful alcohol inked pieces! :D
    I agree with you about that SSS doesn't have an outlet or franchise in Europe... I'm scaring too by the duties!
    MemoryBox and PoppyStamps have some lovely frames dies, perhaps you could take a look
    Hugs

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  10. Em Louise Fairley31 July 2019 at 13:03

    The pieces are gorgeous and I'm sure the finished cards will be too. One way around the customs issue might be to have a friend in the US order the dies, then send them on to you as a gift. The value threshold for gifts is much higher than for commercial import x

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  11. Pat31 July 2019 at 14:15

    These backgrounds are beautiful Di and love the metallic sheen, and look forward to seeing what you make with them. I was lucky enough to win one of the SSS challenges, probably about three or four years ago so not recently, but didn't have any problem with paying duty. I would have thought that you were extremely unlucky to be picked out when you think of the volume of goods like that coming in the chances of you being picked out for closer inspection are quite low I would have thought. I think I might be tempted to try one more time and if the same thing should occur call that it. x

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  12. Bunny31 July 2019 at 19:19

    Alcohol inks are fun to play with. I especially love the turquoise one. I really need a work apron. Mainly because I just purchased Brushos. [Bunny]

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  13. Heidi MyLittleStampingBlog31 July 2019 at 19:46

    So pretty, I’d love to get some of that paper. Will have to search around for it. Sorry you have trouble getting items from SSS. I actually rarely shop from them even though I am in the USA. You guys do have some lovely shops in the UK that I wish were in the US.

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  14. Brenda1 August 2019 at 01:08

    It looked like fun when JM was doing this and now you have comfirmed how fun it is. I love how your backgrounds came out Di! So sparkly and shimmery and who doesn't love sparkle and shimmer?! Can't wait to see them made into cards. Would the same thing happen if someone bought a die for you and sent it to you in a card? I don't know much about over seas shipping I'm afraid. It's a shame though that this happens. You'd think there would be an easier way. I don't buy much from SSS even though I'm in the US because they have such high shipping rates. I have bought from Craft Stash in the UK and shipping wasn't bad at all to the US. Comparable to SSS shipping! I hope you can find something close to it. Hugs, Brenda

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  15. Lia1 August 2019 at 09:40

    I am curious what you will make with these!
    I know about shipping costs. Once I won a prize: $10,00 to spend in a shop. I had chosen a nice stamp and than came the shippingcosts extra: $ 15,00!!! So you can imagine: I said no to the prize! Such a shame...
    Have a great day (did Dudley survive the heat well?)
    Lia xx

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  16. HilaryJane2 August 2019 at 19:26

    Lovely backgrounds, I fell in love with alcohol inks as soon as I got them but the sparkle paper is new, looks great. I don't buy anything direct from US for the same reason and have always loved SSS products, such a shame that they don't sell wholesale to third parties. I shall look forward to seeing how you use those backgrounds xx

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  17. KandA3 August 2019 at 16:45

    Oooh these look absolutely gorgeous and I love the schparkle.

    Now as for buying from overseas - up to £15 goods value (at HMRC's exchange rate) you're okay but over that you get stung for vat 20% and that's when they start adding postage into the equation and then make you pay extra for actually collecting the money from you.
    I also noticed with a lot of American shops that once the goods have been posted then you're on your own if they don't arrive or are damaged on the way. So I tend to avoid buying from overseas.... but then that's me and it's a bit pot luck if customs pull your parcel to check it xx

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  18. Liz4 August 2019 at 09:42

    I love playing with alcohol inks, you never know what the finished piece will look like. Looking forward to seeing what you do with your lovely creations. The sparkle card sounds interesting, I'll have to check it out. I haven't bought anything from the US for ages, but it always used to be pot luck if things got stopped at customs when they arrived in the U.K. I think the £15 limit for no charges has been the same for years, it's about time it was increased...... or perhaps no charge at all for craft related goods. 😉 xx

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  19. Lynne in NI4 August 2019 at 09:50

    Oooh these are !ovely Di!
    I won a $50 prize from My Favourite Things recently and didn't spend it all because of customs charges. But FedEx just billed me anyway as the postage costs were added in and hey presto I owe them £18!! Hope you don't have the same.
    Dudley is looking gorgeous as usual, I always feel the need to get Rubydoo bathed after a visit to your blog ;)

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  20. ionabunny4 August 2019 at 12:21

    I will be interested to see how it goes with your order. I just won a $20 voucher to SSS. When I have ordered from them previously the goods value was always generously understated, but since they changed the way they do the post a few years ago I will be interested to see what they put on your package. Good luck. Hugz

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  21. Greta4 August 2019 at 16:38

    Such beautiful sheets, Di! I got the sparkle paper soon after seeing that video & still haven't opened it! Maybe now I'll get brave!

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  22. Craftychris10 August 2019 at 00:37

    These backgrounds are truly fabulous! I think I neeeeed the tim holtz sparkle card! Hugs xxxxxxxxx

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