A few years back, I bought a decent amount of alcohol ink and supplies, with the intention of making some art, but I’ve been so busy with other projects that my poor little alcohol inks just sat there unused. I decided to rectify that last month and used them to decorate a postcard for Tapestry as part of the Nerd Games Summer Camp. The design was inspired by my appreciation of her art.
I used a clear holographic sticker sheet as the base. This was my first time using alcohol inks, so I just went to town dropping ink and blending solution and blowing it around with a straw. After a few colorful attempts, I decided to limit my background colors to three colors that were sold together in a pack (instant curated color palette!). Then I added a bit of gold.
Since the background was made up of blues and greens, I chose warm colors for the words. I used a sheet of white sticker paper and brushed blending solution onto it. Then I dropped the alcohol inks from pink to orange along the side and using a foam brush wet with blending solution, I brushed the colors across the page. I used my Silhouette to cut the letters and since they were already on adhesive paper, it was easy to stick them onto the background.
I had planned on sending it as a regular postcard, but since the alcohol ink wasn’t sealed, I decided to send it in an envelope. Then, when I took it outside, I noticed the card started to curl up in the heat of the sun (thankfully, it flattened back out on its own as soon as it was in a cooler setting), so I ended up sandwiching the postcard between some cereal box cardboard in the hopes that it would stay flat on its journey.
I love how this came out and plan on making a similar piece of wall art for myself!
I LOVE knowing how you made this postcard. That holographic sticker paper as a base is genius! I’ll have to try that. I thought for sure the cut letters were card stock - they’re so perfect and another cool technique with the foam brush I need to try! I love my post card. It’s hanging by my desk, taunting me as I work!
Thank you for an awesome postcard. I can’t wait to see what you do with your alcohol inks next!
Using warm colors for your quote caused it to advance and the background to recede. Striking! I like how you used your inks. Pretty designs! Smart to sandwich the postcard between some cereal box cardboard in the hopes that it would stay flat on its journey.
As someone who always wishes she had such an eye, I really appreciate this kind comment!
Welllll, after I decided to make some similar wall art, I decided that I needed a few more colors, particularly green and purple. Unfortunately, our local Michael’s stopped carrying much in the way of alcohol ink. Fortunately, we go to San Diego fairly often, so I searched the Michael’s in that area and found 2 locations that still carried a full range of alcohol ink supplies. It turned out that one just happened to be in a shopping center that we sometimes frequent. We went there on my birthday weekend and they were having a ‘buy one, get one 50% off sale!’ So, I splurged (it was my birthday weekend after all )!
About a week later, we ended up in that same area for lunch. I had some Michael’s reward points that were worth $15, so I decided to get a pink alcohol ink that I had left behind. And while in the aisle, I decided that I really wanted to try some of the alcohol pearls on a black background (with the colors named ‘Enchanted’ and ‘Villainous,’ its a marvel that I managed to resist them during the first trip!). I was surprised at the checkout when the pearls rang up at only $1, which was even less when I applied a coupon. In the end, I ended up with these two additional packages, completely free of cost thanks to the $15 in reward points! All of this to say, 'Yes, you will see more alcohol ink art from me in the future ).
Congratulations! Your Make More Art Postcard is a Featured Project this week! 
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