Hello everyone, Today we are celebrating a new Simon Says Stamp release called Fresh Bloom, and I made loads of Alcohol Ink Backgrounds using also the new Pretty Peonies background stamp.
I have several pictures to share with you and a 6- minute video.
To create different alcohol ink backgrounds, I used a melamine foam/sponge (magic eraser) and I also tried a demister pad ( sponge to clean cars’ windscreen).
The results of my first experiment ever to try this exceeded my expectations!
PAPER USED IN THE VIDEO
- To make these cards, I used Tim Holtz Alcohol (C6) cardstock and also A4 sheets of generic photo paper.
- I could move the sponge a little bit better on the large photo paper especially to create plaid backgrounds. However, the alcohol inks blend a lot better on Tim Holtz Cardstock.
- Photo paper worked nicely when applying pure alcohol inks with the sponge to create plaid or checked backgrounds in one go BUT is harder to blend inks over this paper using blending solutions.
- I advise playing with the strengths of the materials you have available. Photo paper is less forgiving but it works! Give it a try especially with my plaid background idea.
- The inks also look different on photo paper ( brighter and intense) if you use a sponge as a stamp as I did in the video and you add a bit of the blending solution on the sponge the photo paper also will perform well but if you want to create playful abstracts, flowers and other super-soft compositions I highly recommend to use Tim Holz or any Yuupo heavyweight paper brand.
- Handmade patterns won’t look perfectly straight so do some stamping over them and embrace the beautiful imperfection.
Blending Solutions Used in the video
- To blend the alcohol inks, I used Surgical Spirit as blending solution. I bought this in a Birtish pharmacy called Boots.
- I found that the British Surgical Spirit works better than Rubbing Alcohol.
Cardmaking process
- I stamped the stunning large background image from Pretty Peonies background stamp and it makes all the difference.
- It looks amazing and by heat embossing the image on top, it gives an unbelievable 3D effect. The inks look like flashes of light behind the florals! PURE AWESOMENESS.
- The heat embossing works better on the Tim Holtz paper too.
- For the records, I do not have loads of alcohol inks. I only have 10 colours and whit those I made everything ( they are all listed in the supplies list below in case you want to have a look).
- I used pretty much the same ink colours for different cards today ( Flamingo+ Butterscotch + Wild Plum or different shades of blue).
- When you mix all these links together you get “regal colours” so that’s why you see bright colours in some of my cards ( pure colour) and regals ( blended inks ).
TOP TIPS
- The alcohol ink dries really fast on the sponge so you need to re-ink your sponge as you go.
- To create plaid backgrounds: all you need to do is to add little dots of ink at the edge of the sponge and a bit far apart from each other. The larger the dot the wider the lines so you can play with different lines widths.
- If you want to create a plaid / checked background when re-inking the sponge apply the same colour in the same spot to avoid colour contamination.
- Messy Play: use blending solution to blend inks and create irregular patterns and textures .. Cover up any mess with a super beautiful heat embossed background stamped image such as Pretty Peonies.
- Use inks and coordinating embossing powders. Chose predominant colour in your background and grab an embossing powder in similar colours or a neutral colour.
- If you want to create dry brush strokes effects, use the sponge when is semi-dry.. the results will blow your mind. So so pretty
- These are 5×5 inches cards. Using Photo paper.
- Alcohol inks used for the pink card: Wild Plum, Flamingo, Butterscotch + WOW fine gold embossing Powder
- For the Blue card: Patina , Denim, Snow Cap + Nuvo Black Fine Detail Embossing Powder.
To make this C6 card, I used Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Cardstock, Butterscotch, Coral, Flamingo, Wild Plum, Denim, and Patina Alcohol inks + WoW Embossing Powder Metalline Violet Regular.
I embellish using Dragon Scales Nuvo Dream Drops.
For the card in the centre I used
- Photo paper.
- Alcohol inks used: Butterscotch, Flamingo, Wild Plum, Patina, Denim.
- Wow Primary blue embossing powder ( translucent).
For the card on the right I used
- Tim Holtz Alcohol cardstock.
- Alcohol inks used: Butterscotch, Flamingo, Wild Plum, Patina, Denim, Pistachio.
- Nuvo Cooper Fine Detail Embossing Powder.
These are C6 cards
For the reddish tones cards I used:
- Tim Holz Alcohol Cardstock
- Alcohol inks used: Blend Flamingo, Wild Plum, Coral, Butterscotch, Pistachio.
- WOW Gold embossing powder, WOW Pearl Embossing Powder.
For the Orange-yellow card I used:
- Tim Holz Alcohol Cardstock
- Alcohol inks used: Coral, Butterscotch.
- WOW Rich Gold embossing powder.
Blog Hop
- Simon Says Stamp Blog
- Laura Bassen
- Debby Hughes
- Amanda Korotkova
- Heather Ruwe
- Gayatri Murali
- Heather Hoffman
- Bibi Cameron You are here>>>>
- Anna Kossakovskaya
- Barb Engler
- Kristina Pokazanieva
- Yoonsun Hur
GIVEAWAY
Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop. For your chance to win leave a comment below. Winners will be chosen over the weekend and post on our Simon Says Stamp store blog on Wednesday, the 13th of March. Good luck crafty friends!
That’s all for today … I hope you like these ideas!
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comments. I’m always happy to read and to answer any questions.
If you wish to receive my blog post or videos directly in your inbox please Subscribe to my blog here! or my Youtube Channel here!
Many hugs and happy crafting
x
Bibi
Supplies List
Just a note to let you know that when you buy through the links below I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
Wow! Such colorful backgrounds! Love your cards!
Lovely cards! Such vibrant colors!
wow Bibi you outdid yourself with these beauties, each one so lovely. I'm off to watch your video, thanks so much for sharing
Honestly Bibi, these are all positively GORGEOUS! WOW, you really did have some serious play time and that peony background stamp is so perfect for this technique.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful job, Bibi!! I love watching your videos. Some wonderful new techniques here.
Glad you enjoyed playing with these alcohol inks. You have much better control on your inks than I do with that sponge technique, maybe that's what I should try next. Great results, thank you Bibi x
Beautiful cards. Enjoyed the video!
love the use of alcohol inks – beautiful cards!
Simply gorgeous cards! Loving this kit!
Your cards are so gorgeous! The backgrounds are absolutely stunning!
Wow…..what awesome art. Blown away. Going to watch the videos right now. Love peonies and cannot believe what you have done with this stamp! Thanks for such amazing inspiration!!
wow these cards are amazing – thanks for the awesome inspiration!!!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway. Your cards are so beautiful!
Loving those alcohol inked cards!! My favorite is the plaid one!!
Your cards are stunning. Thanks for sharing a great technique.
These are lusciously beautiful!!!!! Wow! Time to go play!
These are gorgeous and your colors are amazing! Love them all!
These are so vibrant! Thanks for sharing
Beautiful backgrounds and cards.
I am a little behind times and alcohol inks just caught my attention over the last couple days. I am going to Michaels today.
Wow Bibi, what a great bunch of cheerful cards. I love the vibrant colours of the alcohol ink backgrounds with that stunning background stamp.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Wow! Those are amazing! So beautiful. I never thought of using a sponge with alcohol inks, but I will now! Thank you.
Wow! I have never seen alcohol inks used to make plaids. Your cards are mind blowing. The background stamp you used worked perfectly with the plaid.
Wow! This is amazing and I do want to try the sponge technique with the alcohol inks, so will be visiting here again for inspiration. Your cards are all so beautiful! What a wonderful array of cards to have on hand!
WOW!!! EXCELLENT CARDS & VIDEO!!!! I was just looking at something this week, about painting with Alcohol Inks…. I started to laugh too when I saw you working away, as this week I was thinking to myself, "I WONDER what all in my kitchen, could I use in crafting?" LOL LOVE the sponges you've used! I LOVE the richness of the colors on your cards! You've made them SO ELEGANT TOO!!!! TOTALLY EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
This is a great technique. Your work always inspires me. You’ve used a few supplies that are “new” to me. I’ll have to test them out !
So many awesome cards with wonderful backgrounds! 🙂
The embossing is wonderful–it adds a lot of interest to these gorgeous flowers.
Wow! Gorgeous cards! I never would have thought to use melamine with alcohol inks. I have a ton of it and now I can't wait to play. Thank you for the inspiration.
Fabulous backgrounds and choice of colors.
I love these colors, Jennifer McGuire just released an alcohol ink video with a somewhat similar concept, but your technique I think is even better (and that is saying a lot since I love Jennifer McGuire). I love the magic eraser pattern you did. Such beautiful vibrant colors!
Your cards are BEAUTIFUL! And you've inspired me to take a second go at my alcohol inks… I love the video how-to! Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us!!!
Wow, gorgeous! I love the inspiration you provided by showing so many variations using a relatively small group of supplies! TY
At first I didn't recognize the peony background! GREAT use of the stamp, and your coloring! Nice.
I love your color palette. Simply gorgeous card
What unique cards using some interesting techniques. Thank you for inspiring and sharing.
Beautiful use of this stamp. Great cards!
Your backgrounds are very creative and I like how the cards turned out.
Beautiful cards! I love all the ways you created the alcohol ink backgrounds!
These are beautiful!
Very cool use of the inks
Beautiful cards – thanks so much for sharing. Love the metallic embossing on the top.
Love your background .Well done Bibi xx
Wow! You had a really fun time with these. They are all beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Your backgrounds are awesome love the bright colours
Beautiful cards. Love all the fun ink background. Great background stamp. Thanks for sharing your art.🐧
Lovely cards.
Pretty cards. Such pretty alcohol inked backgrounds.
Inspired me to get out my alcohol inks, though I know they won't
be as stunningly beautiful as yours
I love how you used all those colors.
Stunning! Love the vibrant colours and different applications.
Wow! WOW!! W*O*W!!!! Really Striking cards!!!
Thanks for all the beautiful eye candy!!! XXOO
These backgrounds are awesome Bibi, love the stamp that you used over the top of them to make them into beautiful cards!! <3 <3 I love them all xx
I LOVE the alcohol ink backgrounds! Beautiful cards!
Fabulous cards! I love your backgrounds!
Wow – those are STUNNING backgrounds!!! I love those embossed flowers.
wow 9 hours of work in a 6 minute video, watched it, not sure what that sponge would be called in the Netherlands, must investigate, thank you for the ideas
Hard to believe you only have 10 alcohol marker colors. Thanks for the video. I don't use mine very often but now I am inspired to try.
I knew you would be doing something different, but didn't expect jaw-dropping gorgeous with the coolest alcohol ink trick ever! These are stunners Bibi. Thank you for sharing your talent so generously. I can't wait to try this!
Beautiful cards! I love your backgrounds. Great technique!
WOW!!! Bibi, your backgrounds are so gorgeous! Thanks so much for making a video showing us how you used your alcohol inks to make such a variety of colors and designs!
Stunning cards! Absolutely love those backgrounds!
Love this stamp with the metallic embossing.
Wonderful use of color.
Wow, I can't stop looking at your cards!
Amazing background, so colorful !!
Love your pretty creation with gorgeous background.
Wonderful backgrounds!
These cards are simply stunning!
Stunning cards! Love those alcohol ink backgrounds with the gold embossing.
Absolutely beautiful cards!
These backgrounds are stunning!
Absolutely beautiful!
Great watching your video showing different applications to use with alcohol inks. Beautiful cards. Thanks.
Wow, such amazing backgrounds, thanks for sharing video of creating them!
Bold and vibrant. x
Thanks for the video showing greater detail as to how you made all those stunning backgrounds for your cards. Looks like you had loads of fun, I'm inspired to pull mine out and play!
Marisela Delgado said: FABULOUS use of color! Hermoso, Bibi. mariandmonsterd[at]yahoo.com
Oh Wow!!! The beautiful colorful cards look like you spent hours on each one, but after watching your video, it looks fairly simple.
gorgeous! I have a bunch of inks that I'm always scared to pull out, you've inspired me to give them a try.
Wow, these are stunning!! I used to make backgrounds like this years ago with dye inks and glossy paper. So vibrant with the alcohol inks! Thanks for the video.
Oh my goodness Bibi, your backgrounds are amazing! They made beautiful cards with the stamps and embossing. Thanks for sharing with us.
Your plaid backgrounds are so clever and I love how you used them with the florals.
love the use of vibrant colors
Sus desinos estan bellos. Me siento por mi gramatica.
wow- striking vibrant backgrounds!!
After watching your video I want to run and play with my alcohol inks!! wow
Those backgrounds are fantastic! all the cards are beautiful. thanks for the video!
Wow! your cards are amazing! Love the vibrant colours!
What a great set of cards; real eye-catchers !
Thank you for making and sharing the making-off-video !
Oh my goodness, your alcohol ink backgrounds took my breath away! Stunning, vibrant color and with the embossing…well, AMAZING! Thanks for sharing your creativity.
Your alcohol ink color combinations are so beautiful. You made so many beautiful cards😊
These are fantastic Bibi! So quick and colourful – I didn't think you could emboss on alcohol ink card because of warpage and melting – thanks so much for the tutorial! Going off to play now.
Oh my goodness, these cards are beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration and all the tips.
SQUEAL!! LOVING the NEW Release and the AMAZING Inspiration!! Such BEAUTIFUL Designs!! THANKS SO MUCH for sharing and have a FABULOUS Weekend!!
Oh these are pretty!
Absolutely gorgeous backgrounds!! I love this new peonies stamp. It is so versatile, I have to have this one!!
I got alcohol reinkers several years ago and then forgot where I put them. Still have not found them.
Beautiful cards!!
Stunning! So beautiful!
Wow your cards are stunning!! I love that you only used a few inks – mixing them really creates a great effect LOVE!
Love the bright beautiful colors!
So elegant. Love the deep colors
Wow, what amazing backgrounds. Love the color combinations and the embossing with the alcohol inks.
Fabulous cards. Glad to see the use of alcohol inks–very effective.
Love all of these. Your colors are fantastic. Gave me some great ideas. Thank you
I am a big fan of the bright colors. Just my style.
Love plaids! Beautiful card, thank you.
Fabulous! Such colorful backgrounds! Love your cards!
Love your cards. I will look for videos later.
Ldyjs [at]outlook.com
Such great alcohol ink techniques. Love how you combined the new stamps with these bright colors to get such vibrant cards!
Love your use of color on these beautiful cards! Love the florals!
Wow, amazing cards! Beautiful and super cool backgrounds.
What a fun technique to create so many beautiful backgrounds! I love how you then turned them into gorgeous cards with the peony stamp and some embossing powders. Thanks for sharing!
Gorgeous cards and great technique! Love the fun new products by Simon.
Those are gorgeous. The alcohol inks are tremendous. Thanks for the ideas.
What a beautiful collection of cards you created! Love the tips you shared as well. Thank you!
Wow, these all look beautiful! Love the various gorgeous backgrounds!
Just simply stunning Bibi xx
Love your stunning backgrounds and they look great with the flowers!
WOW! Your cards are gorgeous – love every one! Thanks for your very clear video too – really beautiful cards! I'm just getting into alcohol inks and am inspired by your work!
Dear Bibi
Wow you have used the pretty peonies background stamp from the Fresh bloom collection of Simon Says stamp to create your cards. I fell in love with the plaid backgrounds and thank you for sharing everything with me anew crafter.It is real inspiration for Spring. tc stay blessed always. love and hugs from Sri Lanka
These cards are so lovely with the alcohol inks.
Stunning cards!
Ooooh, these are so stunning!! Love!
This background is so beautiful and versatile. Very bright and beautiful cards.
Lovely!
Beautiful cards. Thanks for sharing the technique. Never tried alcohol inks. I must now.
Stunning backgrounds…loved them…
Beautiful colors on these cards.
Wow! What a great idea for the background, stunning.
the embossing makes the designs pop.
The alcohol inks give dramatic
backgrounds. Fantastic cards.
thanks for sharing
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Love all the cards but especially the plaid backgrounds.
Great techniques!
You seem to have had a blast with alcohol inks and those lovely stamps. Love them all. Thanks for the great Inspiration!!
Beautiful cards!! Your backgrounds are absolutely gorgeous!!
So very pretty! Thanks for sharing your experiments!
Gorgeous cards. I love the stunning alcohol ink backgrounds.
beautiful looks! it's so hard to stop when you're playing with alcohol inks.
I am officially in love with this background stamp after seeing your cards. They are beyond amazing.Thanks for the video. It is so much easier to learn all these great technique through video. Thanks so much for sharing it with the rest of that are still learning.
Very beautiful cards with very lovely backgrounds!!!
Wonderful backgrounds.
Beautiful cards and such gorgeous colors.
Thanks so much for sharing…
Every card is more beautiful than the one before. Thank you so much for sharing all the different techniques. Can't wait to try this!
Wow! Such beautiful cards. You are not afraid to get messy. I love it!
Wow! Your cards are amazing. You aren't afraid of getting messy. I love it!
Really wonderful!!! I never thought of trying plaid with the alcohol inks.
Great background technique. Very creative. Thanks!
Just love those alcohol inks! Your cards are beautiful-thanks for sharing! (Peg)
What pretty cards. I love the colour combinations!
WOW your cards are awesome!!!
Just stunning, thank you for sharing
Wow, the alcohol BG are great, can get why you went crazy over it. Love the cards.
Oh my goodness! I have never seen anything like this. Your backgrounds are absolutely STUNNING!! Such beautiful cards. 🙂
Angie
abcammack@comcast.net
I love your use of color!
Beautiful cards!
Wow! What a wonderful colouring!!! I’m in love for your stunning cards!!!
WOWZERS! Amazing alcohol ink backgrounds! GORGEOUS cards, Thanks for your eraser technique video!!!!
Your cards are amazing, so innovative to use alcohol from the drug store instead of blending solution–I know it's the same thing. Love how you used the same stamp to create all of these, also loved how you used cleaning type sponges to add your inks. I use shoe shine sponges you get from hotel stays, they work good for this too. Amazing!
Very interesting and colorful backgrounds.
Absolutely gorgeous. I will definitely try this. Thank you for all of your wonderful inspiration.
Thanks for all the great tips to work with alcohol inks! I think my favorite is the purple embossed card, just because I wasn't expecting it at all. Thanks for sharing with us!
Fantastic cards!! Your alcohol ink backgrounds look stunning!