I got an e-mail about a month ago from a blog reader named Teresa asking if I could share any tips about alcohol inks that I learned at Ranger U.  Well, it took me a while to get this tutorial together.  But, here it is!  It’s a pretty comprehensive breakdown of what alcohol inks are, the tools you need in order to play with them, and then three techniques.  The first two techniques are ones I learned from Tim Holtz at Ranger U.  The last one is something I invented.  I’m almost certainly not the first person to do it, but I’ve never seen it before, so I’m going to claim it as my own!

The one thing that I forgot to mention in the video is that alcohol inks are meant to be used on non-porous surfaces like transparencies, metal, plastic, glitter, sheers, and glossy cardstock (which is *not* photo paper).

I hope you enjoy the tutorial!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a mixed-media artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops, her online classroom www.balzerdesigns.com, and through monthly membership at www.MyArtPractice.com.

60 thoughts on “All About Alcohol Inks

  • Amazing tutorial! I love the techniques and you were really comprehensive, clear and engaging to watch and hear, keep em’ coming! 😉

    Reply
  • Amazing tutorial! I love the techniques and you were really comprehensive, clear and engaging to watch and hear, keep em’ coming! 😉

    Reply
  • Amazing tutorial! I love the techniques and you were really comprehensive, clear and engaging to watch and hear, keep em’ coming! 😉

    Reply
  • Amazing tutorial! I love the techniques and you were really comprehensive, clear and engaging to watch and hear, keep em’ coming! 😉

    Reply
  • thank you so much for the tutorial Julie, time for me to go and play now.

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  • thank you so much for the tutorial Julie, time for me to go and play now.

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  • thank you so much for the tutorial Julie, time for me to go and play now.

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  • thank you so much for the tutorial Julie, time for me to go and play now.

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  • Great tut!! I didn’t know that you could use the inks the way you did with the bird. Thats awesome! I can’t wait to try some of this stuff out. 🙂

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  • Great tut!! I didn’t know that you could use the inks the way you did with the bird. Thats awesome! I can’t wait to try some of this stuff out. 🙂

    Reply
  • Great tut!! I didn’t know that you could use the inks the way you did with the bird. Thats awesome! I can’t wait to try some of this stuff out. 🙂

    Reply
  • Great tut!! I didn’t know that you could use the inks the way you did with the bird. Thats awesome! I can’t wait to try some of this stuff out. 🙂

    Reply
  • Thank You so much for the tutorial! I’ve learned alot! Makes me want to go out and buy the product to start to play!

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  • Thank You so much for the tutorial! I’ve learned alot! Makes me want to go out and buy the product to start to play!

    Reply
  • Thank You so much for the tutorial! I’ve learned alot! Makes me want to go out and buy the product to start to play!

    Reply
  • Thank You so much for the tutorial! I’ve learned alot! Makes me want to go out and buy the product to start to play!

    Reply
  • very cool- I knew the first two and did dropping but not blending with the puddle as you did with the third. Looks awesome. Thanks for sharing 🙂

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  • very cool- I knew the first two and did dropping but not blending with the puddle as you did with the third. Looks awesome. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  • very cool- I knew the first two and did dropping but not blending with the puddle as you did with the third. Looks awesome. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  • very cool- I knew the first two and did dropping but not blending with the puddle as you did with the third. Looks awesome. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
  • Wonderful tutorial! I love alcohol inks … I made some beautiful Christmas ornaments with them – it was the first time I used them and I instantly fell in love with them!

    Reply
  • Wonderful tutorial! I love alcohol inks … I made some beautiful Christmas ornaments with them – it was the first time I used them and I instantly fell in love with them!

    Reply
  • Wonderful tutorial! I love alcohol inks … I made some beautiful Christmas ornaments with them – it was the first time I used them and I instantly fell in love with them!

    Reply
  • Wonderful tutorial! I love alcohol inks … I made some beautiful Christmas ornaments with them – it was the first time I used them and I instantly fell in love with them!

    Reply
  • Thanks Julie! I appreciate all the time you put into this video. The instructions you give are always so clear and easy to understand. I can’t wait to try these techniques out. You’re the best!

    Reply
  • Thanks Julie! I appreciate all the time you put into this video. The instructions you give are always so clear and easy to understand. I can’t wait to try these techniques out. You’re the best!

    Reply
  • Thanks Julie! I appreciate all the time you put into this video. The instructions you give are always so clear and easy to understand. I can’t wait to try these techniques out. You’re the best!

    Reply
  • Thanks Julie! I appreciate all the time you put into this video. The instructions you give are always so clear and easy to understand. I can’t wait to try these techniques out. You’re the best!

    Reply
  • Fantastic as always Julie, thanks for putting this together!

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  • Fantastic as always Julie, thanks for putting this together!

    Reply
  • Fantastic as always Julie, thanks for putting this together!

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  • Fantastic as always Julie, thanks for putting this together!

    Reply
  • Really Cool! Thanks for teaching!!

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  • Really Cool! Thanks for teaching!!

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  • Really Cool! Thanks for teaching!!

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  • Really Cool! Thanks for teaching!!

    Reply
  • Great tutorial Julie! Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas!!

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  • Great tutorial Julie! Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas!!

    Reply
  • Great tutorial Julie! Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas!!

    Reply
  • Great tutorial Julie! Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas!!

    Reply

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