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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Adirondack Pigment Ink Technique # 3 - Ink Blots

I tell you this is one of my favorite techniques for the Adirondack Pigment Inks. By using various materials to blot the ink you will get an unlimited number of variations!! This is really like 100 techniques in 1!! What's even better...you don't need any special tools or materials. The two examples I have step by step photos for today are made using cloth and a wadded up plastic bag.

Ink Blots...

Supplies:

Adirondack Pigment Ink - Ranger

Glossy or Plain Cardstock (works on both!!)

Squirt Bottle (you'll need lots of water for this technique!)

Cloth, Plastic Bag, Mesh, etc. - Something to move the water & ink around.

Instructions: (soft cloth)

1. Ink your cardstock with desired color of Adirondack Pigment Ink.

Pigment Ink #3008


2. Squirt LOTS of water directly onto the inked area.

Pigment Ink #3009


3. Immediately start blotting the water/ink with your wadded up piece of cloth.

Pigment Ink #3011


4. When you're satisfied with the look you want, heat to speed drying. You'll end up with something like this.... Lots of great "texture" and depth caused by the water & ink combining.

Pigment Ink #3012


It's ready to be used!!

Pigment Ink #3002


Instructions: (plastic bag)

1. Ink cardstock with desired color of Adirondack Pigment Ink.

Pigment Ink #3013


2. Squirt with water and immediately start blotting with a wadded up plastic bag. NOTE: be sure to adjust your bag so you have a clean part of the bag to work with frequently. The bag won't absorb the ink/water mixture like the cloth will. If you don't use clean sections of the bag you could end up with a muddy result.

Pigment Ink #3014


3. When you feel you have moved/removed enough of the ink, heat to speed drying and here are your final results...

Pigment Ink #3015


and the finished project!

Pigment Ink #3003


I was having so much fun with this technique this morning I made a few extra examples....

Pigment Ink #3005


Pigment Ink #3004


Pigment Ink #3001


Hope you have enjoyed this technique and give it a try when you can. I'm sure you'll be very pleased with the results!!

4 comments:

  1. Now this is a versatile technique. I was reading a book last night where the author did something similar with acrylic paint, too. I wonder if your sprayed the water on and then let it soak in for a minute, if it would vary the design as well? Is that a factor - not just the material used for blotting, but how much water and how long the water is left on the cs?

    So, let's see what else we can come up with to use for this technique. You used a cloth and a crumpled plastic bag. How about trying:
    * bubble wrap
    * wadded up masking tape
    * a piece of Ranger's Ink Blending Foam
    *cheese cloth
    * and old toothbrush... or hubby's tooth brush - only if you're mad at him! *grin* (maybe wipe on paper towel in between blots)
    * baby wipes
    * textured paper
    * plastic wrap

    OK - that makes 10 ideas total. Anyone have more ideas to share?

    ~phinny

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  2. Yes, it really is! It does change the look by varying the amount of water and how long you let it set.

    more ideas to blot the ink/water up would be:
    *canvas
    *burlap
    *a wad of eyelash fiber
    *tissue paper
    *denim (this makes a neat design because of the tiny ridges in the material
    *corduroy
    *felt (you will get fuzzies but if you blot it enough it will be cool looking)
    *gauze
    *steel wool (blot don't rub)
    *potato sacks (you know the plastic/string net ones)
    *Magic Mesh wadded up
    *torn pieces of corragated cardboard (the ridges exposed)
    *newsprint (not the paper but a real newspaper. This has an added benefit - the newspaper ink will bleed and mix with the inks as you go creating an added bit of depth!)

    Now, something else to keep in mind...don't throw the material away that you are blotting with. Once it has dried the ink/water mixture will act as a dye on most items so you now have a cool piece of semi distressed (from the wadding) to use on other projects!!

    How cool is that!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I had lots of fun with your technique ... thanks for sharing such great ideas.

    http://ingeniousinkling.typepad.com/ingenious_inkling/2008/06/think-pink.html

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your thoughts and comments!