As you all know, the very creative Kari (otherwise known as Artsymama) is hosting an Artful Blogging Party online today in honor of the new publication of Artful Blogging Magazine, which debuted on August 1st. She asked everyone to post some sort of tutorial so we can all travel from blog to blog and learn something new and wonderful at each stop.
I've decided to show you how to make the necklace below using Alcohol Inks. (Please excuse the lousy photography...I am having major issues with my camera and so I hope you all don't go blind looking at these rather fuzzy photos!)
Oh and don't forget to say hello in the comments section below before you leave!!
The necklace above was made from Rummikub Game Tiles. I actually bought these tiles from Kari's etsy shop a little while back. I had been looking for the older tiles because the new game pieces have the game's logo embossed into both sides and so it isn't as easy to work with as the older ones with the flat backs. However this technique can be used on other non-porous surfaces as well, if you don't have access to the game tiles.
We will be using alcohol inks to color the tiles. These inks (from Ranger) come in a wide variety of colors.
You will also need an alcohol ink applicator and some felt squares, also available from Ranger Products. The applicator has hook-and-loop tape on the bottom of it and the felt just sticks to it. I would think you could also use plain craft felt with the same results.
Apply the alcohol ink to the felt pad on the applicator by squeezing out a small amount. I usually use three different colors applied in a row (not over-lapping).
Turn the applicator over and pounce it up and down on the game tile (flat side only), turning the applicator with each pounce, covering the entire tile.
After inking the tile, pour some ordinary rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle.
Spray the inked tile with a fine mist of rubbing alcohol. Give it one or two sprays and then watch the ink move and flow into the other colors. It is quite fascinating to watch this step. When you are satisfied with how the inked tile looks, then set aside to dry. It doesn't take very long to dry.
The coloring of the tiles will appear stone-like. Again, I apologize for the quality of this photo.
You can leave your tile as is or you may want to add an image using a rubber stamp. If so, you will need to use a permanent ink pad, such as Staz-On pads. I used the white opaque pad, but if you are using lighter colored alcohol inks then the black would work also.
Ink up a rubber stamp that does not have a lot of detail to it and then stamp it onto the alcohol inked game tile.
At this point if you don't like the results or want to start over, you can! Simply spray the tile with rubbing alcohol and wipe clean with a paper towel and you can start the entire process over. If you are satisfied with your creation then you need to coat the game tile (front only) with Diamond Glaze. Set aside and let dry completely.
Once the Diamond Glaze is completely dry, I like to finish off the edges with a gold or silver Krylon leafing pen.
I cover the entire back of the tile as well using the leafing pen.
If you are making the tile into a necklace, then you will need to add a charm to the top of the tile using Krazy Glue. Any type of jewelry finding can be used, as long as it has a hole at the top so you can attach a jump ring to it. When the Krazy Glue has dried, then you can add a necklace chain and it is ready to wear!
You can also use these tiles as embellishments in your artwork. I collaged and added one of these tiles to the front of this altered board book as a design element. You can also use this same technique on acrylic sheets or transparencies for another type of embellishment. The ideas are endless.
