What do you guys use alcohol inks for?

What is the purpose and how do you use them?
Thanks a bunch.

Alcohol inks are so versitile!! You can use them on a felt applicator (or refillable pen) to color metal pieces, glass pieces, plastic pieces, glossy paper, bling etc. Change the color of the whole piece or just accent a section here or there.

You can use them to make cool backgrounds for cards or layouts or mats, or to punch out letters and shapes from.

You can use them to custom color dry glitter. A few drops mixed in white dry glitter will change the color nicely.

I have the Ranger paint palette, but you can use anything non stick really. Place a few drops of each color into its own section and let the ink dry. I have an alcohol ink refillable pen, but you could also use the craft nibs. Anyway-fill up the pen with blending solution (or dip the nibs in it, being sure to soak it). Then use the pen to "wake up" the colors by running the pen through the dried up ink. Then apply it to your project!

The mixatives are waaayyy too cool as well!! The snow cap makes an awesome marble design and the metallics bring a pretty shimmer.

Use them in a ventilated area and don't ever put them in a spray bottle.

Have fun with them!!

For the most part, same general principle as any other ink. As Kim mentioned, you have to use it on nonporous surfaces to get the most out of the effect, which kind of has a stained glass look. If you used regular cardstock, it would just soak into the paper.

Here are some ATCs I made with alcohol ink on acrylic (you can do more than just a splatter effect but I don't have any good photos of examples to show you):

Friend ATC By Tina Scraps

reach for the sky ATC By Tina Scraps

pearl n flower ATC By Tina Scraps

Thanks for this thread and posts. I am still learning about all of the inks myself! My goodness there are so many different kinds!

alcohol inks are fun ... I use them on glossy paper to make cool cards (kind of a tye dye effect), and on Tim Holtz's fragments for accents on LOs

you can also used canned air to make an effect like spin art ... very cool

I've also used them on transparencies and acrylic albums ... anything where the surface is non-porous

You guys are way more creative than I am lol. Great ideas.

I mostly use them like any other ink, but I found out that it's great for metal surfaces. Tried out a lot and alcohol ink seems to be best for metal surfaces

I use alcohol ink for mixing in resin for making jewelry. I love it! just a drop or two!

I've used alcohol inks for backgrounds on shrink plastic. I do the background, cut the shapes I want and then cook 'em until they're bitty. The colour intensifies marvelously and it even works with the metallic mixatives.

As for not putting 'em in spray bottles, well, why not eh? Yep, they'll eat plastic (eventually) and stain the bottle but, if you use a glass bottle with a sprayer and dilute the ink with blending solution, you can make a fast-drying spray.

They're a ton of fun to play with and not just because you can get a bit squiffy on the fumes if you're not careful. :-)

I love painting with them. Here are a few I've done...

Alcohol ink beach on yupo By AmyWho

Alcohol ink landscape By AmyWho

Alcohol ink trees on yupo By AmyWho

They are addicting!

Amy, I love your alcohol ink landscapes =)

Thanks, angel1!