Alcohol Ink Mirror by Karen Slusher Purchase a printable version of this project

1.  Purchase a wood framed mirror.  This one is from Ikea. 
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2. Stamp design image onto scrap cardstock, then cut out.  This stamp is Baroque Swirl from JAL Designs.
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3.  Adhere cut out image onto mirror frame using adhesive of choice.

4.  Cover entire mirror face and sides using aluminum tape (NOT duct tape, but you can find this in the same area of a hardware store).  I’ve found more than one brand of this and seem to like the paper-backed version better.  It’s thinner and smoothes better for this type of application.  These step-by-step pictures show the thicker, plastic backed version.
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5.  Continue to cover entire frame with tape.  When done, use a bole folder to smooth out the flat areas and tuck the tape down really well around the edges of the cardstock underneath.
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6. Before getting started with the inks, you need to buy an applicator or make one as I did.  Using a small wooden spool (from a craft store), attach a square of hook tape (just the hook side of hook-and-loop tape) to one end of the spool. Cut squares of felt that will fit on top of the spool without going over the edge too far.
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7.  Choose one color of alcohol ink and put a few drops onto the felt.  Apply this color to the surface you’re decorating (i.e.  glossy card stock, aluminum tape).  Pounce around adding more ink as necessary until covered as desired.
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8.  Onto the same piece of felt, add a complimentary color of ink and pounce over the  first color until it’s how you like it.
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9.  When the colors are put on, add a few drops of Blending Solution to the piece of felt (yes, the same piece of felt.) Picture 8

10. Now pounce that around into the colors.  This will cause the colors to react to each other and kind of “move” around.  Careful – a little is all that’s needed in any one spot.
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11.  If you want some metallic color added, you can get some of the new metallic Mixatives from Adirondack, or you can use a Krylon pen.
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For the pen, just put a few puddles around on the tape and then pounce the spool that has some fresh blending solution on it. 

12.  At this point I re-work everything pouncing more color and the blending solution around until I like how it looks.

13.  To finish, put a very small amount of blending solution on a cotton swab and use it to remove the ink from the top of the raised image, revealing the silver.
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BACKGROUND OPTION:

Alcohol inks work great on glossy cardstock, too!  Pick complimentary ink colors and apply in the same way as above – this time to white or colored glossy cardstock to use as background for cards, ATCs, etc.
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This is a combination of Ginger, Caramel, Espresso and Copper Mixative.
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These two examples are each using the same colors of Stream, Wild Plum and Pear Mixative; but one is on white glossy and the other on black glossy cardstock.
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This ATC was made using silver leafing pen and Copper Mixative on black glossy cardstock, then trimmed with silver leafing pen.  The sentiment is from CTMH and the butterfly embellishment was gold paper that I colored with more of the Copper Mixative, then stuck on with mounting tape.  All pieces were applied to black Stardream cardstock.

Click here to purchase a printable version of this project.

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