Homemade Alcohol Inks

Alcohol Inks are highly expensive...considering what they are. So, making our own alcohol inks can potentially be insanely helpful. I decided to try these out, and see if the homemade version compares to the purchased versions, such as Ranger Inks. 


Here's what you'll need:
Empty Spray Bottle(s)
Rubbing Alcohol 

Powdered Drink Mix (unsweetened)

I have no link to an original tutorial on this one, since it's so simple. All you do is mix alcohol with unsweetened drink mix. Put it into a spray bottle, and you're done. The hardest part was finding the spray bottles. Empty bottle can be purchased at stores like Walmart, in the travel size section (where you buy the tiny soaps and shampoos). Or, you can use some old tiny body mist bottles like I did. 

Most tutorials that I found said to add the powdered drink mix to the bottle, poor the alcohol in, and shake. Since my bottle were so small, I chose to pre-mix the ingredients in a foam cup first. This also helped keep those little undissolved bits out of my bottles, which I will discuss shortly.

I tried 3 different brands ...here are the results --

Cherry, Wylers. I used two packs, and a 1/2 alcohol. The spray dries into a reddish/pink color. However, the drink mix does not dissolve well...and several tiny spots of the mix itself also come out of the spray nozzle. It adds an interesting effect, if that's what you're after. 

Purple, Flavor-Aid. I used two packs. This color worked great on paper (although you can't really see it). This brand of mix dissolved the worst...leaving a lot of undissolved bits at the bottom of the foam cup (see photo below). 

Lots of undissolved drink mix in the Flavor-Aid version. 

Blue, Kool-Aid. This may be the best, as the best...I only used one pack of mix to get this pretty color. It did have some undissolved bits, but that seems to be something we have to live with. 

Here are all the colors/brands, sprayed multiple times (and shown a bit wet). 

Overall, I would say this method of making our own alcohol inks works fairly well. Kool-Aid did have the biggest color 'impact' for the buck. Flavor-Aid and Wylers are a close second.

The biggest tip I can offer is to do as I did, and dissolve the powders as much as possible before adding them to a spray bottle. Those little bits can clog the spray nozzle, or even come out onto your project. Be aware, however...alcohol dries fairly quickly and you do not want to leave it sitting in a cup for too long--it will evaporate. 

Depending on which application you are using these inks for, some may not work out as well (such as stamping). For adding a hint of distressed color to paper--this will work. 

DIY Glitter Flats (or heel...or whatever)

 If you pay attention to fashion (or if you watch commercials on TV), you may have noticed the growing trend in sparkly glittered shoes. The shoes, mostly heels and dress flats, are adorable and ...expensive. I found a pair of Jimmy Choo Walsh Glitter Ballerina Flats on the Neiman Marcus website for $425!! Don't believe me--click here! Ok, yes this example is on the extreme side, there are generic knock-off's available at Target and Sears (among others) ranging from $15 - $60. I'm a thrifty kinda gal...so I say BAH!! HUMBUG! If I can make it cheaper, and (even better) more the way I want it...then that's how it's gonna be!


 Last Halloween, my daughter was a witch...I bedazzled a black dress and made her some glittery black flats to match. The same glittery flats that are now "in style". I do not have  after photos, sadly, but I do have a before photo.

 Aren't those...special. I got them at a thrift store for 50 cents...what did you expect? So, I glittered them, and they looked great. The shoes are no longer with us, but they looked very similar to the ones shown in the photo below.

(Photo from Vanilla Joy, DIY Fancy Glitter Shoes)

 This photo is from a DIY Tutorial from Vanilla Joy -found here.  Same theory, although I have some personal recommendations to add. 


 Firstly, I took a pair of ugly gold flats with a plastic decoration...It was sewn on, and easy to snip off and remove. Instead of painting them black with spray paint (which would chip and fade on the slick material over time), I used a Sharpie and hand-colored them. 


 I also used Martha Stewart glitter, which I adore...but that's a post for another time. I used the colors "Onyx", and "Hematite" for extra sparkle. There's a kit that would come in handy if using the same colors from Martha - (black is at the far right, and hematite is in the center).

 Once everything is all sparkly and shiny...and dry - seal it! This can be a tricky part, as many spray sealants will dilute the glitter's shine, and cause the glitter to look matte. I did not seal the shoes I made, and the glitter only lasted through 2 -3 uses. I may suggest Krylon's Clear Glaze (spray), however I am unsure of the results. 


That's all for now....I'll be adding many more crafty things soon!