Alcohol Ink Laminator Pouch Heart-Shaped Sun Catchers


One of the inking methods I've been exploring in this past year has been using ink on laminating pouches. Back in December, I made some snowflake sun catchers. Well, at the same time, I made a sheet of red that I had planned on cutting out with some Christmas themed shapes. After hours looking for just the right patterns to cut out of the plastic, I gave up and decided to save it for Valentine's Day.


I started by laying down a craft mat and grabbing a can of air and a hand bulb.


I grabbed three true shades of red alcohol ink: Watermelon, Crimson, and Poppyfield. I dripped the ink onto the inside of the laminating pouch and added a bit of rubbing alcohol to thin it out and then used the hand blower and air can to blow it around.


Once I had one side of the pouch covered, I decided to add some metallic ink to break up the red a bit. I chose Pinata Rich Gold. I like Pinata's Gold and Brass better than Ranger's Gold, but they'd all do the trick for this particular application. I dripped a few drops around the sheet and added a drop of rubbing alcohol and spread the ink around a bit.


Then I let the laminator pouch dry. This is really important. If the ink isn't dry, the laminator won't get a good seal on the plastic and it will squish the ink around and ruin your design. So make sure it's complete dry and then run in through the machine.


Next I made my designs in Silhouette Studio. I measured the laminator sheet and entered the correct size into the custom size option and then traced a heart that I liked. I made some hearts about 3 inches (which is a good size for a sun catcher) and then nested the same heart, but smaller, on the inside. I had a little column of space on the side, so I added some medium sized hearts along the edge. Then I added little circles to all of the hearts so I could hang my sun catchers. If you don't have a cutting machine, you could trace around any heart shape and then cut with scissors.


I sent the design to my Silhouette using the "sticker paper, clear" setting. After cutting, it looked like it made it through the machine ok. Watch for pieces peeling up while cutting laminating film. They can throw your design off if pieces peel up and get caught while cutting.


I peeled my hearts up from the cutting mat and they turned out perfectly! You could string several up on fishing line or just hang them up on little suction cups. Either way, they look amazing when the sunlight hits them.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Plastic Wrap Alcohol Ink on Small Ceramic Bowl

Image
A while back I picked up some small white bowls from Big Lots ( these look similar ) with a nice satin finish. I already inked one bowl using the flame method , but I still have a few bowls left, so I decided to give one the plastic wrap treatment. I got out my craft mat and some alcohol inks . Then I cleaned my bowl with rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and removed the sale sticker from the bottom. I tore a piece of plastic wrap off the roll that was large enough to cover my bowl, and I set it down on my craft mat, being sure not to smooth it out. Then I dripped ink on the plastic wrap until I liked the combination of colors and the plastic was mostly full of color. Then I placed my bowl in the center of the plastic wrap and carefully applied the plastic wrap to the sides without smoothing it out too much (so it keeps the wrinkled pattern). Then I flipped it over to dry. I ended up using 7 colors on the bowl. I wanted something bright and fun so I we
Read more

Splatter Resist Alcohol Ink Tile

Image
I still have some ceramic tiles left from my last run to the hardware store, so when I remembered I had saved the contact paper heart from my Valentine's Day Glass Etching project, I knew exactly what I wanted to try. I grabbed some bright alcohol inks , canned air , a 6 inch ceramic tile , and my contact paper heart. I originally cut it out free hand by folding the contact paper, so it doesn't have to be perfect, but I'm sure if you have a cutting machine you could use that to make whatever shape you'd like in contact paper or vinyl. I peeled back the paper backing and applied the heart to the middle of the tile (as best as I could eyeball it). Then I rubbed down the edges of the contact paper. I squeezed out a drop of alcohol ink near the edge of the heart and used canned air to blow the drop out from the center of the tile. I usually hold the can with my right hand and a plastic lid with my left (I use the lid from the small plastic box I keep
Read more

Alcohol Ink Washer Necklaces

Image
I received a package of alcohol inks for Christmas and then bought a second set with a 50% off coupon at Michael's.  I've used them now to make coasters and to decorate some candle holders .  I was just getting my sea legs with these inks to begin with.  I applied the ink directly onto the surfaces and played around with rubbing alcohol as a blending solution.  But I thought it was high time that I used an applicator to use them the way they were intended.  Of course, the applicator is just a stamp with some velcro on it and it costs 6+ dollars....not to mention buying the pre-cut pieces of felt. So I figured I'd make my own.  I was very much in a use what you've got mentality, so I grabbed a scrap piece of wood and a couple of strips of velcro (hook and loop tape).  I used the hook side and lined two pieces up next to each other.  Luckily they were just the right width. I had the sew-on kind of velcro, so I spread some tacky glue thinly onto the surface
Read more